The answer to how to prevent a panic attack is found in a mixture of physical and mental preparation. I believe that demystifying the panic attack gives it less power over you in the first place, so we’ll start with why you have panic attacks.
The first thing you must understand is that panic attacks are a symptom of overwhelming anxiety, nothing more. They are not a disease or something you have to live with.
This means that you have the power to control them by how you feel and think about them. Knowing you have this power is important.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
The next thing to note is that while your first panic attack was unique, the others were not. Many people had different triggers to set off that initial panic attack, but since you’ve likely had them in a variety of situations.
So what changed that made you go from having one in a decade or more to the higher frequency that you worry about? It was that first panic attack.
Since you had the first, you’ve had a fear in some part of your mind that you’d have another. You know what it feels like now and know it can happen, and that heightens your anxiety to constantly be closer to this state.
Your subconscious is directed by images and therefore does not process the word not. For example, if someone says don’t think of the color blue, you think of it. That’s because your brain says, “Don’t think of what? Blue? What does blue look like so I can avoid thinking about it? Oh, darn.”
So guess what happens when you keep repeating to yourself don’t have a panic attack. That’s right. You think and dwell on the panic attack, getting more and more stirred up about it, when you’re already in a tense situation, until it reaches critical mass.
How to Prevent a Panic Attack – The Mental Game
So how do you stop this cycle? Realize that while, sure panic attacks feel terrible they aren’t going to kill you and you’ll be fine soon after having one. You have proof; you’re probably a veteran at having them by now and I’ll venture a guess that you aren’t dead.
One technique is to change the meaning of them. Reward yourself massively for every panic attack you have. The reward can be anything, a nice meal, a night partying, a trip somewhere you love to go, or anything else you might desire that you can fit in your schedule but don’t often get to do.
Just doing this has worked for some to stop panic attacks. You can’t be excited about something and worried or afraid at the same time.
How to Prevent a Panic Attack – The Physical Game
There is a connection between physical and mental tension. If you’re worried, your body tenses, and if you tense your body you may find yourself growing worried. So take care of yourself physically to ensure that you remain healthy and loose.
Eat healthy and regularly. Avoid substances that affect your mood or heart rate if at all possible (caffeine and alcohol). Make sure you are well-rested. And if you find yourself breathing faster at any time other than exercise, purposefully take a few deep breaths.
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