[A599]Anxiety And Panic Attack

Standing in a supermarket queue, it's been a long wait but only one customer to go before you make it to the cashier. Wait, what was that sensation? An unpleasant feeling forms in your throat, your chest feels tighter, now a sudden shortness of breath, and what do you know- your heart skips a beat. "Please, God, not here."

Your eyes quickly scan your surrounding as you check to see if there is any personal threat. Pins and needles prick at your right shoulder as you become over conscious of the four strangers who have slipped up behind you and the person standing in your way of purchase and freedom from this situation. Your head then begins the slow explosion of fear that now has you a little dizzy as you dread the worse. A panic attack is about to come over you.

Your breath catches as in your mind you are now contemplating this being the big one you have feared. Stop, now focus: Calm down and remember what you have learned, you should apply these coping procedures right now. As your physician has advised, begin with your deep breathing, your mind and body needs air. In through the nose and out through the mouth.

Think relaxing thoughts, and again, while breathing in, think "Relax," and then breathe out. But it doesn't seem to be having any positive effect; in fact, just concentrating on breathing is making you feel self-conscious and more uptight.

It is all right, just switch to the second coping procedure. Gradually relax your muscles. Begin by tensing your shoulder and hold for ten seconds and then release and again. Still you feel no difference. The very fact that you are running out of coping procedures worsens the panic you feel, as the anxiety seems to worsen. You wish for a close friend or family member to be close by, someone who understands your attacks, rather than the group of strangers where you would feel more confident in experiencing this situation.

Now, the adrenaline is really pumping through your system, your body is tingling with uncomfortable sensations, and now the dreaded feeling of losing complete control engulfs your emotions. No one around you has any idea of the sheer terror you are experiencing. For them, it's just a regular day and another frustratingly slow queue in the supermarket.

You are out of options. Time for Plan C. The most basic coping skill of all is "fleeing." Excuse yourself from the queue; you are slightly embarrassed as it is now that it is your turn to pay. The cashier is looking bewildered as you leave your shopping behind and stroll towards the door. There is no time for excuses - you need to be alone. You leave the supermarket and get into your car to ride it out alone. Could this be the big one? The one you fear will push you over the edge mentally and physically. Ten minutes later the panic subsides. It's still only 10:30 a.m. How are you going to make it through the rest of the day?

If you suffer from panic or anxiety attacks, the above scenario probably sounds very familiar. It may have even induced feelings of anxiety and panic just reading it. The particular situations that trigger your panic and anxiety may differ; maybe the bodily sensations are a little different. Or maybe it happened to you for the first time on a plane, in the dentist chair, or even at home, while doing nothing in particular.

Hopefully, you can take comfort in knowing that you are not alone, and that everyone experiences that same acute sense of approaching horror when experiencing an anxiety attack. It is a feeling so strong that you may feel as though you are about to perish on the spot or lose your mind altogether.

You are by no means alone; you're not even one in a million. In America, it is estimated that almost 5% of the population suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. For some, it may be the infrequent panic attacks that only crop up in particular situations-like when having to speak in front of others, while, for other people, it can be so frequent and recurring that it inhibits them from leaving their home. Frequent panic attacks often develop into what medical physicians refer to as an "anxiety disorder."

However, not all is lost, as the beginning of your road to recovery starts right here. Here you will learn that there is a good chance that you are about to learn something that will end your cycle of panic attacks. Not only will you learn to gain new confidence in life, but also you will be able to regain your lifestyle. Here you will find an answer to living panic or anxiety attack free.

You see, the trick to handling such attacks is the want of having one - as the wanting actually pushes the attack away. You must realize that, that which you oppose will endure. This also applies the fear. To stop opposing you must move towards it, into the path of the anxiety, by doing so, it cannot endure.

The heart of this technique is that by trying to have a panic attack you will not be able to have one. If you try to have a panic attack I assure you, you will not be able to trigger an episode. Whether you realize it or not, you have always made a choice to have a panic attack. You make such a choice by thinking that any scenario you are experiencing is out of your control.

Your real safety is the fact that a panic attack will never harm you. That is medical fact. You are safe, the sensations are wild but no harm will come to you. Your heart is racing but no harm will come to you. The situation is perfectly safe even though you may not feel that way at the time.