Anxiety attacks can be debilitating - both mentally and physically. If you have ever had the misfortune of suffering from one or more anxiety attacks in your life, take comfort in the fact that there are steps you can take to alleviate or prevent these attacks from reoccurring. Let's take a look at the many steps you can follow if you feel an anxiety attack coming on -- no matter where you are.



Anxiety attacks typically start with a feeling of complete and total anxiety. This is usually followed by rapid heartbeat, sweating, ,shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. Panic attacks can even cause you to faint or pass out if they are extreme enough. When any of these symptoms begin, it is in your best interest to try to breathe deeply and slowly. Doing this will prevent your heartrate from skyrocketing. It will also prevent lightheadedness.

Next, to prevent a bad anxiety attack, you should try to focus your mind and attention on something positive -- even though it may seem like an impossible thing to do. People who have panic attacks often have a hard time focusing on anything other than what is bothering them at that moment. And for some, an anxiety attack may come out of nowhere. Therefore, if you feel an attack coming on, one of the best things you can do is to think of something happy and focus on positive thoughts. Perhaps you can recall a favorite childhood memory, or you can think of being in the warm sunshine on the beach of a tropical island.

Although thinking positively helps some anxiety patients, it does not help all of them. For some people, trying to focus on the positive can seem completely impossible, In these cases, it is best if you try to surround yourself with people who can help you to take your mind off of everything. Being around others can help some anxiety patients preoccupy themselves. In this way, their panic will not be at the forefront of their minds. Talking, joking, and laughing with friends and family can do wonders for the stressed mind. This is one of the best ways to alleviate anxiety. If there is no one around, you can always pick up the telephone or sign online to an Internet chat program to talk to people. If you have no family or friends online, you can always join an anxiety chat group, and talk to people with the same problem. This can be highly beneficial to your mental health.

Another thing you may want to consider to alleviate a panic attack is to take anti-anxiety medication. If you take the necessary step to visit a doctor who is a mental health professional, you can get a prescription for one of a variety of medications used to treat panic attacks. Some of these medication types include Xanax, Lorazepam, and Valium. Taking these medications on an "as needed" basis (i.e. when you feel an attack coming on) can be extremely helpful. These medications work quickly to calm your nerves and your anxiety. Your doctor will evaluate your specific case and be able to prescribe the correct medication and dosage of it that you will need. Only with a doctor's prescription can you get such medications. After you are prescribed an anti-anxiety medication, your doctor will monitor how well it works for you and if you have any unwanted side effects. Because this medication can sometimes be abused or addicting, your doctor will want to make sure that you are using it correctly.

A last way to deal with anxiety attacks is to seek the professional help of a therapist, also known as a psychiatrist. This mental health doctor will be able to talk to you one-on-one and give you personalized suggestions of how to end your anxiety. This will mean that you have to open up to your therapist and tell him or her exactly what is going on in your life, and your insights on it. If you are open and honest with your therapist, you will be able to receive the best help possible.

So if you suffer from sporadic and recurrent anxiety attacks, don't lose hope. Simply following these few steps can make your life easier and much happier.