Imagine the following situation: you have had a lot of work, this day your boss asks you to submit a report before the end of the day, then the phone rings and it is one of your clients asking you for an urgent quote, in turn you remember that today you were to take your family to dinner.
Then, suddenly, a feeling of anguish invades you because you feel that you are not going to be able to do everything, you begin to feel that you are short of breath and you feel how your heart begins to beat strongly, suddenly an anxiety crisis arrives, also known as an attack. of panic.
If you are reading this it is because perhaps at some point you have already had a similar experience, or worse yet, you recently had a crisis and it probably was not pleasant for you to have a feeling that “something bad is going to happen to you.”
Anxiety attacks are more common than people think. In fact, according to the WHO, more than 260 million people suffer from some anxiety disorder. In this article We will see what an anxiety crisis is, what its treatment is and what you can do to cope with the situation.
The first thing you need to know is that An anxiety crisis is your body’s way of telling you “we need to slow down.” and it occurs as a response to several factors together that can range from high stress, constant worries, not having regular sleep schedules, among others.
These are the most common symptoms; However, it is important that you know that there are other people who may experience it differently.
Thus It is important that you go to a specialist to evaluate you and diagnose your anxiety level., either with a psychiatrist or a clinical psychologist. In our psychotherapeutic center we have specialists who interview you and apply the necessary tests so that you have an accurate diagnosis that can help you with this.
Why does an anxiety crisis appear?
While it is true that there is no single cause that causes a crisis, there are factors that lead to greater risk. For example, some social psychologists attribute our emotional discomfort to a system in which The hustle and bustle and daily demands lead us to be at such a level of alert and availability that they generate constant stress.which leads to anxiety and all its nuances, added to factors such as lack of opportunities, little access to health services, unemployment… that generate mechanisms of hypervigilance in ourselves.
On the other hand, some research suggests that these factors predispose us to having a crisis:
The reasons can help us understand the cause a little. However, An anxiety crisis is something that could happen to anyone.regardless of the origin and depends a lot on the emotional tools you have to get out of it.
What treatment should I have if I have had crises?
If you have already had anxiety attacks, you probably need pharmacological and psychological treatment. The first will help you balance your norepinephrine levels, which is one of those responsible for your physical responses, as well as your serotonin, which affects your mood. This treatment should always be under the supervision of a psychiatrist.since it can have counterproductive effects.
On the other hand, psychotherapeutic treatment will help you have tools to work with your emotions and thoughts. Until now, The cognitive-behavioral current is the one that has had the best results.. This type of therapy will help you identify the type of thinking you have and what elements make you prone to a crisis. In this type of intervention, the duration of treatment is usually between 12 and 24 sessions when it is a mild to moderate case.
Both treatments, carried out appropriately, have a high success rate in helping people overcome anxiety attacks.
And what can I do while I find a specialist?
We know that finding a specialist you feel comfortable with can take a while; Therefore, here we explain some tips that, although they do not root out your anxiety crisis, they can help you reduce the episodes.
1. Keep an emotions diary
It is one of the first recommendations we make in our office, since helps you be aware of what’s going on in your head and to identify the type of thoughts that lead you to a crisis.
2. Start practicing Mindfulness
This will help you put 100% of your attention in the present moment, but above all to better manage the interaction you have with everyday situations.
3. Give yourself time to relax
Everyday life demands a lot from us, so give yourself a time to stop and enjoy the small pleasures in life whether watching a movie or a good book, or simply doing nothing. It will help you a lot to reconnect with yourself.
4. Exercise regularly
It is the basic thing that you have to integrate into your life. Regardless of your emotional state, it will bring you many benefits and help you release stress.
For example, reduce caffeine and sugar consumptionWhen you tend to have anxiety, these foods make your situation worse.
Concluding
In general, when dealing with anxiety problems, you should try to lead a better lifestyle; We are sure that in combination with therapeutic treatment, these routines will help you overcome the situation. In Emotional Astronaut We love talking about these topics and everything related to mental health. If you need more advice, you can listen to our podcast “De Otro Planeta” or follow us on social networks, where we publish illustrations with valuable information so you can take care of your mental health. You can find more information about us on this page.
