Anixety Killer! Top 3 Tips To Stop Panic Attacks In Their Tracks.

We've all been there. Sitting in the office, driving to work, at the mall with a friend, when it happens. Our heart rate increases, our palms sweat, that feeling of impending doom begins to overtake us. Our friends tell us to stop thinking so much or to just not worry about it. Sound familiar?

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 1 in 13 people suffer from panic attacks in the United States. Chances are you or someone you know suffers from this debilitating disease. As a fellow anxiety sufferer myself, I know all too well how a panic attack can turn your world upside down. Here are my top 3 tips to stopping a panic attack in its tracks.

1. Treat Your Panic Attack Like Your Best Friend

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend!

Right about now you are probably scratching your head and saying to yourself, "Why in the world would I want to befriend this thing that makes my life miserable?" Just stay with me here. When you are in the middle of a panic attack, what is the one thing you keep saying to yourself over and over again? "I want this to go away. I just want it to stop!" If someone said to you, "Don't pay attention to the pink elephant in the room," what do you end up doing? Looking at the pink elephant in the room of course!

The same holds true with panic attacks. When we continuously try to push it away, not think about it, or wish it would just stop, we are inevitably telling our body we want more of it! So the next time you are faced with a panic attack, try this. Instead of pushing it away, ask it why it's here. What does it want? What is it trying to protect you from?

If for example your anxiety tends to flare up in crowded places, you could say to yourself, "Ok anxiety, I feel you. I know that I am anxious right now because all these people are around me and I might not be able to get out in an emergency. Thanks for the heads up and thanks for trying to keep me safe." When we just acknowledge and welcome our anxiety instead of trying to dodge it like your Aunt Susan at a Christmas party, we allow ourselves to begin to calm down. Give it a try the next time you are in the middle of a panic attack.

2. Alternative Nostril Breathing

Breathe in, Breathe out.

Alternative who said what? Alternative Nostril Breathing, or ANB as it will be known throughout the rest of this article, is a wonderful way to channel all of that anxious energy into something productive. Here's the thing though - this one takes some practice. When you are in the middle of a panic attack the last thing you want to do is some complicated breathing technique, but I promise you it will help.

Take a seat and close your eyes. Reference the picture above for proper hand placement. First you will begin by closing your left nostril with your ring finger and keeping your right nostril open. Inhale through your right nostril, pause and hold for a second or two, close your right nostril with your thumb, release your ring finger from your left nostril and release your breath through your left nostril. You would then repeat the process again but in reverse. Breathe in through the left nostril, out through the right.

It helps me to envision the air I am breathing in as a color. I like to pretend that I am breathing in blue calming air, and expelling red, anxiety filled air. After about 3-5 minutes of this I feel so much calmer.

3. Palmarosa Oil

Palmarosa, your new best friend. Next to your anxiety, of course.

We've all heard about lavander oil and its amazing benefits for calming the mind, but I personally have another oil that I love to use in the middle of a anxiety attack, called Palmarosa. Just like lavender oil calms the mind, palmarosa oil calms the nerves. It is almost like palmarosa oil tells your panic attack to take a chill pill.

A word of caution though, not all essential oils are created equal. You always want to make sure that you are using 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils when you are doing any sort of healing work like this. Here is a link to a wonderful company that I trust and use in my practice http://shop.elizabethvanburen.com/palmarosa/.

If you have sensitive skin, you want to make sure you are diluting the oil on a 1-to-1 ratio before applying it to your skin. Jojoba oil is a great option for diluting essential oils. Place a drop of oil in the palm of your hand, press your palms together, cup your hands and place them about 6 inches in front of your face and take 3 big deep breathes.

A few inhalations of this wonderful oil, along with befriending my anxiety and practicing ANB has helped me to defeat my panic attacks.

Remember to laugh and smile.

*If you would like for me to send you my FREE 30 minute full body relaxation meditation to help decrease stress and anxiety, email me at info@maricopahypnosis.com*

I pass these questions off to you now:

What has worked for you in the past with helping you get through your panic attacks?

Which of my 3 tips are you most excited to try?

Let me know below. I love interacting with you!

*Always consult your doctor before applying any new lifestyle tips like mine*