Why Most People Fail to Permanently Stop Panic Attacks and What You Can Do to Succeed
The statistics vary from study to study but the general numbers look something like this. 2% of the world population will suffer from a panic attack. Around 5% of Americans or around 60 million will experience some anxiety symptoms in their lives. Many of them will experience the attacks and the anxiety more than once. It is no wonder that there are many people that are looking to stop panic attacks.
Before we can stop them, we need to understand what they are. Basically they are a reaction of the body to some perceived threat (usually a mundane event or trigger) that causes it to go into a fight or flight mode. We are genetically programmed to survive. Thousands of years have ingrained in our DNA the response we need to face life threatening danger. It is this response that is triggered when we are having a panic attack. Never mind that we are not in danger.
The first thing to know is that you are not to blame for this. No one really knows the cause of this condition but it is suspected that heredity and stress are contributing factors. You did nothing to cause this. Having said that you do not have to live with the emotional and social trauma that anxiety and panic cause.
If you have tried medications before, you know the terrible side effects that they can cause. In addition, it may take weeks to find the right dosage and even longer for the effects to manifest themselves. Constant fear of relapse and agony over "normal" things like driving, sleeping, shopping and going to work can have a devastating toll.
So why have so many people tried and failed to stop panic attacks. Other than medications, there are many treatments out there that claim to do just that. Most of these programs center on relaxation, breathing and hypnosis. At first glance they seem to be completely appropriate to the situation according to the explanation above. Your body is kicking into overdrive so what better way to bring it back under control? So What is the problem?
The truth is that techniques like the 7-11 breathing technique can be very effective. This is a technique by which you breathe in for 7 seconds, hold your breath for one second, and then exhale though pursed lips for 11 seconds. This will almost always slow your heart rate and bring your breathing back under control. It will help you transition out of an attack in most cases.
The issue with the above mentioned techniques and breathing ones in particular is that they are designed to stop the attacks AFTER you have had one. This does not stop you from getting one in the first place. The issue here is a matter of focus. Coping versus prevention. This is why most people find that even after the best program, they still have attacks. They may be better at dealing with the symptoms but they are not equipped to prevent them.
About the Author
To succeed in stopping panic attacks you need a treatment that focuses on prevention. Stop Panic Attacks before they happen. Click Here Now!