Jonathan Hatch
About Panic Attack Symptoms:
1. Panic attacks aren't necessarily normal, but they're nothing to be ashamed of.
2. Panic attacks can be mistaken for a heart attack. If it'll make you feel better, go get an EKG done just to be on the safe side.
3. Awareness of the symptoms that prelude a panic attack is you greatest tool when fighting off a panic episode.
4. Controlling your breathing and reminding yourself that it's only a panic attack is the best way to stop a panic attack.
How to Get Rid of Panic Attacks
Natural & Organic Panic Attack Treatments:
St. John's Wort is a plant that has been used over the centuries to treat a number of things like depression, anxiety, and common sleep disorders.As an all natural anxiety medication, I can't attest to its effectiveness, though I know people who are on it and they say it's helping them cope with their stress, anxiety, depression, whatever. Give it a shot if you're feeling a little green.
Valerian root is sometimes used to treat anxiety and depression caused by sleeping disorders. Studies done show that Valerian root is a natural sedative and aids some people in maintaining a healthy, deep sleep. Sleep is, of course, a major factor in determining how well you and your body react to stress and anxiety. So perhaps a dose of valerian root will cure you of the anxiety that can sometimes cause panic attacks.
Since I suffer from panic attacks and make no attempt to hide the fact, a lot of people ask me: what are panic attacks and how do you get rid of a panic attack? how do you stop a panic attack? Well, first I'll tell you that some people think a panic attack (also known as an anxiety attack) feels a lot like having a heart attack; all of the symptoms are there, but you're not dying. I'd characterize it as this: what your reaction might be if you went skydiving and suddenly realized half-way through your descent that you forgot your parachute on your seat in the airplane. That is what a panic attack feels like. It's an hysterical state of mind that keeps building because when people have panic attacks, and they don't know what's going on, they start freaking out about being freaked out. If the symptoms of panic attacks are not recognized, it could lead the sufferer down a very dark road, perhaps even suicide. That's how awful panic attacks are, and that's how I felt until I received counseling and learned how to cope. These are the things you need to know and act on if you're having panic attacks:
If you think you've have some of these panic attack symptoms or you think you're experiencing something similar to what I've described, you should go see a psychiatrist to get a diagnosis. If you're certain you have panic attacks, and you don't want medical help, read on.
Talking yourself down from a panic attack is a skill you'll have to learn if you're going to be living with panic attacks. If you start having a panic attack, tell yourself 3 things:
1. Tell yourself you're having a panic attack and that's all it is.
2. Tell yourself you're not going to have a heart attack and that the tightness in your chest, the shortness of breath, and the fluttering of your heart are symptoms of an adrenaline overload.
3. Tell yourself to get into a comfortable position and to begin controlling your breath, because your hands are tingling and clammy from hyperventilating.
The surest way to stop a panic attack is to sit down and start a breathing exercise. Take a slow, deep breath in and hold it for a few seconds. Then, release the air slowly, counting how long it takes each breath in and each breath out. Repeat this process, but keep in mind the goal of make each breath last longer.
If that doesn't work, you can always use the paper bag trick you've seen on T.V. thousands of times.
Panic Attack Medication
A lot of us, especially those of us with chronic panic attacks, don't have the time to sit down and wait out each and every panic attack episode that comes along. Nor do we have the luxury to avoid every uncomfortable situation that could induce a panic attack. There are drugs that your doctor can prescribe for you to take when you feel a panic attack coming on, or if you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation that might prelude a panic attack. For almost instant anxiety relief, there are drugs called benzodiazepines (benzos for short) of which Xanax, Lorazepam, Alprazolam, and Klonopin (clonazepam) are the most commonly prescribed. Luckily for you, a number of these drugs have expired patents, which means cheap generic drugs for you.
The second and most frequently prescribed medications doctors prescribe if you're prone to panic attacks are a daily, long-term treatment class of drugs called SSRIs (or serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Drugs like Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, and Zoloft are the most commonly prescribed brands. These drugs are usually used to treat depression or a normal anxiety disorder (which you probably have), and often times they reduce the amount of panic attacks a person will experience over a given amount of time.
