Do you know how to cope when anxiety attacks? While there is a marked difference between anxiety and panic attacks, they both share some of the same symptoms and triggers.
Knowing what to do when you're faced with the onset of an attack of either kind is helpful, not only before and after, but during the attack as well.
What is the first thing you should do when anxiety attacks? If it's a recurring problem, you might need to visit an expert and ask about receiving medication for the problem.
Now, this shouldn't be used as your first line of retreat, but if you're having difficulty controlling your symptoms on your own, this might be a viable option.
Now, the first thing you're probably concerned about in regard to medication is, aren't the side effects pretty nasty? You've heard the horror stories of how antidepressants can drive users to suicide, while some find that their sexual performance hits an all-time low.
Bear in mind that there are several dosage levels to choose from; you don't have to take a high dose unless your doctor thinks that's the best thing for your condition.
Also, not everyone experiences these side effects, so the fact that you're taking the medicine doesn't guarantee you'll become suicidal or find yourself low on libido.
You also should find out if depression is feeding into your anxiety at all.
In some cases, depression goes hand in hand with anxiety and panic attacks.
The two feed off of each other and end up forming a dangerous alliance that can take a toll on your mentality and your body.
You might not even realize it's happening until it's too late.
If your anxiety disorder isn't far along, and you only get an attack in extreme situations, then you needn't be as worried - for now.
But you want to prevent the disorder from getting worse.
That's where your self-help techniques come into play.
The first thing you should do when anxiety attacks is to take stock of several things, including your surroundings, the occurrence that triggered the attack in the first place, the way your body feels before, during and after the attack, and what was going through your mind at the time.
For instance, did you feel like you were going to faint, or did you feel as though you were about to throw up? Did you feel your body breaking into a cold sweat? Or did it heat up as your heart rate increased? These are all things that you should write down and keep for future reference.
If this problem happens again, it's probably time to get some help.
But that doesn't mean you have to start seeing a shrink every week or taking medication every day.
There are certain techniques you can try at home to help yourself, as well as books and advice you can read that will help you improve the way you feel and the way you handle each panic attack.