Panic Attacks – Spot Them – Accept Them
Strange as it may sound the secret to getting over panic attacks in the easiest and quickest manner is acceptance. When we learn to accept “what is”, regardless if we like it or not, the fight against it stops. The energy we are putting out not wanting it to be as it is and the anger we feel, because once again something out of our control happens, all begins to relax. Now you begin to feel calmer. Calm instead of panic! Almost the exact opposite and it can all happen when we say yes to the present moment. Even when we don’t like it.
As Eckhart Tolle says
“Always say ‘yes’ to the present moment. What could be more futile, more insane, than to create inner resistance to what already is? What could be more insane than to oppose life itself, which is now and always now? Surrender to what is. Say ‘yes’ to life — and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.”
Identify panic attacks
One of the other major keys, believe it or not, is the realization that what is happening is a panic attack. I say this because it could be construed as many other things, many other emotions. We all react differently when we are overwhelmed or “panicked.” For example instead of realizing that what you’re feeling is panic you may feel angry or irritable and it manifests as striking out at another, or rude behavior. It may show up as exhaustion and you find yourself having to sleep away the day or you may even feel as if you’re coming down with a virus. You might even think you’re going crazy because of the inappropriate thoughts moving through your mind, or you may think you’re experiencing early onset dementia because all of a sudden you can’t think. You can’t negotiate the grocery store, the scheduling of your every day appointments and all the things you handle easily becomes a blur of overwhelm.
Those times when you react inappropriately in the ways I’ve just described could simply be your way of handling what you’re feeling and trying in someway to rid yourself of the discomfort you feel, but don’t understand.
Knowing yourself and understanding what you’re feeling and thinking is of the utmost importance in every area of your life! Click to Tweet
What could be more important to identify than an upcoming panic attack?
The reasons for panic attacks
Strangely enough anxiety and panic may be a necessary part of our survival. The problem is that when we don’t recognize what we’re going through is a panic attack, our fear and panic itself escalates. So you see once again knowledge is power.
Then to top it off, the more panicked we are, the less able we are to be aware that that is what is happening. We can guard against this by learning and conditioning ourselves to look within at the slightest discomfort. To ask ourselves, “What am I feeling”? What could this be?” “Am I experiencing more anxiety than necessary considering what is actually happening” Then you begin to get some control over your emotions.
We also must remember that anxiety causes our body to release adrenaline. That’s our built in protection mechanism for those times when we need extra energy to run away from that sabre tooth tiger. Well the tiger is no longer around, but we often react as if it was. Once youv’e had that adrenaline rush it may take a bit of time for it to leave your system. So even when you know that there may be no reason to panic you still feel uncomfortable.
Panic attacks are associated with an unmistakable period of intense fear and distress accompanied by multiple physical and mental symptoms. The mental symptoms can be paralyzing and create fear and confusion. The mind becomes overwhelmed with disturbing thoughts of danger, imminent death, and going crazy. The physical symptoms happen suddenly and peak rapidly, seizing the body and causing discomfort.
Http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-tsilimparis/the-tyranny-of-panic-atta_b_7004410.html
Once you’ve realized that you’re experiencing a panic attack and you understand that your body may be filled with extra adrenaline it becomes easier to accept the feelings without allowing them to cause extra anxiety.
Steps to handling panic attacks
1. Firstly awareness! Notice you are feeling acute anxiety or panic
2. Ask yourself if your reaction is appropriate to what is actually occurring
3. Accept that you are experiencing panic and don’t try to fight it or get angry because of it.
4. If you are driving pull over
5. Take some nice deep belly breaths
6. When you feel a bit calmer try taking a brisk walk to move the extra adrenaline out of your system
Or
7. Put on some soothing meditation music, close your eyes and just listen and notice your breath as you breathe deeply
8. Get involved in a “busy” project that occupies your mind and focus completely on it
9. Hug your children, your husband, your dog or cat and feel their warmth.
Even the most successful people can be prone to Panic Attacks.
Listen to my interview with Nellie Akalp , a brilliantly successful entrepreneur raising 4 children and taking care of a household and a husband. Panic attacks taught her self acceptance and a better way.
Listen here to the radio show:
Change the Course but keep the Destination - Nellie Akalp
Read Nellie’s story in her own words in her guest post
Do you suffer from panic attacks? Would it help to talk to someone to identify ways to accept them and get stronger?
I offer a 25 minute FREE consultation - I would love to help you! Just complete the form on my coaching page
Lorane,
I’m so happy to see a post like this one. I lived with panic attacks for years from my early twenties to late thirties. I conquered them and now am able to help people through them if I see it happening. So many people don’t even know what they are experiencing. Many feel too embarrassed to talk about it. Thank you for this post that I am sure is going to help many people.