How to Stop an Anxiety Attack

“Anxiety” is a general term that describes a variety of experiences, including nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry, that are common in several mental health disorders. While most of us have anxiety at some time, this is completely different from an anxiety attack or anxiety disorder. Normal feelings of nervousness, worry, and fear often have a known trigger (a major exam, money issues, or seeing a bug). But when you’re having a full blown panic attack or anxiety attack, the symptoms — chest pain, flushing skin, racing heart, and difficulty breathing — can make you feel as though you’re going to faint, lose your mind, or die. The reality is, you won’t. The key to surviving is to learn all you can about anxiety attacks and practice the skills you need to get through them.

Here is how you can get over it, if you ever have an anxiety attack.

Control Your Breathing
This is very important to you because it will help you relax your nerves and calm you down. Those suffering from anxiety attacks suffer from poor breathing habits and this could be discomforting. Controlled breathing is a solution and you will find it helpful. You need to slow down and reduce your breathing, do not speed it up and never take deeper breathes. Breathe in slowly and gently for about 5-7 seconds and then hold it in for three to four seconds. Then finally breathe out slowly and gently

Talk to Someone Friendly
Your anxiety should not be burdening you; you should be able to share it, as this is one good way to let it go. Often the most effective way to reduce your anxiety is by distracting yourself, it is your mind that is playing the trick with you and you have to win the fight. Talk to someone you are close with, talk to your friend or someone, whom you can trust. Never be shy about opening up and telling them how you feel. It will keep your mind clear and you will experience fewer symptoms. All the love and support from your near and dear ones can be very helpful.

Feel Relaxed
What is that one thing that relaxes you? Is it gardening, reading a book, playing a musical instrument, listening to music? Whatever it may be, you should pursue it, and try and get relaxed. For example, you could take a warm bath and while taking the bath listen to some slow music. Or whatever it is, anything that works to keep you relaxed is a great option for you. Do it as and when you feel that you are getting an anxiety attack. Try to feel relaxed and composed.

Know the Facts
Most often your anxiety is due to thoughts and ideas that are not exactly real, and this is why you need to ask yourself questions. You have to seek the facts, and work your mind in believing and understanding them. You are not experiencing any uncanny feeling out of the blue, that is not happening, and you have to understand this. Ask yourself to stop thinking such nonsense and come to terms with the fact that you suffer from anxiety attacks. If the fear is real, then well, you should take help instead of panicking and feeling anxious.

Other than the above activities which you should do to stop an anxiety attack, you should also make sure that you are living a healthy life. Make it a habit to exercise on regular basis, and eat healthy foods. Exercising can be a great treatment for relieving stress. .