Soldier – August 2019

What is a panic attack?

A feeling of sudden and intense anxiety.

The symptoms aren’t dangerous but can

be incredibly frightening.

They can make you feel as if you are

going to die. Most attacks last between

fi ve minutes and half an hour

MENTAL HEALTH

Panic attacks always pass. Tell

yourself that the symptoms you’re

experiencing are caused by anxiety.

Ride out the attack. Try to keep doing

things. If possible, don’t leave the situation

until the anxiety has subsided.

Confront your fear. If you don’t run

away from it, you’re giving yourself a

chance to discover that nothing’s

going to happen.

If you’re having a short, sudden

panic attack, it can be helpful

to have someone with you,

reassuring you that it will pass

and the symptoms are nothing to

worry about.

How to cope

Prof Paul Salkovskis,

Anxiety disorder expert,

University of Bath

Panic & anxiety

http://www.soldiermagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2019 27

Visit

the NHS

website and

nopanic.org.uk

for more

support

Yoga,

refl exology and

aromatherapy

really help

me. Being a

practitioner in

aromatherapy

means I help

others to feel

less stressed

and anxious

too, which also

helps me.

Davina

Try using a combination of

mindfulness and breathing

exercises to control anxiety,

and go for long walks in the

country. That’s great for stress.

Mark

Symptoms can include:

shaking

feeling disorientated

nausea

rapid, irregular heartbeats

dry mouth

restlessness

sweating and dizziness

Yoga is a

great coping

strategy

for anxiety.

I learnt it

at Combat

Stress and

continue

doing it.

Steve

24-31-sol-aug N2K.indd 4 25/07/2019 18:41