Anxiety attacks can be terrible and can greatly restrict your life. I have had them and have experienced all the symptoms - racing heart, dizzy spells, sweating, and insomnia, etc. They are usually caused by stress and I found that when I reduced my stress and made some major life changes, the anxiety attacks went away - without medication.

I found the following to be very helpful:

1) Shifting my thoughts when I felt an attack coming on or whenever I felt my anxiety level rising - that means, thinking of something else. It can be helpful to go for a quiet walk, stroke a pet, listen to some music, breathe deeply.

2) Learning to think positive about my life in general is a great preventative. It helps to attend a support group or have a friend who really understands anxiety. The best advice I got from a counsellor was that my brain is like any other muscle and that it could be trained to work differently.

3) Keeping some phrases handy and repeating them to myself when I start to stress out. I used little stickies on my fridge and bathroom mirror. "Breathe", "Do nothing right now", "Keep it simple" are a few of these phrases that can help prevent a full-blown anxiety attack.

4) Reducing stress in general. I saw a counsellor for some family problems. I left a very stressful high-paid job for a less demanding, lower paid one. I also incoporated exercise into my life every day - it is the best stress reliever!

5) Getting lots of sleep on a regular basis. I do this by going to bed at the same time most nights, even when I don't have to work the next day. I use rituals - cuddling pets, turning off the TV, turning the lights down low, taking books to bed, putting on soft flute music - and after a little practise, these rituals work to bring sleep about naturally.

Learn more about this author, Carol Upton.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Curbing anxiety attacks?
We want to hear your view. Write now!