Everyone of us must have gone through an anxiety attack be it exam, Public speaking etc. We face anxiety or panic attacks in stressful situations like fear, grief or sudden unexpected events, sometimes nightmares hamper our mental peace and productivity. But why does it happen and what can be done to calm down your anxiety ? We will discuss it in this article.
Anxiety attacks : How does it work?
Anxiety is the manifestation of our body 's “Fight and flight” response mediated by the hormone Adrenaline by stimulating our symphathetic system commonly called adrenaline rush . In this situation our tendency is to act instantly to a perceived threat by increasing our heart rate , rapid breathing and redirect blood flow to muscles.
What can be done ?
By following simple practical ways we can tackle this situation:-
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Reduce physical movement:- Whenever such situation arise the person should be still and stop moving around and shaking legs and taking deep breaths. This will reduce the effect of anxiety.
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Know your triggers :- Most of the time the attack is caused by specific triggers. Identification and preparedness against the trigger can prevent future attacks.
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Reduce caffeine on daily basis as it is known to induce anxiety.
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Talk it out :- By clearing your thoughts and feelings by speaking out to someone you trust helps miles to overcome it.
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Good sleep hygiene.
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Use of nerve Soothening agents:- For eg; drinking Chamomile tea at night before sleep help to relax your nervous system .
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Meditation and exercise:- If you do it on daily basis then you are better prepared to handle anxiety as it teaches us to slow down our breathing and taking deep breaths.
Conclusion
It is easier than said , the person who actually suffers from the problem knows how difficult is to cope up . It leads to behavioural changes and mental health issues. But if they are vigilant towards it and learn to tackle anxiety attacks before it effects them the battle will be much easier. Also it is the responsibility of friends and family members to support them emotionally and have a optimistic , positive attitude towards them.
Have you seen someone suffering from repeated anxiety attacks ? How did you help them?
MBH/PS