Panic attacks can be overwhelming, making it difficult to function in life.
If you are able to identify the early signs of panic attack, there are steps you can take to cope with this terrifying experience naturally, without resorting to medications.
The first step in getting through a panic attack is to identify your early warning signals.
For some people it may be a general feeling of discomfort that leads to an accelerated heartbeat.
You may begin to feel sweaty, and fear will begin to dominate your thoughts.
  When you notice a panic attack starting, you must first accept that you are afraid and may be having a panic attack.
When you try to resist the attack, fears associated with the emotional pain of the attack itself will make the condition worse.
Simply admit that you feel afraid, without judging yourself or trying to understand why.
Endeavor to ride out the attack, which you know will end.
You may feel like you are going to die, but you know in your heart that this will not happen.
If you accept the fear and do not try to fight it, you can then work through the attack one step at a time.
  Once you have accepted the fear, make note of the physical sensations in your body.
Try to focus on the feelings in your body rather than the fear in your mind.
Think of the process as a scientific experiment in which you are detailing the physical sensations associated with panic attacks.
Make note of the increased heart rate, the difficulty breathing and the tension in your muscles.
It may help to keep a diary where you can journal these sensations, which will give your anxiety an outlet.
  Now that you have accepted the panic attack is happening and identified the physical sensations that come with the fear, you can take actions aimed at making yourself more comfortable while you ride out the attack.
 One excellent method of coping with the fear and anxiety is to focus on your breathing.
Breathe deeply, not through your upper chest as you would during exercise, but through your diaphragm.
This involves focusing the breath so your stomach, not your chest, expands outward.
Breathe in slowly, counting to five, then gently relax the breath out from your body.
Once your breathing is under control, you can begin to think your way through the rest of the panic attack.
Remind yourself that it is okay to be afraid.
Think of this panic attack as an opportunity to practice your coping skills.
Remember the panic attack will end; you need only to wait.
  Another action that will help you endure the panic attack with less difficulty is to tense and relax different muscles in your body.
Begin with your face, then your neck and move down your body one muscle group at a time, tensing and then relaxing.
This will help ease the tension in your body, helping you to work through the attack more quickly.
  The good news is that learning to cope with your panic attacks can make them less frequent and severe.
These coping tactics will help you be less afraid of the attacks themselves and can help to stop a panic attack before it becomes full-blown.
Anxiety and Panic Attack Treatment