Is it possible to control panic attacks? Well, to some degree – yes. But if you want to do that, you must understand what they really are. How do they work, why do they occur? Only when you understand how they work will you be able to do something about them. It’s all about understanding. Know your enemy, know yourself, and be prepared.
The very first thing you should really try to understand is the fact that panic attacks cannot kill you. Most people who experienced a panic episode have problems believing this. But it’s nonetheless true. When you accept this fact, you will fear them much less.
As hard as it is to believe this, panic attacks actually have the job to protect you. That is their main function. They are not there to harm you, but to protect you. They are part of a biological alarm system – something that is known to most of you as a fight or flight response. This response gives your body the power and quick energy to fight or escape a threat.
This is a very helpful response in threatening situations when you usually don’t have the time to think your actions through. It was quite important in an evolutionary way and it still is.
The thing that is essential to understand is that panic attacks themselves and fight or flight response in general is not something bad. We all have this biological defense system and there is nothing wrong with it. The core of the problem actually lies elsewhere.
The core of the problem is not panic attacks by themselves, but the unfortunate fact that they occur, when they shouldn’t. They are triggered by situations that in reality do not require this kind of reaction.
That is the problem. Not the alarm mechanism by itself, but its oversensitive trigger settings. And if you want to learn how to control panic attacks, you have to fully understand this. Only then will you be able to address the real issue.
See here to learn more about how to control a panic attack. Also take a look at how to stop panic attacks.