How To Manage Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Everyone is susceptible to anxiety attacks, although they attack different people in varying degrees of intensity. Anxiety can greatly hinder one from doing a lot of things. Fear has a way of crippling a person’s potential and robbing them of the chance to be at their very best. Luckily however, there are some simple things you can do to combat anxiety when it attacks without warning. Although there is no guarantee that the anxiety will completely go away, following the tips below will ensure that the anxiety levels do subside. Here is what to do when you feel the pangs of anxiety settling in:


1.	Distract yourself for a while
It is impossible to calm yourself if you stay in the stressful situation for long. The very first thing to do is to distract your brain from the situation for a few minutes. This does not mean that you ignore it completely. You will have to confront your fears sooner or later, but you should give yourself a break from the panic- ridden situation for a while. Prepare your favorite meal. Listen to your favorite song. Or you could even take a brief walk. Just do anything that will take your mind off the situation for some time.


2.	Take A Deep Breath
Taking very deep breaths usually has an amazing calming effect when you are very anxious. It is especially helpful when the panic attack manifests itself by ridding you of breath, so that you are constantly gasping for breath. As you breathe in and out deeply, close your eyes and empty your mind of every thought. Doing this for five minutes will go a long way in helping you calm down and gain more control of your body.


3.	Create the worst case scenario
Sometimes, your worst fears are fuelled by your imagination. They may seem very real and plausible when you are anxious, but when you look back afterwards, you realize that they are nothing short of ridiculous. You have to train your brain how to challenge your worst fears when you are feeling anxious. Ask yourself what the worst thing that could happen to you is. When you critically analyze your fears and see how impractical they are, then you will have an easier time battling anxiety.


4.	Talk to someone
It is often said that a problem shared is a problem half solved, and the saying holds even for anxiety. When you feel your anxiety getting the best of you, be quick to call or talk to someone you trust. Sometimes, saying your fears out loud has a way of minimizing them, and you suddenly start feeling that you can actually overcome them.


Anxiety can be dreadful. The good news, however, is that there are things you can easily do to calm yourself down when panic attacks. Do not let anxiety get the best of you- fight it with all your might and it will lose its grip on you.