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    173. Your guide to panic attacks

    Walmart honors Black History Month with special events, offering free discovery of black-led products. Con Air celebrates women with their new Con Air Girl Bomb hair removal tool, now available at Walgreens for self-care and confidence boost.

    enFebruary 27, 2024

    About this Episode

    Panic attacks are awful, they sneak up on us in the worst moments and make us feel overwhelmed by an invisible fear. In today's episode we are going to talk through the psychology of panic attacks including: 

    • Why they occur?
    • Panic disorders vs. panic attacks 
    • The flight, fight, freeze or fawn response
    • The car alarm analogy 
    • The function of anxiety and panic
    • Anxiety avoidance vs. acceptance
    • 7 evidence based tips for managing panic attacks 

    We also have a 7 minute meditation at the end of the episode that will talk you through a visualisation exercise for managing an actual panic attack. Listen now! 

    If you need immediate help please call your local crisis centre or access the following resources: 

    Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg 

    Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast 

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    🔑 Key Takeaways

    • Use Pronamel for tooth health, shop smartly at Kroger, create presentations with Canva, support black-owned brands at Walmart, and learn about panic attacks
    • Acknowledge and address panic attack triggers instead of fearing them to effectively manage and reduce their power and frequency.
    • Panic is a survival emotion that prepares us for danger, causing symptoms like racing heart and intense fear. It's normal and part of our body's response, but misinterpreting these sensations can worsen the panic.
    • Individuals with panic disorders have a miscalibrated alarm system that can be triggered by non-threatening stimuli, caused by genetics, past traumas, or major life changes. Panic attacks are temporary and will subside within an hour.
    • Recognize fear serves a purpose but excessive fear can be debilitating. Allow panic attacks to occur instead of suppressing them, acknowledge root causes, and consider empathy as a strength.
    • Use Pronamel for dental care, Intuit for financial management, and practice relaxation techniques for mental health
    • Acknowledging anxiety and panic attacks can help reduce their impact by visualizing, focusing on sensations, practicing calming techniques, and finding a physical outlet.
    • Grounding techniques like connecting with nature, avoiding stimulants, and practicing meditation can help calm the mind and reduce anxiety during a panic attack
    • Through visualization and deep breathing exercises, observe and control anxiety as a feeling, not a threat, and practice self-compassion
    • Visualize anxiety as harmless, practice self-compassion, acknowledge its presence but don't let it control you, prioritize physical health, and use efficient tools like Canva for tasks.
    • Walmart honors Black History Month with special events, offering free discovery of black-led products. Con Air celebrates women with their new Con Air Girl Bomb hair removal tool, now available at Walgreens for self-care and confidence boost.

    📝 Podcast Summary

    Protecting Teeth and Saving Money

    Taking care of our health, specifically our teeth, is crucial as we only get one set. Pronamel intensive enamel repair helps protect and repair acid-weakened enamel. Meanwhile, shopping smartly at Kroger can save money without compromising quality. For productivity, Canva presentations generate slides quickly and easily. Supporting black-owned brands at Walmart is a year-round action that creates new choices. Lastly, understanding panic attacks as a response to perceived threats and learning about them can help regain control and cope effectively.

    Understanding the origins of panic attacks

    Panic attacks are not some unexplainable, terrifying events, but rather a combination of mental and physical reactions that have gotten mixed up. Understanding their origins and learning to cope with them instead of suppressing or avoiding them can help reduce their power and frequency. It's essential to acknowledge and address the triggers, rather than fearing them, to effectively manage panic attacks. Remember, trying to ignore or suppress panic can make it stronger and more frequent in the long run. Instead, embracing and learning to deal with intense emotions can provide valuable insights and skills for handling them.

    Understanding the Role of Panic in Our Lives

    Panic is a survival emotion triggered by our fight or flight response, which prepares us to face danger by causing intense fear and focusing our attention on the perceived threat. This automatic response, including symptoms like racing heart, sweating, and trembling, is an evolutionary mechanism designed to help us respond quickly to physical threats, but can also be activated by internal triggers like phobias or stress. It's important to remember that these sensations are normal and part of our body's response to danger, rather than signs of something more serious. Fearing the fear and misinterpreting these sensations as a threat to our health can make the panic worse.

    Heightened fear of panic attacks in public or inconvenient situations

    Individuals with panic disorders experience heightened fear of having an attack in public or inconvenient situations due to a hypersensitive alarm system. This miscalibrated alarm system, compared to a normal one, can be triggered by non-threatening stimuli. Factors contributing to this lowered threshold include genetics, past traumas, and major life changes. It's important to remember that panic attacks cannot last forever and will eventually subside within an hour, despite feeling exhausting. The alarm system is meant to help, not harm, and it's crucial for individuals to consciously interpret and correct any misperceptions.

    Understanding and managing panic attacks

    Panic attacks can be a result of prolonged stressors or unsafe environments, and suppressing them can make them worse. It's important to recognize that fear and anxiety serve a purpose, but excessive fear can be debilitating. The speaker suggests allowing panic attacks to occur instead of constantly trying to suppress them, as they will eventually pass. Anxiety and panic can indicate underlying issues that need to be addressed. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and dealing with the root causes of anxiety, rather than trying to control every aspect of the environment to avoid fear. Additionally, empathetic individuals, who are often the most anxious, may be more intelligent due to their ability to think through complex situations and consider multiple perspectives. The speaker plans to provide evidence-based tips for managing panic attacks in the next section.

    Protect your teeth, manage finances, and prioritize mental health

    Taking care of your teeth, finances, and mental health are essential aspects of living your best life. Protect your teeth with Pronamel's enamel repair toothpaste and mouthwash, manage your finances with Intuit's financial platform, and practice relaxation techniques during panic attacks instead of fighting them. Remember, black-owned businesses deserve support all year long, and self-care moments like enjoying a Keebler Sandy's cookie can bring comfort and pause in your day. By prioritizing these areas, you'll experience less anxiety and more confidence.

    Give power to anxiety and panic attacks

    Acknowledging and giving power to your anxiety or panic attacks instead of trying to hide from them can help reduce their impact. By visualizing and giving a physical form to these emotions, focusing on sensations, and adopting calming techniques like deep breathing and grounding exercises, you can regain control and distract yourself from the chaos of emotions. The 5.5.5 breathing rule is a helpful tool to shift focus from fear to something controllable. Additionally, finding a physical outlet for nervous energy can be beneficial in managing panic attacks.

    Practice grounding techniques during a panic attack

    Our brains can only focus on a limited number of stimuli at a time and tend to prioritize what feels most immediate. Therefore, during a panic attack, it's essential to practice grounding techniques, such as connecting with nature, to help calm the mind and reduce anxiety. Additionally, avoiding stimulants like caffeine and alcohol can help prevent panic attacks by maintaining a stable emotional state. It's important to remember that not all techniques work for everyone, so having a personalized list of effective coping mechanisms can be helpful. Grounding techniques, such as meditation, going through photos, and affirmations, can provide a sense of calm and remind us that we have survived and will continue to survive panic attacks.

    Control your anxiety with mindfulness practices

    You have the power to control your anxiety through mindfulness practices, such as visualization and deep breathing exercises. Anxiety is just a feeling and it won't physically harm you. Imagine it as a specimen behind a pane of glass, observing its moves without reacting. By focusing on your breathing and heartbeat, you can calm yourself down and gain control. Remember, anxiety can't escape or hurt you, and you can always return to these practices whenever you need to. Practice self-compassion and give your anxiety space to exhaust itself, but ultimately, you are in charge. Keep in mind that you are safe and supported in the present moment.

    Overcoming panic attacks with self-compassion

    Panic attacks can be overwhelming, but with self-compassion and acknowledgement, you have the strength to overcome them. Visualizing anxiety as a harmless emotion can help reduce fear and give you control. Remember, you are the house of all emotions, and they are a part of you. The speaker encourages listeners to talk to their anxiety with compassion and understanding, acknowledging its presence but not giving it control. Additionally, taking care of your physical health, such as protecting your teeth with Pronamel toothpaste and mouthwash, can contribute to overall well-being. Finally, using tools like Canva presentations can help make tasks like creating presentations more efficient and effective.

    Walmart Celebrates Black History Month and Women's Empowerment

    This February, Walmart is celebrating Black History Month with special events at their Black and Unlimited Clock locations in New York City and Los Angeles. From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., visitors can try, like, and share black-led products, with giveaways every hour. This is a free and inclusive opportunity to discover new options for enhancing daily routines. Additionally, Con Air is celebrating women every day with their new line, Con Air Girl Bomb. This powerful hair removal tool not only provides silky smooth skin but also empowers women with a confidence boost. Con Air Girl Bomb is now available at Walgreens, making it easy for women to treat themselves to some self-care magic. So, mark your calendars, ladies, and join in the celebrations!

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