If you’ve ever had an anxiety attack, then you know what a scary experience it can be. You may feel as if you’re going to lose control or in extreme circumstances, you may fear that you won’t survive the experience. Either way, it’s no fun. Unfortunately, if you’ve had one anxiety attack, it’s likely you’ll have another one. Be prepared by learning the positive self-talk necessary to get you through the experience. Here are a few things you can tell yourself to reduce your anxiety in the moment.
- You’re not alone.
Anxiety attacks can make you feel like you’re going crazy. You may think that you’re the only person in the world who has ever felt such extreme levels of stress. Don’t tell yourself this lie. We live in a stressful and chaotic world. Approximately 19 million people in the United States alone suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. Some of the most successful people have struggled to learn how to treat anxiety effectively. Once the attack subsides, you may consider finding a support group in your community or online. Just knowing that other people have experienced what you’re going through can be a tremendous help. It can also help you beat depression that could result from feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- This too shall pass.
In addition to deep breathing, perhaps the most important thing you can do during an anxiety attack is to remind yourself that the uncomfortable feeling will pass. Your stress can be so intense during an attack that you can see your way past it. Reminding yourself that there are more peaceful moments ahead will help you learn how to deal with stress resulting from anxiety attacks. Make this a mantra, and repeat it over and over again until the anxiety passes.
- Sometimes, anxiety is just anxiety.
An anxiety attack definitely feels like a warning that something is very wrong. It can get your head spinning in a million directions in an attempt to figure out what the crisis is. If you don’t know what brought on the attack, accept the possibility that the anxiety is simply anxiety. No more and no less. Overthinking the situation won’t help, and in fact, it will likely make the situation worse.
- You can overcome anxiety.
Many people who have anxiety attacks mistakenly think that it’s a life sentence. Nothing could be further from the truth. With personal development strategies such as meditation, visualization, and other personal growth techniques, you can be anxiety free! Don’t allow yourself to feel hopeless if you want to avoid having to beat depression along with the anxiety you’re already experiencing.
There’s no doubting that anxiety attacks are unpleasant experiences. If you suffer from these attacks, it’s important that you learn how to treat anxiety effectively. Unfortunately, you can’t just trust your instincts in these situations. Knowing how to calm yourself can minimize the negative effects of anxiety attacks and empower you to live your life without the constant fear of anxiety striking.
