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How can you stop anxiety attacks?

89 Answers
Last Updated: 02/28/2022 at 4:48pm
How can you stop anxiety attacks?
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Top Rated Answers
Profile: ListensLikeAFriend
ListensLikeAFriend
April 28th, 2016 3:53am
Maybe try some breathing exercises, closing you're eyes and relaxing. Anyway to calm yourself down would be helpful to you.
Profile: Starling98
Starling98
April 28th, 2016 3:15am
The best way to stop anxiety attacks is not to avoid things that trigger you, but to develop skills to mitigate your reaction to circumstances.
Profile: Iknowyou
Iknowyou
April 27th, 2016 8:30pm
Meditate It is important to release the tension in your body. So focus on that tension (especially in the belly). Act normal and call a friend or play some music Try to stay calm and grab your phone if that is possible. Do something that can keep your mind off of your negative thoughts. If you can't use your phone then leave the room for a few minutes. If you're in an airplane then go to the toilet for example. Go back to the cause of anxiety Usually the cause is not as heavy as you might think. Be honest to yourself while you think deeply about the cause. You don't have to do this alone. In fact, it is better to do this with someone else. Maybe with family or a good friend or perhaps you could talk with a professional. Maybe you need to change your lifestyle. Whatever it is, try not to be afraid of it (the cause). As long as you're not avoiding it, it will get better and better.
Profile: booklover1224
booklover1224
April 27th, 2016 3:57pm
The best way to stop an anxiety attack is to try and get out of the situation. Find a space apart where you can wait a little bit. Hopefully it will subside. If it doesn't, it's perfectly ok to ask for help. One thing that seems to work for me is counting multiples 12, since it's my lucky number.
Profile: iseeseashells
iseeseashells
April 27th, 2016 2:55am
In my experience, sometimes it's best to identify what is causing the attack. For example, are you feeling overwhelmed by a crowd? Sometimes you need to step away for a moment, get a breath of fresh air, focus on your breathing. Telling a close friend who understands can also help soothe you. Remember to focus on that the feeling with pass, and don't blame yourself for these feelings.
Profile: justanotherteenhelping
justanotherteenhelping
April 24th, 2016 11:03pm
breathe. reminisce over times you felt in control, whether that be alone or in someone elses company
Profile: GenevieveYamamoto
GenevieveYamamoto
February 28th, 2022 4:48pm
I suffer from severe panic and anxiety disorder along with PTSD in this has been basically my entire life. I do not wanna be on medication because it made me feel absent minded and not myself whatsoever and so whenever I feel a panic attack coming on I try to ground myself with my breathing exercises. I look around and I name three things I recognize. I focus on my breathing and then I remind myself of three things that I’m grateful for. Doing so will literally rewirr your brain from the whole fight or flight emotion coming from the anxiety to a state of gratitude
Profile: LucyInTheSky
LucyInTheSky
May 22nd, 2016 2:00am
Stopping an anxiety attack is different for everyone. Although, one trick I found is to try and close your eyes and recognize at least three different sounds you hear. This trick seems to work especially if you can feel it coming on. Just recognize and label those sounds, and continue if three is not enough.
Profile: RocketSurgeon
RocketSurgeon
February 1st, 2021 6:28pm
Unfortunately, there's no proven way to "Stop" a panic attack. There are some ways you can use to help avoid setting one off. Avoiding stressful situations is a good place to start. Finding coping mechanisms that help you relax and building habits that you do regularly that help you calm down are helpful too. All-in-all stopping an anxiety attack can be more about preventing it from starting. However if it does start there are somethings that can help. Controlled breathing excercises (Intake breath for 5 seconds, hold for 2, then breath out for 4 seconds) Also going to a happy/calming headspace can help pull you out of it I hope this helps :)
Profile: DisneyFee31
DisneyFee31
November 12th, 2019 12:15pm
I try to bring myself back into the moment. I focus on my breathing and say 'All I have to do is breathe in...all I have to do is breathe out'. When I can feel the panic start to subside, I will try and focus on my five senses: 5 things I can see 4 things I can feel 3 things I can hear 2 things I can smell 1 thing I can taste It can be very difficult, but the breathing can really help. Another thing I can do is to focus on something in my hand - maybe my hand itself, or a pen. I will talk to myself about what the pen feels like, the size, the colours, the textures. Really focus on the pen to bring me back into the moment.
Anonymous
July 23rd, 2019 9:11pm
while it's not always easy to stop an anxiety attack, there are ways to manage it. one such way is through a grounding exercise, which helps bring you back to reality by helping you focus on concrete things, like things you can see, hear, feel, smell, or taste. another thing that can help is breathing exercises, which can help trigger the response of your parasympathetic nervous system, or the part of your nervous system that calms you down. a common breathing exercise is breathing for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, and breathing out for four seconds. these are a couple things that can help you cope with an anxiety attack.
Profile: TryingmybestElsa
TryingmybestElsa
May 1st, 2018 6:01pm
I can only talk about panic attacks, i'm not sure about the difference. So when they start you can't stop them. From experience i can tell you that for me, trying to stop them makes it worse, recognize and accept that it is an anxiety attack and wait for it to pass. Because it always will.
Profile: endearingLion70
endearingLion70
March 19th, 2018 12:12pm
There are many ways to identify an anxiety attack and stop it. Some has to do with logic thinking some has to do with ways to distract yourself and some with physical activities. You should find what works for you.
Profile: Arkelight
Arkelight
November 7th, 2017 9:15pm
It can be different for everyone, but one of the best methods is breathing exercises. If that doesn't work, picture the situations that make you anxious in the safety of your own home and analyse them. Why are you anxious? Is there a threat? Is my reaction appropriate?
Anonymous
April 25th, 2017 1:06am
There are great resources on the internet for stopping anxiety attacks however my personal go-to's are using breathing techniques to control my breathes and heart rate. If I'm try to prevent the attack, I look for outlets like working out, listening to music, meditation. If I'm trying to stop it once it's begun I use breathing techniques, distractions, and yoga. Find things that work for you! And work towards figuring out what is causing the attacks and what you can do to eliminate them for good.
Profile: helpfulhandy1
helpfulhandy1
February 21st, 2017 6:17pm
I use the grounding method. You tell the person who is experiencing the anxiety attack to answer the following questions to keep them in their surroundings. •5 things they can see •4 things they can touch •3 things they can hear •2 things they can smell •1 thing they can taste
Profile: hopefulNight72
hopefulNight72
May 18th, 2016 8:03pm
Breathing techniques often help reduce severe anxiety. Although it is not a permanent fix, it can help before you are having a panic attack. Another thing that I would recommend is exercise, it can help regulate your breathing, and help prevent panic attacks.
Profile: LovelyMoose
LovelyMoose
May 21st, 2016 3:27pm
By focusing on your breathing slowly, as well as focusing on what is around you. Focus on: 5 things that you can see, 4 things that you can touch, 3 things that you can hear, 2 things you can smell and one thing you can taste. This is called "grounding" and can help you focus on the reality of what is around you and help calm you down.
Profile: verboseIcarus42
verboseIcarus42
May 20th, 2016 1:51pm
Anxiety attacks can't always be stopped, but it's good to use some way of grounding yourself when you feel one coming. Go to a place you feel safe in, possibly with people you trust, and talk to them or yourself to help settle the situation.
Profile: fantasticUnicorns22
fantasticUnicorns22
May 20th, 2016 9:55am
I try to think about something else: for me, what is actually working is to watch some stupid television show (and I don't watch general tv at all, so I know it may be sounds strange :D it sounds strange even to me). I've found helpful even reading random stuff like labels or short paragraphs in books, while sipping a hot chamomile tea or vervein tea.
Profile: heycrysteezy
heycrysteezy
May 19th, 2016 11:09pm
Over time, I learned what my triggers are, and how I will typically feel right before an anxiety attack. To talk myself down, I'll have an honest conversation with myself. What am I anxious about? Why am I anxious about it? Do I have a valid reason to be? What is my desired outcome? Other methods I like to use: aromatherapy. I have so many lavender candles, and essential oils that I like to use that help me calm down and feel good. Going for walks and taking a hot bath also helps, and doing something completely separate from my current situation. Pick any activity that you know is going to make you feel good, or that you like to do. Do that for a few minutes or as long as you need to.
Profile: KaylaAayla
KaylaAayla
May 19th, 2016 4:57am
I use grounding and mindfulness techniques because they focus on crisis survival. I do a little excersize of identifying 5 things I see, 4 things I can hear, 3 things I can touch, 2 things I smell and either one the I can taste or a positive affirmation.
Anonymous
May 19th, 2016 4:17am
I don't think there's anyway to stop them entirely. But it helps to avoid stressful situations and use coping techniques when in stressful situations. There are many breathing exercises that may be helpful, as well as other things.
Profile: Ranaeil
Ranaeil
May 19th, 2016 12:39am
You can, however learn how to deal with anxiety attacks. You can try and find things that help you when you are having an attack. Things like deep breathing exercises can help. Everyone is different, of course. There is possibly something out there that can help with your attacks.
Profile: SoialWorkerAllan
SoialWorkerAllan
March 24th, 2016 2:18am
One good way of stopping anxiety attacks is going outside and getting some fresh air and having a nice power walk. Another one is taking long deep breaths. You can also listen or watch relaxation videos
Profile: Hayleigh2112
Hayleigh2112
April 2nd, 2016 7:37pm
Coping with anxiety attacks is tough. For me I went for professional help and got some medication and talking therapy which has helped a great deal.
Profile: GingerWatermelon1999
GingerWatermelon1999
March 30th, 2016 3:13pm
In my opinion to stop an anxiety attack is to distract yourself mental and physically, once you have calmed yourself down by distracting yourself, you then have a clear mind to strip down the problem one step at a time and at your own pace, never rush yourself :)
Anonymous
March 27th, 2016 6:51pm
Anxiety attacks cannot stop immediately. A good way to calm down is to try and get away from what is making you anxious. Listening to music or reading is a good way to calm down. Deep breaths help a lot as wwll
Anonymous
March 26th, 2016 8:13am
Anxiety attacks are pretty scary. Especially when you're alone. Something that works for me is laying on my back on the ground and taking deep breaths. I try to take my mind off of the anxiety attack by focusing entirely on my breathing. Sometimes I count to three for each breath I take. Other times I turn on a song and focus on the instruments.
Anonymous
March 26th, 2016 7:55am
The bravest people out there are the ones with battle scars. Think of happy thoughts and good things that will happen in the future. A birth, marriage, etc.