Anxiety attacks can be frightening, and some people experience them frequently as the result of a panic disorder. While relief may seem elusive in the middle of an anxiety attack, there are several things you can do yourself and with the help of a doctor or therapist to help relieve anxiety attacks and decrease their frequency.
Self-Help
If your anxiety attacks are infrequent or mild, you may be able to relieve your symptoms or prevent attacks entirely by implementing some self-help strategies. Learning ways to relax and relieve stress is extremely important in controlling anxiety attacks. Stressed individuals are more likely to worry and become anxious. Take time out for yourself to do something that relaxes you and relieves stress each day, such as reading, taking a bath or meditating.
Exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest promotes your general health and can help decrease feelings of anxiety and panic, according to FamilyDoctor.org. Avoiding alcohol, drugs and caffeine can also help you relax and reduce anxiety and nervous feelings.
Therapy
If you still have difficulty controlling your anxiety attacks after trying self-care methods, your doctor may recommend some form of therapy as a treatment option. Many patients with panic and anxiety disorders find the best relief comes from a combination of therapy and medication, though therapy alone is sufficient for some patients, states the non-profit resource HelpGuide.org. Behavioral therapy is most effective for relieving anxiety attacks, and many patients only require therapy for a short time to learn skills to control their anxiety attacks.
Cognitive-behavior therapy focuses on your thought patterns as they relate to your anxiety attacks. Your therapist can help you learn to identify and control the thinking patterns that lead to irrational fears and anxiety so that you can learn to prevent anxiety attacks or at least bring them to an end quickly. Exposure therapy is another type of behavioral therapy used to treat patients with anxiety attacks brought on by phobias or other irrational fears. Your therapist can help you gain control over your fears and desensitize you to the parts of your worries that cause your anxiety attacks by gradually exposing you to your fears in a safe environment.
Medication
Medications including benzodiazepines and antidepressants can help control anxiety attacks in some people, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some patients only take anxiety medications before a particularly stressful situation that is likely to cause an attack, while others with anxiety-related disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder may take medication on a daily basis, according to HelpGuide.org. Many anxiety medications can be habit forming and they are often a last-resort treatment option for helping patients relieve anxiety attacks. Discuss any concerns and questions with your doctor and make sure to disclose any medical conditions you have and any medications or supplements you currently take before beginning anxiety medication.
