Panic attacks

Prolonged anxious states are time bombs. "I'm used to worrying about my children," "I'm scared to answer when I'm accused," "I often have headaches, I'm used to it" — these familiar negative states accumulate over years. We stop noticing them, get used to the state of "well, who doesn't have that," and do not realize how it destroys the nervous system.

Panic attacks are not the result of a recent trauma. They are the outcome of a prolonged chronic anxious state. The body, exhausted by constant tension, at some point "explodes." A person suddenly feels suffocation, fear of death, nausea, dizziness, and heart palpitations. It seems that something catastrophic is happening, although there is no objective threat.

What to do during a panic attack?

• Breathe deeply. Raise your arms up, spread them to the sides, walk with wide steps, give your body freedom. Movement helps release tension and reduce stress.
• Switch your attention. Find any object and describe 5 of its properties: size, color, weight, surface, smell. This helps bring the brain back in touch with reality and exit the "whirlwind" of fear.
• Consult a psychiatrist. Panic attacks are a condition that can be treated. Comprehensive help (medication + psychological techniques) leads to the disappearance of attacks.