In a split second your body is consumed with a somatic sensation closely related to a heart attack. With fear of death, your throat tightens, heart skip beats, and you struggle to take a relieving gasp of air. Does this feeling sound familiar to you?
You may have experienced the signs of a panic attack!
In discussing the topic of overcoming panic we begin with the simplest of questions. What is a panic attack and why is this happening!?
A panic attack is the sudden feeling of acute and disabling anxiety and they could be happening to you for a series of reasons We all physically respond to stress," says Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, psychiatry professor and director, Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program, at Atlanta's Emory University School of Medicine. "You might feel anxious about work-related problems, taking a big exam, or making an important decision. But someone who suffers from panic disorder may react to those same moderate pressures with an exaggerated physical reaction-as if he or she were about to be attacked by a wild tiger or fall from a great height. It's full-on, adrenaline-pumping, fight-or-flight response."
Here are some tips to overcoming panic!
Time it out : A panic attack only lasts for about 10 minutes! During this uncomfortable time it's important distract yourself with a healthy positive thought and a healthy and positive activity. My trick is to sing to your favorite song, it relaxes the muscles and fills your mind with new thoughts.
Mindfulness based stress reduction is an evidenced based therapeutic approach to manage anxiety by using active present moment thought process. If you can redirect your thoughts about the future or the past to the here and now you may experience something I like to call, freedom!
Grounding techniques: grounding is your ability to get in touch with your senses. The floor beneath you, the textures, scents and colors that surround you. This technique is used to help bring you back to reality and out of your negative automatic thoughts.
Sending Love & Light,
Sari L. Klar,LMHC