The human body has a built in mechanism that responds to stressful situations in order to cope with them.
Stress is a natural part of our daily lives.
We go through life facing stress and challenges.
When we are about to conduct that scientific lecture before a large group of erudite faculty members, we feel butterfly in our stomachs.
We hyperventilate and our throats go dry.
These manifestations are examples of anxiety or panic attacks.
What are panic /anxiety attacks? Webster defined anxiety as "A painful uneasiness of mind usually over an impending or anticipated ill.
" It is a natural response to stressful events.
People consider panic and anxiety as one, but scientifically, they are two different things.
Panic attacks are more rapid and sudden in onset while anxiety attacks happen usually within a period.
A panic attack has any of the following symptoms: 1.
Hyperventilation or rapid breathing 2.
Excessive perspiration 3.
Butterflies in the stomach 4.
Increased heart rate or tachycardia 5.
Trembling 6.
Hot flushes 7.
Numbness of extremities, like hands and feet The symptoms of an anxiety attack are similar to panic attacks but persistent over a period.
These are some of them.
1.
Tachycardia 2.
Hyperventilation 3.
Nausea 4.
Insomnia 5.
Lack of focus 6.
Increased irritability and irascibility You could control and manage panic anxiety attacks by slowly devising a mechanism to cope with them.
People cope with them through many different ways according to their background and individual upbringing.
You should discover methods that could work for you and use it in these situations.
You could adopt some of the following methods: 1.
Psyching yourself up is the most important step to cope with panic anxiety attacks.
Psyche yourself that whatever is stressing you out is manageable.
That group of faculty members invited you because they know you deliver.
You know more than they do in that particular subject, so stand up and deliver! Whatever happens, it would not be the end of the world.
2.
Take deep breaths, when you are in a panic.
Inhale deeply and hold your breath for 5 to 10 seconds, and then exhale all air slowly.
Do this until your breathing returns to normal.
3.
Open and close both fists while you flex your arms.
Do this simple exercise until you feel more or less relaxed.
4.
Do light exercises.
Exercise is a good way of fending off panic attacks.
You can manage panic anxiety attacks.
Do not resort to drugs, alcohol or cigarettes to cope with them.
These products only exacerbate the condition.
Do not be afraid to explore alternative methods that could work for you.