Living with Anxiety #1 (Panic Attacks & How to Cope)

We all know life is never easy, there are some people out there who are ok with the way life is and how society works, however, people who suffer with anxiety find it a lot harder to cope with every day life including situations that involve money, family, work etc...

In these articles I will be best describing what anxiety is, how it affects you, and how to cope. I will also include how anxiety affects me and how I cope with it, I'm only 21 and I have been suffering for 3 years of non stop anxiety but I have found ways to cope and this article will hopefully be able to help you as a sufferer too.

Anxiety can be worrying and scary to cope with when you first realise that you have it (I suggest seeing your doctor or GP to check). Your doctor can offer advice, medication, and offer therapy depending on your case and how serious it is.

If there is one thing I have learned is that the only thing to fear is fear itself, I tell myself that every time I feel stressed or worried about anything that could cause me to feel stressed out.

Panic and Stress

(Panic Attacks) The one thing to learn about a panic attack is that no matter how bad or serious it feels it cannot in any way harm you, they are a defence mechanism by the body, in more advanced words it is a rush of adrenaline that makes you sweat, feel breathless, and increased heart rate. They tend to last for at least 5-10 minutes or longer depending on what it is you're worried about but rest assured there are ways to stop it (maybe not permanently, but at least for a certain period time).

What to do:

1. If you feel the urge that you might panic, then try to take your mind away from it before it happens (this will make the adrenaline hit you but then you will find it will pass in a few seconds (might leave you feeling tired).
2. If you are having a panic attack then instead of running around feeling like your going to explode, you need to sit down and take deep breaths, it's no good running around because you will just make yourself look like you sat on a fork (Little joke there).
3. Calling a friend or family member is a good idea as well, you will maybe feel less worried if you have some company with you to keep you rest assured that you will be ok.
4. Also playing video games or watching a film I find to be a good idea (maybe not what a doctor would suggest) but in my opinion it is a great distraction and will most definitely keep your mind occupied.
5. Exercise is a really effective way to keep calm and relaxed when feeling stressed. It's healthy to exercise anyway, but it's also a breath of fresh air and open spaces will stop you from feeling all crammed in. You can't exactly have a panic attack if you don't have any adrenaline to cause it. (Exercise uses a lot of it) so its more than likely you will just feel wrecked when you get home.

In my next article (Every day anxiety), I will be talking about what I do every day to cope with my anxiety and maybe you will be able to copy from my example.