What To Do In The Event Of An Anxiety Attack? 4 Tips To Help You

Anxiety attacks are panic situations that paralyze the patient, affecting their mental and physical health. We explain how to deal with them in the next article.

An anxiety attack is a common ailment these days. It is usually linked to psychosocial factors, but can also be due to multiple unrelated causes.

In this article, we reflect on this disorder and share what the guidelines should be for treating it. However, personalized diagnosis and treatment should always be essential.

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Panic attack and anxiety attack: different names for the same problem

According to the Mayo Clinic, a panic attack is a sudden and intense episode of fear. Your symptoms may be as follows, although they vary from person to person:

• Palpitations
• Sweat
• Tremors
• Dry mouth
• Breathing difficulties and feeling of suffocation
• Chest pain
• Nausea and abdominal discomfort
• Feeling of unreality
• Paresthesias

Why is it happening? You can’t always define the factor that causes them, so they are unpredictable.

However, some people learn to detect the conditions that condition these crises, so they learn to avoid them.

Treat an anxiety attack

This study carried out by a team from the University Medical Center in Gottingen (Germany) shows the difficulties that can exist in the treatment of anxiety attacks and which are generally due to different problems :

• The person concerned does not seek professional help
• Guidelines for treating seizures with psychological support and medication are unclear or not followed, as appropriate, at outpatient level

It is important to stress that the affected person should receive a psychological diagnosis of their disorder, possible causes and available treatments. These should assess psychotherapy, drugs and other options for action after a personalized analysis.

The patient’s age, the existence of previous treatments, the risk of suicide or the severity of the anxiety attacks, among many other factors, should always be taken into account. Therefore, a thorough assessment will be necessary.

In the case of drugs, these can vary from country to country, so no general recommendation can be made. In addition, it is very important to adjust the doses and to know the possible side effects in each case.

General advice that can help in the event of an anxiety attack

1. Lavender oil

There are natural remedies that can help us prevent or calm the symptoms of anxiety attacks. However, for many of them, studies are still lacking to prove their effectiveness.

Lavender oil has been shown to be effective in relaxation disorders affecting the nervous system, according to this study conducted by the Western California University of Health Sciences (United States).

However, it should always be taken diluted and in the format and amount indicated by the manufacturer.

2. Physical exercise

Exercise is not the final solution to anxiety attacks. However, this research conducted by a team from the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia (Spain) shows that it can help reduce anxiety levels.

Likewise, methods of muscle relaxation should also be researched. This will depend on the taste and personality of the patient, who can try activities like yoga or Pilates.

3. Breathing techniques

According to a study conducted by Dr Chóliz of the University of Valencia, breathing techniques play a very important role in promoting relaxation.

As we said, difficulty in breathing is one of the symptoms of anxiety attacks. Hyperventilation, for example, might even trigger or maintain the seizure. For the same reason, learning to control your breathing can be important during the process and as a treatment.

4. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy must be the long term treatment to overcome this problem permanently. In addition, the patient can participate in supportive talks and self-help groups if they wish.

The psychologist will be responsible for investigating the emotional issues associated with this disorder. In addition, the causes will be assessed and how the anxiety manifests in bodily conditions.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Many people are embarrassed by this type of disorder. Likewise, they refuse to attend therapy because they fear being labeled as “weak” or “crazy”. But it’s important to think about it: does what other people think really matter, rather than your own health?

Prioritizing well-being over harmful comments or what others may think is a mature decision and denotes courage and commitment. Let’s be consistent and take a step forward: with help, we can do anything.