Panic Attacks - What Happens Inside Your Body

Panic Attacks are an automatic response of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is the automatic nervous system, the one responsible for mobilizing the resources of the body under stress.

Panic attacks are triggered by the "flight or fight" response. The flight or fight is a response that gets triggered by a stimuli associated with danger. Simply put it is an automatic response to fear.

In the event of a panic attack there are numerous processes that take place in the human body. First the brain has already interpreted a threat and sends a signal to the adrenal glands to produce adrenalin. Adrenalin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter. When produced in the body it increases heart rate, contracts blood vessels and dilates air passages. Its purpose is to prepare the body for quick reaction.

The heart starts to pump faster providing the muscles with more oxygen.

Eye pupils dilate in order to take in more light.

The veins in the skin constrict in order to send more blood to major muscle groups. This bodily reaction is responsible for the chills and shaking that people feel when experiencing a panic attack. The redistribution of blood means that there is less blood to keep the skin warm and this also makes it loose color and look pale.

The levels of blood-glucose increase. Glucose is the simplest form of sugar and is quickly absorbed by the body. This means that the body has released into the blood stream extra energy resources.

Muscles tense up - energized from the adrenaline and glucose.

Smooth muscles relax in order to take more oxygen.

None essential systems like digestion, hair and nail growth and also the immune system shut down. This is the reason why people often experience feeling of indigestion.

Temporally the human body is functioning at its best, absorbing stored energy, vitamins and minerals in order for it to run and fight at its hardest.

Once a panic attack has started all these processes happen automatically. Adrenalin is a hormone and once released into the blood stream there is nothing a person can do to stop producing its effects physically. However people can prepare mentally in order to prevent panic attacks from happening.

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Useful Tips For Coping With Anxiety Or Panic Attacks

It happens to all of us in one form or another at some point in our lives. Anxiety, depression or just sheer panic. In most cases the actual cause of this problem is relatively minor, and after a short while all is back to normal and we get on with our lives until the next time.

But for some people this is just the beginning of a serious problem requiring outside help and assistance.

This article is really aimed at the majority of us who, with a little self help, can overcome these attacks and be none the worse for the experience. Those unfortunate enough not to be able to do this may benefit from some of the tips (they are worth trying), but if they don't feel it helping them they should obviously seek professional assistance.

Tip 1. Breathing

If you feel an attack of anxiety or panic coming on (and trust me you'll know), the most common and effective method of relief is to use a paper bag. It's simple but it works. The cause is normally an imbalance between the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. By breathing in and out of a paper bag the balance between the two is restored. If you don't happen to have a paper bag handy, then just using your hands cupped together will also work. Breathe deeply and evenly without taking the paper bag (or your cupped hands) away from your mouth. The idea being that you breathe in the air you've just exhaled which restores the balance.

Tip 2. Lifestyle

If you regularly feel these anxiety or panic attacks coming on, you may want to look at altering your lifestyle in some way. Just doing things differently may get you 'out of the rut'. There's nothing more depressing than doing the same thing day after day. When you get up in the morning you have to have something to look forward to, even if it's only having a cup of coffee with a friend. Have a look at what you do every day and see if you can change it round a bit, it could make all the difference to how you feel.

Tip 3. Exercising

Doing regular exercises every day can also help. You don't have to start training to run a marathon, even gentle exercises will help, but do them regularly. If you can, cut down or stay off alcohol for a while too. Alcohol can act as a depressant so if you're already feeling down you'll only make it worse.

Tip 4. Eating

What you eat and when you eat can make a big difference to how you feel. You don't need to go on a strict diet unless you want to, but eat less, eat sensibly and eat regularly. Try to stay off junk and processed food too, as they can make you feel worse. As with most things in life, use common sense and you won't go too far wrong.

Tip 5. Talking

One of the most important things you can do if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks is to stay calm and not do anything in a hurry. Another important thing to do is talk. Talking somehow releases a lot of pent up emotions and frustration trapped inside your mind and can make you feel better just by sharing these feelings with someone else. The old saying 'A problem shared is a problem halved' has no truer meaning. At times like this family and friends are the most important people you can have around you. Trust them.

Always find something to do. Never sit around thinking, as this only leads to demons being found where none really exist, and the only outcome is further anxiety or panic attacks. Listen to music, watch television, go to the cinema or for a meal with friends, anything in fact to take your mind off whatever it is that troubles you. Dealing with anxiety or panic attacks does not always need professional medical assistance and can often be cured using nothing more than common sense and a positive outlook. Oh, and a little help from your friends.

For more information on coping with anxiety or panic attacks and what you can do about them go to http://www.donotpanic.info where you will find a lot of other advice too. Get a copy of our FREE newsletter while you're there and keep up with other ways of taking control of your life again. They say we only have one life so we need to look after it as best we can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bernard_Thompson