Anxiety and panic attacks can occur for a variety of reasons. Your stress levels may be high, throwing off your natural balance of chemicals within your body. While you may have a tendency toward anxiety, counseling can help you better manage your thoughts and give you a place where you can talk about what is going on in your life. People go to adult counseling services to work through grief, to deal with a difficult past, or when they are struggling at work. Your therapist may suggest a combination of lifestyle changes, or encourage you to talk with your doctor when you are experiencing panic attacks that continue to disrupt your life.

Anxiety and Your Stress Response

When you are feeling stressed, the adrenaline levels in your system will rise. The startle response that occurs when you are in fight-or-flight mode produces the same chemical reaction in your body when you are feeling anxious. A therapist can help you decrease your stress response in an attempt to help you better manage your anxiety. If your thoughts run out of control when you are feeling anxious, a therapist can talk to you about coping strategies. You will talk through your worries, and may be able to decrease how strongly you respond to stress in your life.

When Panic Attacks Occur

Some people get panic attacks. The more you worry about panic attacks, the more often they seem to occur. A panic attack is a sudden feeling of doom or intense fear, and can cause a rapid heartbeat, sweating, and feeling like you are losing control. While the fear is intense, you can learn how to better manage your panic attacks when they happen. Your therapist may teach you deep breathing techniques that help reduce the intensity of the attack. Mindfulness training can help you visualize a calm space when you are going through a panic attack. A therapist will teach you coping strategies to reduce the severity of your attacks and help you heal.

Anxiety, panic attacks, and the recovery from both can be supported by therapy. You may want to talk to your primary care physician about medication, or talk with a psychiatrist about medication that can help you diminish your panic attacks. Medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes can all help you overcome the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks so that you can be more productive. When anxiety is controlled, life becomes easier to manage.