How to Stop an Anxiety Attack
Plan what to do the next time panic strikes.
Posted December 8, 2018 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
If you’re reading this article, chances are you’ve had an anxiety attack or saw one happen to someone you care about.
That can be a cue to think about remedies. Then, if it happens again, you will be prepared.
Psychologists speak of panic attacks rather than anxiety attacks. Anxiety is ongoing. A panic attack is when your fear is acute and for a short period, you can’t function normally. During a panic attack, your heart is racing, or you might feel weak, faint, or dizzy. Your hands and fingers may tingle or feel numb. You’re sweating or getting chilled. Your stomach churns or aches. You may have chest pains or pant. You feel dread or are overwhelmed.
If you have panic disorder, the panic attacks come repeatedly and may be unpredictable. Nearly 5 percent of American adults and more than 2 percent of teens experience panic disorder at some point. The trouble runs in families and may be involved with another anxiety problem. For example, someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may have a panic attack if they can’t engage in a ritual like checking the door handle repeatedly to see that the door is closed. If you’re afraid of heights, you might have a panic attack on a mountaintop.
How to stop an anxiety attack: Try these techniques in advance and when you feel panic coming on, choose one to do in the moment. You might do two or more in a sequence.
A version of this story appears on Your Care Everywhere.
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Temma Ehrenfeld is a New York-based science writer, and former assistant editor at Newsweek .
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.