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."
You glance around to make sure you are safe however; there are several strangers behind you and one other customer in front. You realize you are beginning to have a panic attack while your skin begins to prickle all over as a rush of doom washes 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.
Slowly now, remembering to think relaxing thoughts and again, while inhaling, tell yourself to relax then exhale. However, it seems that you may be feeling very self-conscious of concentrating on breathing and even more stressed than before.
Okay, coping technique 2: Gradual muscle relaxation. Tense both shoulders, hold for 10 seconds, then release. Try it again. No; still no difference. The anxiety is getting worse and the very fact that you are out of coping techniques worsens your panic. If only you were surrounded by your family, or a close friend were beside you so you could feel more confident in dealing with this situation.
Your body stings with the tingling as adrenaline pumps faster in your body, you then feel the terror of losing your complete control right there in the check out line. However, for those around you it is just another day and they have no sense of how you are feeling.
You decide the last option of coping is the next step to take and that is to flee the area. You lay your intended purchase on the counter and make a quick exit as the cashier is left standing watching you with a puzzled look on her face. Although you may be embarrassed you have no time for making excuses, you just need to be alone in order to control the anxiety, which is building inside you. You then get into your car and drive away, riding this out all alone. You fear that this episode will ultimately be the one that pushes you past your limits physically and mentally. However, in just ten minutes the attack begins to fade away. You are haunted by the idea that it is just nine am and you cannot help but to wonder if you will be able to make it through the day.
To someone who suffers from panic attack the scenario above can seen alarmingly familiar. In fact, it is possible just reading this article that the feelings of panic and anxiety are triggered. Everyone is different; therefore, it is normal that their triggers for attacks may differ. A panic attack can occur anywhere at any time.
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.
Did you know that in the United States that the estimate of those stricken by panic attacks is nearly five percent? This means you are not even one in a million. For many individuals their episodes are triggered by the expectation of dealing with others while speaking, and there are those who suffer daily and have become homebound by the frequency of their panic attacks. Often panic attacks that develop frequently are referred to as anxiety disorder by the medical profession.
Recovery for you starts here and now. Here you will find out just what you should do to end this vicious cycle of panic attacks. Since you will not only learn to take back your carefree lifestyle while developing a new confidence in living your life.
The trick to panic attacks is wanting to have one-the wanting pushes it away. Can you have a panic attack in this very second? No! You know the saying that "what you resist, persists." Well that saying applies perfectly to fear. If you resist a situation out of fear, the fear around that issue will persist. How do you stop resisting - you move directly into it, into the path of the anxiety, and by doing so it cannot persist.
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.
