You are going about your regular day-to-day activities when suddenly your heart starts pounding. You get dizzy and lightheaded. The palms of your hands start sweating. You have an extreme feeling of fear.
You’re having an anxiety attack.
Anxiety attacks can occur out of the clear blue sky. They come suddenly and unexpectedly. They happen often.
If you have anxiety attacks, your life is severely affected. Living with anxiety is difficult. It’s hard for you to concentrate, to go about your regular business, or to have any feelings of happiness. What can you do about these attacks?
First, you should go to your family doctor. He will rule out whether there is something physically causing these attacks and can assess if you have a medical condition or a true anxiety disorder. He will then refer you to a professional counselor to help you deal with your anxiety.
A counselor may prescribe medicine for you to take. If he does, be sure to take it faithfully. Do not stop taking it without consulting your counselor. He will provide you with tips on how to manage your anxiety. He might also suggest that you join a support group.
Your counselor will give you tips on how to manage your stress. He will help you recognize and control the self-talk that runs through your head that affects your anxiety. He will give you behavior techniques to prevent panic attacks and lessen the anxiety that you feel.
There are several things that you can personally do to enable you to live with an anxiety disorder. One is to do a thirty-minute aerobic exercise three times a week. Spend some time meditating each day. Find someone that you can talk to who will support you in your efforts. Eliminate caffeine drinks and sugary foods. And most of all get at least eight hours of sleep every night.