Do Panic Attacks Have Symptoms? Hyperventilation is One - 4 Ways to Breathe Normally
They seem to come on so quickly and without any apparent warning, so do Panic Attacks have symptoms? This is a perfectly reasonable question to which the answer's a definite 'yes.
' One of the conditions that may be named as a symptom is hyperventilation.
It's counted amongst other symptoms because hyperventilation, (or over-breathing), feeds off the Panic Attack and vice-versa.
Many people who suffer Panic Attacks over-breathe even when they're relaxed.
In fact, about 60% of those suffering these attacks hyperventilate.
While in the state of hyperventilation, it always feels as though you don't have enough oxygen.
Actually, the opposite is true.
It sounds strange, but it's a symptom of having too much oxygen.
To extract oxygen from your blood, your body requires carbon dioxide, or CO2.
The problem is that when you hyperventilate, you don't give your body enough time to retain CO2, therefore your body's unable to use the oxygen it does have.
This is what causes the feeling of not having enough air, when in fact you have too much.
I mentioned earlier that the one feeds off the other.
The example here is that anyone who hyperventilates will find that if they're over-excited, Panic will occur.
So how do you breath naturally again? Here are 4 methods to bring your breathing back to normal.
1.
Hold Your Breath If you hold your breath for as long as you're comfortably able, you'll retain the CO2.
Try holding your breath for between 10 to 15 seconds.
Don't worry if you can't.
Those figures are merely guidelines.
Don't end up on the floor, thrashing around like a fish out of water! Just do what's comfortable.
Repeat this a few times and you should calm your breathing.
2.
The Paper Bag Trick Have you ever wondered what the real reason is for this? You sometimes see it on a TV film.
Someone works themselves into 'a state,' and someone else shoves a paper bag at them.
Actually, it's a good method.
It causes you to re-inhale the carbon dioxide that you've already exhaled.
I suppose there are times when this method wouldn't be appropriate, but if it helps you to breath normally, frankly, so what? 3.
Vigorous Exercise A good walk or run as you breath in and out through your nose will bring you back to normal.
There are certainly times when this is inappropriate.
If you hyperventilate during a speech, you can hardly drop to the floor and do 20 quick press-ups! 4.
Irregular Breathing If your breathing's irregular or uncomfortable a lot of the time, the best way to deal with it is by exercise.
If you're not used to exercise, see your doctor first and whatever you do, start off slowly.
Any of the above methods will cause your breathing to return to normal
' One of the conditions that may be named as a symptom is hyperventilation.
It's counted amongst other symptoms because hyperventilation, (or over-breathing), feeds off the Panic Attack and vice-versa.
Many people who suffer Panic Attacks over-breathe even when they're relaxed.
In fact, about 60% of those suffering these attacks hyperventilate.
While in the state of hyperventilation, it always feels as though you don't have enough oxygen.
Actually, the opposite is true.
It sounds strange, but it's a symptom of having too much oxygen.
To extract oxygen from your blood, your body requires carbon dioxide, or CO2.
The problem is that when you hyperventilate, you don't give your body enough time to retain CO2, therefore your body's unable to use the oxygen it does have.
This is what causes the feeling of not having enough air, when in fact you have too much.
I mentioned earlier that the one feeds off the other.
The example here is that anyone who hyperventilates will find that if they're over-excited, Panic will occur.
So how do you breath naturally again? Here are 4 methods to bring your breathing back to normal.
1.
Hold Your Breath If you hold your breath for as long as you're comfortably able, you'll retain the CO2.
Try holding your breath for between 10 to 15 seconds.
Don't worry if you can't.
Those figures are merely guidelines.
Don't end up on the floor, thrashing around like a fish out of water! Just do what's comfortable.
Repeat this a few times and you should calm your breathing.
2.
The Paper Bag Trick Have you ever wondered what the real reason is for this? You sometimes see it on a TV film.
Someone works themselves into 'a state,' and someone else shoves a paper bag at them.
Actually, it's a good method.
It causes you to re-inhale the carbon dioxide that you've already exhaled.
I suppose there are times when this method wouldn't be appropriate, but if it helps you to breath normally, frankly, so what? 3.
Vigorous Exercise A good walk or run as you breath in and out through your nose will bring you back to normal.
There are certainly times when this is inappropriate.
If you hyperventilate during a speech, you can hardly drop to the floor and do 20 quick press-ups! 4.
Irregular Breathing If your breathing's irregular or uncomfortable a lot of the time, the best way to deal with it is by exercise.
If you're not used to exercise, see your doctor first and whatever you do, start off slowly.
Any of the above methods will cause your breathing to return to normal
