People with anxiety disorder don't like change and recently there have been major changes in all our lives.
Even when our conscious mind seems cool our subconscious can be feeling the stress and that often leads to a tantrum. That's when a panic attack is born.
As I always say to the point of repetition: panic attacks are horrible, specially if unexpected. But no death certificate has ever been written where the cause of death is given as 'Panic Attack'. A panic attack will not kill you, cannot disable you or make you lose your mind. So why fear one, its bark is worse than its bite?
Panic attacks thrive on fear, deny them your fear and attention and they lose their power and soon pass.
Do not fight it when a panic attack comes, fighting involves you in more stress and tension. You certainly don't need more of that. So do the opposite instead: stop fighting and do nothing, accept it for the time being and accept it as calmly as you can. After all, you now know that panic attacks do no real harm other than making you feel uncomfortable.
To master panic attack do not seek to avoid it when you feel one on its way, you must pass through panic to recover. Let every muscle in your body go limp including your jaw muscle, feel the energy flowing out of your legs, your arms, your body. Face the onslaught of the panic with purposeful inactivity. Let it come, bring it on.
Breathe in through your nose and hold it for a few seconds, then breathe slowly out through pursed lips and repeat. This releases natural tranquillisers that help neutralise the hormones of fear.
So you deal with panic the same way you deal with all the symptoms of anxiety: Accept it calmly for the time being. Soon it will pass and pass all the sooner because you denied it the sustenance of more fear flooding your nervous system.
If you feel another coming on do not be disheartened, think: "Here is an opportunity to practice Acceptance and gain mastery over it. I'll show it who's boss!"
This then, is how to respond when panic strikes. It is the way forward that brings calm in a changing world.
