Panic attacks can be traumatic for the individual experiencing them. They can crash into you like a tidal wave of negative emotion creating feelings of despair and impending doom. This can make it feel like the world is collapsing around you. People often wonder, “Can I die from a panic attack”.
Panic attacks have become more common today than in the past. A recent study suggests as much as 7% of the female population has some form of social anxiety disorder.
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This number is almost double the 2.7% of males that may suffer from panic attacks and may be attributed to our fast-paced lifestyles and the sheer amount of information we process on a daily basis. We are in fact constantly bombarded throughout our day with emotion altering messages.
A panic attack occurs when your adrenal gland releases large amounts of stress hormones into your blood stream. This can be triggered by physical or mental stress. Some people have predisposed conditions that make them more likely to experience a panic attack. Things such as high blood pressure and obesity can contribute to frequent panic attacks.
When your nervous system feels stress, it reacts with an s.o.s signal to your brain. Your brain notifies your adrenal gland and stress hormones are released into your blood stream.
These hormones have a dramatic effect on your body chemistry. They increase your heart rate and blood pressure, which causes your body temperature to rise, triggering more s.o.s signals from your nervous system. Your breath can become shallow leading you to the point of dizziness and nausea.
If you experience a panic attack, you should try to find somewhere quiet to sit down and collect your thoughts. It is helpful to sit down because your legs may begin to feel like jello. You should try to drink as much water as possible to help your body regulate temperature.
Breathing can be an excellent way to combat anxiety attacks. Take a deep breath and hold it for 4 seconds. Now exhale for 8 seconds and repeat. Simple breathing exercises like this can help you regain control of your body. By slowing your breathing down, you will make your heart rate drop. This, in turn, allows your body temperature to return to normal.
You may find it helpful to focus on some other mental task. Counting is one way to distract your mind from an anxiety attack. Combined with breathing exercises you can create a very effective barrier to panic attacks.
If you suffer from a social anxiety disorder, or you have other health problems such as obesity or high blood pressure, you should do everything in your power to prevent panic attacks.
This includes eating healthy food. Eating healthy is one of the simplest ways to prevent your body from becoming stressed.
Unhealthy food is harder to digest and takes more energy from your body. Junk foods can also create cholesterol and clog your arteries, increasing your blood pressure further. Leafy greens such as spinach and lettuce are high in magnesium. Magnesium is crucial to your body's metabolic functions, strengthening your heartbeat and increasing your circulation.
Meditation is one of the best ways to teach your body how to deal with stress. When you meditate, you release built up anxiety in your body and mind, which can then increase your circulation and mental aptitude. By meditating for just 10 minutes a day, you can reduce your risk of panic attack significantly.
To answer the question, “Can I die from a panic attack?”, the answer is no, not directly. Itis, however, possible to have a panic attack while driving or participating in another activity that requires control. If you do suffer from panic attacks or someone you know, it is wise to begin mastering a relaxation technique like the ones found here Panic Away.
Our Top Pick For Beating Panic Attacks
Stopping, and preventing, panic attacks is now even easier.
