Just like any other normal day, you are off to work, driving your car, no monsters attacking you, no earthquake that opens up the road to swallow you, but you feel wrapped up and scared that you cannot control how you feel. You are hit by a panic attack.
You can feel the strong pounding of your heart, your hands are becoming sweaty and you have a weak grip. It feels like your head is spinning, you have to stop your car because you feel like you are going to faint. At this point, you may be enveloped with fear and wanting to call 911, have an ambulance take you to the hospital with heart monitors attached to you or defibrillators will be on standby when you reached the emergency room. It may really look like a heart attack is on progress but after all the tests you would all realize that it was just a panic attack. You felt as if the incident seemed like forever when it was actually just an hour or two and you leave the hospital with exhaustion and a whole of embarrassment.
A panic disorder usually occurs around the age of 18-25 or may begin after an experience of a traumatic event like a vehicle accident or losing a job. Even being stuck in an elevator can trigger the disorder but sometimes panic disorders for around 6 million who have it, it just started without a traceable event that may have caused it. But one thing is common to these people; it is being helpless in stopping the disorder.
So what can possibly be done to manage the disorder? First and foremost, you have to understand that the disorder is a problem in the field of mental health. It is not just an action to get the attention of others which other people usually say with no medical basis. Second is that you need to see your doctor to discuss the things that have been happening and to know how to control the situation. You may want information about hypnotherapy, counseling or the use of psychiatric medications to manage panic disorders. Third is that you can share what has been happening to you to your immediate family, to your employer or your closest friend whom you can trust. Panic attacks are unpredictable that you might need help and support in reinforcing what you have learned when undergoing your treatment.
In time, you will be able to learn techniques like relaxation, breathing exercises, redirected self-talk or visualization that may help you manage panic attacks. In the long run it would be easier for you to manage an attack and have your work done without fearing that you will be interrupted.
