By Elaine Ryan
Help yourself deal with Panic Attacks
There are things that you can do to end panic attacks. The key to recovery, is understanding what is happening in your body, that results in anxiety. Once you understand what is happening, you are in a better position to cope and take control.
The things that you think, feel and do shape your brain. This simply means what you habitually think, what you habitually feel and how you react, lays down pathways in your brain. If you have an anxious brain, there are things that you can do to calm your brain and quieten your mind.
Self help checklist
What you think
- Do you worry about getting another panic attack?
- Do you worry in general?
- Are your thoughts taken up with “how will I cope”, “what if I get anxious” ” I am going crazy.” ” I’m having a heart attack.”
What you do
- Are there things you do that act as “safety blankets” or “crutches”? These might be, bringing water with you everywhere in case your mouth is dry,
- Do you do a quick check in places, to get a route out quickly should you have an attack?
- Do you sit nearest the door to get out quickly
- Are you avoiding things?
What you feel
- anxious
- on edge
- irritable
- worried
If the checklist seems familiar to you, not might not only have an anxious brain, but also what you are thinking, feeling and doing, is ensuring that your brain stays anxious. As the longer you do these things, you stronger the pathway becomes in your brain.
Help yourself do things differently
Panic attacks can be successfully treated by learning to do things differently. In order to recover, you need to change how you think (as often it is our thoughts (our self talk) that create anxiety. You need to calm your anxious brain by using mindfulness meditation.
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