Don't panic over anxiety attacks

THIS is a surprisingly common problem. About one in 50 people suffer repeated anxiety attacks. The best way to understand what they’re like is to imagine that an axe-wielding maniac has just burst into your home. Your heart will be racing, your mouth will go dry, you’ll feel panic-stricken and dizzy, and you’ll want to escape ASAP. Take the axe attacker out of the picture and that’s a panic attack. They’re sudden episodes of intense fear that come on for no reason. Why this happens to some people remains a mystery – it might be linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain. There are three basic steps to sorting them out. First, see them for what they are: Horrible but harmless. If you’re terrified that they’re a sign of something awful about to happen, like stroke or heart attack, you’ll just feel ten times worse. Make sure those around you understand, too. If they’re hopping up and down in a panic, that won’t help. Second, know what to do next time you get one. Try to stay relaxed. Remember, it’ll pass, just like it always has done in the past. Breathing in and out through a paper bag is a good way of calming yourself down, and eases some of the symptoms the panic attack causes. And third, try to prevent them. This may mean self-help. There are plenty of books and leaflets which teach you how to beat them. Or it might mean specific treatment. Which is why your daughter might want to visit her GP. A talking treatment called cognitive behavioural therapy can make a big difference. And so, in certain cases, can drug treatment.