by Christine Masssie

Created on: October 06, 2009

Panic attacks are a very real physiological response to conditions within the body. Although they may manifest in a way that makes the sufferer feel they are going crazy, they are, at the core, the body's instinctual fight or flight response. In appropriate circumstances, this instinct triggers actions to preserve life. When something happens that corrupts this natural response cycle, the effects can be devastating to a person's emotional, physiological, and even physical life. Gone unchecked, panic attacks can become crippling; even to the point of a person being unable to leave their home, a condition known as agoraphobia.

If you suffer from panic attacks, there are some things that you can do to mitigate the effects both during the attacks and in your life to prevent the reassurance of those attacks.

1. Establish and maintain a relationship with a medical professional who has a good understanding of panic attacks and anxiety disorder. There are many medications and combinations of medications that can alleviate the attacks. Because everyone is different and everyone's body responds differently to medications, don't be discouraged if the first combination of pharmaceuticals doesn't work for you. Find a physician that is willing to work with you to find the best solution. Because there are many different causes and triggers of panic attacks, over time, you may no longer need drugs to keep your body in a healthy balance. A responsive health care professional will be willing to work with you long term to find the most suitable treatment for your particular situation.

2. Find a good support group that understands your disorder, and can help you deal with your emotional and physical symptoms in a positive manner. Forging friendships with people who understand you can go a long way toward accepting your disorder and finding creative ways to deal with it.

3. When you are not in the midst of a panic attack; calmly create a plan for when and if one does occur. If the thought of driving triggers anxiety because you don't know what you would do if an attack happened when you were driving, make a plan. Calmly consider; OK, if I have an attack while driving what can I do? Plan for every situation you can think of. Write it down. Go though it in your mind. The more you prepare, the less likely it is to cause you problems when or if it actually occurs.

4. Journal about your panic attacks. Write down everything from how it feels to be in the middle of an attack,

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