By Anthony Sonyera
If you suffer from anxiety then you probably feel like there is something wrong with you and you are wanting to figure out how to prevent them. An anxiety attack is actually fundamentally the same as a panic attack; the names are more of a preference for the individual. 'Panic' is often used to define something short-term and very intense, whereby the word 'anxiety' is more often used to describe a less overwhelming, longer-lasting feeling. These attacks generally develop over time where as a panic attack can come on suddenly.
It can also be extremely difficult when the people around you don't seem to understand. If you tell them that you can't
stop overthinking things then they will most likely say that they are the same, yet there is a big difference. An anxiety or panic attack is simply a strong misguided reaction to a situation that your mind deems to be stressful. The mind then triggers feelings of anxiety; if the situation is recurring then the anxiety can worsen or lengthen.
Panic attacks tend to run in families; it is unknown whether this is genetic or simply picking up behaviors and thoughts from our parents about the world and thus making them our own. Nobody is to blame however; and anxiety is not something that we have no control over. Anxiety or panic attacks can be prevented by re-framing the situation in your mind, learning stress relief techniques such as meditation, avoiding some of the causes, or in some cases by prescribed medication from your doctor.
Contributory Causes of an Attack
Life Stresses:
Life can throw many curve-balls which can cause anxiety, such as moving house, starting a new job, the loss of a loved one, or even just being in a crowded place. Even someone who has never suffered from an anxiety attack could have one at any time. Often times knowing what the situation is that causes the attack can help in defining a strategy to reduce it.
Medications and Substances:
Anxiety can sometimes be a side effect from certain medications or substances, including Ritalin, SSRI anti-depressants and even some antibiotics. If you are taking any medication or substances and have begun to experience signs of anxiety, please see your doctor. Caffeine, alcohol and some drugs can also bring on an attack.
However, sometimes when you immediately cut a substance from your life, the change can bring on an anxiety attack more commonly known as withdrawal symptoms. If this occurs please see your doctor as they may recommend that you cut the substance from your life step by step.
Avoidance:
Anxiety tends to increase when we withdraw from the activities that cause it; thus resulting in a catch-22. You may find that it is triggered in a certain normal life situation (such as being in a large crowd). When you withdraw from this, it actually increases your fear of life.
This is the natural choice for sufferers of panic attacks to avoid a situation that triggers their anxiety. But when you do this you will become more anxious and this will then make other situations turn into triggers where before you felt fine. This then makes your world around you more restricted to the point that even your own home doesn't feel safe anymore.
Anxiety is simply a strong belief in your mind that a particular situation is dangerous or out of your control. The anxiety attacks are your mind's natural response to a situation that falls into one of these categories. For example, when you were young you may have been in a busy shopping mall and got knocked over by someone. This simple experience can then cause you to program your mind to associate busy places as dangerous. But once you can realize that the situation isn't as dangerous now as it may have been when that fear was first introduced into your life, then the anxiety can begin to settle as your association to the situation has shifted slightly.
It always helps to get some assistance whether that be through a therapist/psychologist, or even just some personal work. There are plenty of resources out there on changing beliefs and patterns that can help to reframe your negative thinking and fearful attitude.
For more great articles, visit http://www.treatmentformentalillness.com
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