7 Tips to Stop Panic Attacks: Physician Offices in Washington DC

Panic attacks can be frightening. These intense episodes of sudden fear can make a person feel that the world is coming to an end or somebody is out to get them. This feeling of impending doom creates a reaction in the mind and body. It increases hear rate, perspiration, causes shortness of breath and nausea, or dizzy spell. You may think you are about to die.

Seeing somebody having a panic attack can also make you panic. You don’t know how to deal with the situation. Moreover, most attacks happen suddenly, so the sufferer and the person with him/her are unprepared to tackle the episode.

Physician offices in Washington, DC, are equipped to handle panic attacks. You can either call a doctor or, if possible, bring the sufferer directly to the clinic for immediate treatment.

Here are a few things you can do at home when you or your loved one get a panic attack.

1. Breathe deeply.

When you are in panic, your breaths become shallow and quick. Focus on your breathing. Take deep and slow breaths. This will naturally calm down your nerves.

Breathe from the belly. Place your hand on the belly to feel it rise and fall as you inhale and exhale.

2. Do some chanting.

Purse your lips to make an “O.” Hum the “O” sound loudly for a few minutes. Your panic will begin to subside.

3. Smell lavender.

Aromatic oils, particularly lavender, help to calm the senses. Make sure you aren’t allergic to this oil. Smell it. Apply a drop between your eyes, on the belly, on your feet, and on your heart.

You can also sip chamomile tea or make some favorite tea of yours.

4. Go amidst nature.

If it’s safe, walk out to your nearest park or some water body. The natural elements soothe senses and remove panic from your system, suggest doctors at physician offices in Alexandria, VA.

5. Draw.

Bring out a pen and paper and do some doodling. It shifts your focus from the panicky thoughts and releases the panic energy. Do some sketching and coloring.

6. Splash cold water on the face.

Studies show that cold water stimulates the vagus nerve, which is a calming nerve. It decreases your heart rate and activates your immune and digestive systems. The area behind your eyeballs is one of the points of this nerve.

7. Massage your scalp.

A study released in the International Journal of Neuroscience reveals that massage therapy brings down cortisol (stress hormone) level by 31 per cent. It accelerates serotonin production by 28 per cent and dopamine production by 31 per cent.

Scalp massage increases blood flow to the brain and releases tension in muscles of the neck and back of head.

Use any essential oil that suits you. Or you could simply use coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, or olive oil. Massage on your own or have somebody massage your scalp. Once you are calm, you may consult a doctor at the physician offices in Washington, DC, to find the root cause of your panic attacks.