by Ryan Gordon

Created on: August 26, 2007

We all hate anxiety...

Many people claim that anxiety is an "unnatural feeling." However, it is anything but unnatural. Millions of people around the world suffer from anxiety and are embarrassed to talk about it for fear of other people thinking they are crazy. The fact remains that everyone suffers from anxiety to a certain degree. How people deal with anxiety will inevitably affect its severity. People with severe anxiety will often experience a panic attack. I used to be plagued by panic attacks but now I am worry free from them. Here is my advice to those who suffer.

Anxiety is caused by stress. The more stressed an individual is the more anxiety they will experience. My first panic attack happened to me when I was 18. I was working a full time job and I was going to school full time. I woke up in the middle of the night and my heart was racing and my breathing was deep. I also had an "out of body" experience. I didn't know what was wrong with me and the feeling lasted hours. I couldn't go to work the next day and I had to call out. The feeling eventually subsided; however, I was imprisoned with feelings that another panic attack would ensue - which they did. The near thought of having another pack attack gave me a constant stream of anxiety.

For 3 years I was tormented from these feelings - trying to rid myself of these feelings along the way. I tried self help books, talking to others and even medication. Nothing really helped. It wasn't until boot camp where I helped myself and lost these feelings forever.

I was terrified in boot camp initially. It was not because of the tasks I had to do or drill instructors screaming in my face. I was scared of having a panic attack and there not being able to do anything about it. So when a panic attacked happened I eventually came up with a method to calm myself down in a short and easy process.

1. Blame it on your genetics. Likely there is someone in your family who suffers from anxiety. It's not your fault and it's a normal family trait.

2. Remind yourself anxiety is normal. Millions of other people just like you suffer from it.

3. Remind yourself that "it's just another stupid panic attack." You've been through this before. It's not going to kill you and there is no sense of worrying about it.

4. Redirect your thoughts to something else. Remove yourself from the situation and try another activity if you can. (I couldn't in boot camp, but exposure therapy helped me.)

It's that simple. If you can remind yourself on the onset of anxiety these 4 steps, eventually the steps will become automatic. You will notice a significant loss of anxiety. While your panic attacks may never go away (mine never did), they will go from lasting a few hours to a few minutes to a few seconds. On top of these steps, exercise and relaxing will help reduce anxiety to a greater effect.

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