In the midst of an anxiety attack, it is darn well near impossible to think rationally.
Fear grips us and we are all but able to reason or to rid ourselves of the all-out terror that is a panic attack.
There are several steps you can take to resolving this often debilitating condition.
This article will give the reader an idea about what an anxiety or panic attack actually is and provide some clues as to how to address the problem head on.
Let's be very clear about something.
A panic or anxiety attack does not mean you're going to die, though it may very well feel like it while you are in the throes of one.
Nor does this mean that you are losing your mind.
What it does mean is that your body and mind are trying to get you to pay attention to something.
It is your job to figure out what.
As always, we recommend strongly that anyone who is experiencing anxiety attacks get a thorough medical checkup to ascertain that there are no physiological conditions causing the attacks, as some medical conditions will present themselves as an anxiety attack.
Nothing happens by accident.
There is a saying that those who do not make time for recreation will be forced to take time for illness.
The point is that our bodies know what they are doing.
Frequently, something has happened to prompt an attack, even though we might not be consciously aware of the origin.
If you are now experiencing anxiety attacks and have never had them previously, it might actually be helpful to keep a type of journal to help you identify the pattern behind your anxiety attacks.
While it is possible to simply go to a doctor and have him prescribe you medications, doing so will not help you identify what prompted your attacks in the first place.
In basic psychology, we teach a concept called antecedent behavior consequence, or ABC, for short.
What happened just before the anxiety attack occurred? When you had your attack, what actually happened (did you have to leave the store? Did it force you to stop working? What happened after the attack? Though you may not be able to put your finger on these things right as your anxiety attack is happening, giving the situation some thought immediately afterwards and recording in writing your perceptions might help you pinpoint a pattern so you can identify the triggers.
Further, if you're finding that uncontrolled worry is spawning these anxiety attacks, one strategy is to give yourself a specific time each day to fret and worry, but only during that specific time every day.
Make that appointment with yourself, literally writing it into a planner.
When the time is up, tell yourself that you'll have to wait to worry.
Not all worry is bad, but when worry turns to uncontrollable stress and anxiety, that is your body's signal that something needs attention.
Anxiety does not have to control you.
With a little insight and work, you can arrive at the root of your worry and learn how to eliminate it completely.