Treating Panic Attacks

I have been under a lot of stress after graduating and trying to cope with work and now suffered panic attacks, should I quit?, because i dont want to go through the experience again.
(30 Jul 2009)

(Only for registered users! Login OR Sign Up in just 30 seconds)

Panic attacks are a very valid mental health concern as they can be very disruptive for a normal life and give rise to a deluded and warped world view. This can be extremely damaging to an individuals self esteem, accomplishments, goals, and social relationships. Panic under normal circumstances makes us act unreasonable and irrational, but a panic attack can be so much worse.

An individual suffering a panic attack experiences an unforeseen surge of great fear and with no rational cause. This feeling of fear and anxiety is extremely intense and can not be equated or compared with the feelings of stress that most of us experience. A panic attack causes severe symptoms that can include:

An accelerated heart beat and chest pains

Breathlessness and a suffocating feeling

Almost paralyzing terror

Nausea, giddiness, and dizziness

Shivering and perspiration

Sudden chills or hot flashes

A tingling sensation in the extremities – fingers and toes

A paranoid fear of oncoming death or of going insane

Self prescribed treatment or self treatment of any kind for that matter is not advisable in case of this disorder as it is quite serious.

You have already realized the seriousness of the problem and it is one that needs the attention of an expert. When afflicted with an anxiety attack your mind can not function rationally and even if you knew what to do very often you find yourself paralyzed with fear and powerless. Thus the very nature of the condition rules out much hope for self treatment. This off course does not mean that you are completely powerless to do anything about it. Get help from professionals, but in the meantime you can try out several strategies to reduce the frequency of attacks and also better manage and cope with them.

Relaxation is the most important concept and one that you need to pay great attention to. Take a break from your daily activities to indulge in your hobbies and interests or to simply laze. Give yourself and your body a chance to rest. At the same time you need to be healthy, with healthy eating habits and a regular disciplined life. It becomes a lot easier to manage your life if disciplined. It’s also important to stay physically fit and some amount of activity, even light exercise or walks and swimming can help. Yoga would be the best discipline for you however as it gives you greater control over your mind and body. Since the focus is not just on physical health, but overall well being it will improve your ability to cope with and manage situations that could normally trigger a panic attack. Moreover yoga techniques like breath control are in fact accepted relaxation procedures to avert an oncoming attack.

There are other methods too that can help just as much, and maybe even more. Get help from a psychologist, counselor, or self help groups and community centers to get better advice that will enable you to overcome this burden. Sometimes career and other worldly or social pressures are given too much importance over personal satisfaction and goals, and this should not be the case. Unfortunately this is not always possible, depending on monetary needs and other options. Think this through rationally as it is your decision to make, but do not make a rash decision, without planning out the next step. If you do have a viable alternative that you would prefer, go for it, otherwise brace yourself and take things as they come. Try not to get too affected by the pressures of work. It may also help to inform your employer about your plight, but this is again something you need to weigh out in you head.

answered by S D on 30 Jul 2009, 3:59:38

Treating Panic Attacks

I have been under a lot of stress after graduating and trying to cope with work and now suffered panic attacks, should I quit?, because i dont want to go through the experience again. (30 Jul 2009)

I have been under a lot of stress after graduating and trying to cope with work and now suffered panic attacks, should I quit?, because i dont want to go through the experience again.
(30 Jul 2009)