If you've ever experienced a panic attack, you know that the effects can be debilitating.
You find yourself out of breath, your vision starts getting foggy and all of a sudden you are unable to move.
My first panic attack didn't happen until I was well into my twenties.
I was on holiday in a coastal town and I had walked out on a plank over some water.
As I was turning around to walk back my vision started going blurry, and I couldn't move my feet.
Next I found myself short of breath.
Eventually I was able to edge my way back onto the wharf, but if you follow the steps I'm going to show you, you'll be able to train your body to overcome anxiety and panic attacks.
If you don't train yourself how to control panic attacks then you run the risk of serious depression later in life.
Take control of your physiology by practising the following exercise straight away.
As with any exercise, it will become easier with repetition.
Take yourself to a safe place, your lounge or your bedroom, somewhere quiet where you feel completely comfortable.
Even sit in a comfortable chair as this will help you release all the tension you feel.
- Next take note of your breathing, breathe slowly and purposefully in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Slow deep breaths.
- Next you need to create a safe place in your mind.
This might feel strange at first, but imagine in your own mind the kind of place that you want to be, doing the kind of things you like with the people you like.
- Go into as much detail as you can, think about what you are wearing, who else is with you.
Your safe place might be a scene from your favourite movie or book.
- Create a plot of events and imagine yourself living in this safe place as the kind of person you want to be.
Again go into as much detail as you can.
In mine I describe to myself the shoes I'm wearing.
- Most importantly, once you have every detail drawn out perfectly in your minds eye, really start to feel calm and happy and warm.
It's that simple.
Once you get a bit of practice you'll be able to go to your safe place no matter what your real life surroundings, as obviously you won't always have panic attacks in comfortable chairs in your bedroom.
You find yourself out of breath, your vision starts getting foggy and all of a sudden you are unable to move.
My first panic attack didn't happen until I was well into my twenties.
I was on holiday in a coastal town and I had walked out on a plank over some water.
As I was turning around to walk back my vision started going blurry, and I couldn't move my feet.
Next I found myself short of breath.
Eventually I was able to edge my way back onto the wharf, but if you follow the steps I'm going to show you, you'll be able to train your body to overcome anxiety and panic attacks.
If you don't train yourself how to control panic attacks then you run the risk of serious depression later in life.
Take control of your physiology by practising the following exercise straight away.
As with any exercise, it will become easier with repetition.
Take yourself to a safe place, your lounge or your bedroom, somewhere quiet where you feel completely comfortable.
Even sit in a comfortable chair as this will help you release all the tension you feel.
- Next take note of your breathing, breathe slowly and purposefully in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Slow deep breaths.
- Next you need to create a safe place in your mind.
This might feel strange at first, but imagine in your own mind the kind of place that you want to be, doing the kind of things you like with the people you like.
- Go into as much detail as you can, think about what you are wearing, who else is with you.
Your safe place might be a scene from your favourite movie or book.
- Create a plot of events and imagine yourself living in this safe place as the kind of person you want to be.
Again go into as much detail as you can.
In mine I describe to myself the shoes I'm wearing.
- Most importantly, once you have every detail drawn out perfectly in your minds eye, really start to feel calm and happy and warm.
It's that simple.
Once you get a bit of practice you'll be able to go to your safe place no matter what your real life surroundings, as obviously you won't always have panic attacks in comfortable chairs in your bedroom.