Panic attacks are not at all uncommon in today’s high tension world. Panic seems to come out of nowhere and then take control of the panic attack sufferer’s life. When sessions of panic are occurring they are the only thing that matters to the sufferer. He or she feels it is necessary to struggle just to hang on. Mercifully at some point the panic goes away, at least for a while.
The most important thing to know about panic or any sort of anxiety attack is that it is the struggle you put up that makes it powerful. Having the ability to go with the flow will lessen the severity of panic and can actually put an end to it altogether.
Tightening Up
Once a panic attack is perceived to be approaching, the panic sufferer tightens up in an attempt to brace him/herself for the brutal session about to take place. If this tightening up and bracing could be eliminated, the panic could be as well. This is true because without tightening up, nervous symptoms cannot be overwhelming like they can be to a tightened up, fully braced person.
Here is an analogy that is a very powerful tool in overcoming panic. Picture a cork in the bottom of an empty bathtub. If you come along with a fork in hand and try to stab it as you would a piece of food on a plate, you will easily succeed and you will be able to pick up this cork the same as you pick up your next mouthful during dinner.
However, what if the bathtub is full of water? In this situation there is no way you would be able to stab and pick up this cork. The reason for this is the cork in the water is totally un-braced. With no water in the tub the cork is braced against the bottom.
Learning Not To Fight
As a panic attack approaches, you are like a cork in a tub. The fork is an all out panic attack. The water represents whether or not you are bracing yourself and getting ready to put up a fight against the anxiety. Essentially, you make the choice if the tub is empty or full of water.
Realistically, all you can do is realize fighting off panic is what actually makes it come on. Learning how to give in to panic is tough at first. Still, by using the visualization of the cork in the bathtub full of water with the fork being unable to stab it gives you the proper visualization you need to learn not to brace yourself from perceived oncoming panic. In doing so, you will be taking away panic’s most powerful weapon; your fear.
