Anyone who suffers from panic attacks knows how horrible they can be. You never know when you will have an episode and it's embarrassing when you are in a crowd and feel one coming on. In this article I will share with you 3 simple steps to stop panic attacks.
1) Have a paper bag handy:
I know, you've probably heard it a hundred times before but honestly it does work. I suggest having a paper bag easily accessible in your home, at your office and with you when you are out. When you feel an attack coming on, grab the paper bag and breathe for 30 seconds into the bag and then breathe normally for 30 seconds. Switch back and forth until it subsides.
2) Noise distractions:
Another method that works well is if you feel an attack coming on, turn on something like the TV, a radio or maybe you can put your headphones on if at all possible. For some unknown reason, noise distractions help you feel more grounded and not as detached. Some people even feel like they are losing their mind but this helps bring you back into the present moment.
3) Reassurance:
If you are anything like me, you have probably been thinking to yourself when you feel a panic attack coming on that everything will be okay. But I eventually learned that saying those same words out loud instead of keeping them inside my head helped tremendously. Some internal thoughts have even been known to make your anxiety worse.
From this day forward every time you feel an episode coming on, talk to yourself out loud and say that this is just like all the others and it will be over soon. You will feel safe and calm in just a matter of minutes.
I hope those 3 simple steps to stop panic attacks have helped. When you are on the verge of an episode, nothing seems simple in that moment. But you also are aware that you will come out on the other side and resume your normal day to day activities. Just give a few of these tips a try and you may soon realize how helpful they are.
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