healthier you today

We live in a stressful world these days, and so it’s hardly a surprise that so many people suffer from acute forms of anxiety. In fact, a significant amount of people need to find ways of overcoming panic attacks on a daily basis. I also used to suffer from attacks of anxiety, so I know what a real and debilitating problem they are. To stop my panic attacks, I sought a solution myself, and that was to take control of my thoughts and mind again, and not to rely on prescription drugs, which can only ever really be a short term measure.

Of course, “myself” didn’t necessary mean that I needed to invent the methods on overcoming panic attacks. So, what did I do? Well, I searched the Internet for methods of getting rid of panic disorder and, as expected, I found tons of stuff. A heavy chunk of it was useless stuff like “breathing techniques” or “brown bag techniques” or “happy thoughts” techniques that were meant to cope with anxiety, not get rid of it. But then I came across a method that was bold and confrontative, one that made you face your fears and destroy them. It is what stopped my anxiety episodes.

At the core of the method that stopped my panic attacks was the principle that it’s not the arising of anxious thoughts that’s the problem, but rather the way in which they are reacted to. Everyone has anxious thoughts – they are as natural an occurrence as happy thoughts – so they in themselves aren’t the problem. Therefore, it something in way that those anxious thoughts are processed that is the problem. The solution lies in mimicking the thought processes of those people who don’t suffer from panic attacks. Non-sufferers don’t examine anxious thoughts, they simply arise, pass and fade away, whereas for sufferers, an anxious thought arises, gets examined, gives rise to another anxious thought, which also gets examined, then there are two anxious thoughts together, which results in an even bigger anxious thought, etc. Essentially, a cycle of fear forms, and that is what needs to be targeted. Break that cycle and you will be free from panic attacks.

To break the cycle of fear that arises from a single anxious thought, you need to follow a three step process: label – watch – proceed. When the anxious thought first arises, you need to label it as such, literally tell yourself that “this is an anxious thought”. Don’t try to ignore it, instead confront it. Then, watch and be aware of the reactions that your body is giving, and know that you have the power to control them, just as you control your reactions when you have happy thoughts. Finally, proceed with what you were doing prior to the anxious thought. It’s done, it’s over with, it was an insignificant part of your day.

This method isn’t complicated and, if it worked for me, and I was a bad anxiety sufferer, then it can help you in overcoming panic attacks too.

If you would like more information on overcoming panic attacks, be sure to visit my blog. I have been a sufferer and have managed to cure panic attacks.