Do You Know What To Do For Your Panic Attack Symptoms?

What does a panic attack feel like? Here's an example of some common panic attack symptoms. Imagine going about your business in the supermarket, filling your cart up with items from your shopping list. Then you proceed to the registers and wait your turn in line. All of a sudden, you start feeling funny. The feeling comes on suddenly and washes over you like a wave. You feel like the blood is draining down the back of your neck, you feel dizzy and clammy and your breathing becomes very rapid and shallow. Your heart is pounding, you feel queasy, and you've got the chills. You feel helplessly out of control, and like you're being pulled from where you are and isolated. You feel terror and the intense fear of losing control of your mind. This is a panic attack.

Usually, once someone has a panic attack, they will more than likely have others. Although most occur during the day, they have been known to happen at night during sleep. Panic attacks generally peak within about 10 minutes, but can last up to a half hour, with the calming down period lasting much longer.

Because the panic attack symptoms can be so debilitating, it is not uncommon for the sufferer to develop phobias that significantly affect the quality of life. These fears will cause many people to avoid certain events or places, or even isolate themselves altogether. It is useful to know a few techniques that can be employed to ease, eliminate or even prevent attacks altogether. Quite often, some of these techniques can even reduce or eliminate the need for medical treatment.

The most important thing to realize is that as debilitating as they may seem at the time, these attacks are not fatal. At the time it may not seem so, but you will recover. And once you have mastered some of these useful tools, you'll be able to take immediate control of the attack to lessen its impact or even stop it before it becomes fully developed.

The first thing to do when you feel an attack coming on is to control your breathing. Focus on taking slow, deep breaths to keep your mind off of the attack. Hold the breath for several seconds before slowly exhaling. By doing this, you are helping to keep oxygen flowing to the brain and preventing hyperventilation.

Once your breath is under control, work on trying to focus your mind. Thinking about what's happening at the time will only serve to compound the problem. Focus on calming thoughts, or something that makes you happy. It could be a person, event or place that is a pleasant memory. Along with the controlled breathing, this will help to relax your mind and body.

By understanding your panic attack symptoms, you'll be better able to take control of, or even stop the attack in its tracks.