Panic attacks are absolutely horrible. They come from nowhere and may produce severe reactions in the sufferer - and there is no way of knowing when it's going to happen or where. If you suffer from panic attacks like this it is probably having a really heavy impact on your life. All you need to do to help yourself is to learn a few tips for coping with panic attacks.

They come out of the blue and terrify the sufferer. But what are panic attacks? Basically, they are strong feelings of panic or anxiety that come over a person suddenly, like an attack. You might feel like you are dying, suffocating, drowning, or something similar. You may be hyperventilating,

The panic attack may be a few minutes long, or last for hours. Panic attacks may occur occasionally, or very often. They may seem to have no specific cause, or they may be in direct response to something, called a 'trigger'. They are quite different from nervousness or a feeling of unease, which we all suffer from at various times in our lives.

There are some things you can do for yourself, and the first one is to acknowledge that you have a problem. Your problem is that you have panic attacks. Work with the problem, not against it. Yes, you have panic attacks. Yes, they are horrible. But you have a life to live, and you must do your best to do that.

It is easier if you know what panic attacks are and what causes them. In a nutshell, the natural process preparing your body for 'fight-or-flight' is activated by accident: there is no circumstantial cause. It's something like a security alarm that goes off accidentally. The problem is, it is very scary. But there is nothing to be afraid of. You are not dying. There is no danger. Your system has simply been wrongly activated - that's all.

When you understand what's happening, it's not so scary - is it? Now - what are you going to do about it? First you have to see your family doctor to make sure that you don't have any other health problems that could be causing your panic attacks. If there are, your doctor can treat you and they will stop. If there aren't, then you know there is nothing physically wrong with you. You can begin to recover.

You must know by now that you cannot run away from your panic attacks. There's nowhere to hide from them. Neither can you shield yourself from them with drugs or alcohol. Actually, they can manipulate your mind into thinking that they are worse than they already are, or that a panic attack is happening, when in fact it isn't. They make it worse!

You can help yourself by keeping yourself calm and balanced. Learn some breathing exercises and meditation or yoga. Light exercise is very beneficial - walk for half an hour each day and this will help you to sleep better. Reduce your caffeine and alcohol intakes and increase the fresh fruits and vegetables. Call your doctor and talk about what is happening to you. Let the process of eliminating your panic attacks begin!