Help For Anxiety Attacks

Hitting the panic button is no laughing matter to the 1,200,000 Americans who suffer from severe anxiety attacks, points out Robert P. Baker, a psychologist with Ochsner Clinic, New Orleans. 

Victims suddenly may experience intense, overwhelming terror for no apparent reason and suffer such symptoms as rapid heart rate, which many people incorrectly assume is a heart attack, perspiring; breathing difficulty; flushing; cold, clammy hands; shaking; dizziness and disorientation; and a feeling of impending doom.

"Some panic attacks may occur in regard to a specific activity, such as going to a mall, waiting in line, or another similar, non-provocative situation. Others are unprovoked to the extent that people are merely walking or riding along and they are stricken. Once panic attacks start, people become extremely afraid of them recurring."

Victims often tend not only to avoid the place or situation where the initial attack occurred, but related places or situations as well. For example, someone who had an attack in a mall may be reluctant to go where there are crowds, such as sporting events.

DON'T PANIC, LITERALLY

When you feel an attack coming on...

STAY CALM AND FOCUSED. UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS NOTHING PHYSICALLY WRONG WITH YOU. BREATHE NORMALLY. DON'T FIGHT THE FEELING. LET IT HAPPEN. IT WILL NOT HURT YOU. IF POSSIBLE, FIND A QUIET PLACE TO CALM DOWN. TELL YOURSELF, "THIS IS NO BIG DEAL, I KNOW WHAT THIS IS, I CAN HANDLE IT." REMEMBER: IT WILL PASS.