Anxiety is an emotion that everyone will experience from time to time, possibly when facing a difficult problem or important decision. Anxiety may occur without cause and can interfere with a normal life or have a serious impact on it. It can be accompanied by symptoms related to the lungs, heart, and nervous system while some experience an upset stomach, breathing difficulties or diarrhea.
Panic attacks are often times symptoms of an anxiety disorder and usually come at an unexpected time, very suddenly, unprovoked and many times disabling. When anxiety becomes too much to handle and is dreaded every day, it has then become a disorder. The peak age when people experience their first panic attack is between the ages of 15 and 19.
In certain instances, you may be able to treat anxiety and panic attack at home without a doctor’s help:
- Picture yourself facing and conquering your fears
- Meditate
- Watch TV
- Soak in the warm bath
- Do deep-breathing exercises
- Rest in a very dark room
- Massage your neck and throat
- Change your diet
Sometimes a simple massage of the neck and throat will help ease anxiety or panic attack. These are areas of the body that are most often tense during attacks. It is important to massage gently and one side at a time and not both at once.
You might have to change up your lifestyle a little bit.
Avoiding beverages that contain caffeine, like tea, coffee and soda will often reduce the chances of a panic attack. Many believe that anxiety and panic attacks can be cause by deficiencies of B-complex vitamins, magnesium or calcium.
Relaxation and deep breathing can help to calm the body down during anxiety or panic attack. This will also help prevent hyperventilation. Aromatherapy is something used often as a calming agent for the body.
