If you have ever had an anxiety attack you know that anxiety attacks are always horrible. Even if you don’t have panic attacks often, it is a good idea to learn how to work through them. If you happen to be prone to panic disorders, it is a good idea for you to learn how to calm yourself down in the event that you are alone when an anxiety attack hits you. This is because while your friends and family might be able to calm you down quickly, you can't take them everywhere, right?

First you need to learn how to identify a panic attack's symptoms. Clearly, the most obvious sign of an anxiety attack is suddenly feeling intensely scared without knowing why. You could suddenly start worrying about somebody doing you physical harm, that you could greatly embarrass yourself or even be scared that someone is trying to kill you. Once in a while, an anxiety attack starts on a smaller scale. You could start feeling shaky or nauseous. Your heart might start pounding. You might start to sweat profusely. Some people start hyperventilating or feeling like they are suffocating. If you learn how to identify the warning signs of an anxiety attack you will be able teach yourself to ask "where did these feelings come from?"

One of the most effective methods to keeping a panic attack from escalating is to take some deep breaths and practice some relaxation techniques. Occasionally, a few deep and slow breaths are all it takes to keep the anxiety attack from getting out of control. If you find that deep breathing is too hard or if you start to hyperventilating, you will need to sit down. Breathe into a paper bag and putting your head between your knees are both methods of getting your breathing under control. By getting your breathing under control, you will be well on your way to stopping the anxiety attack entirely.

Every once in a while you might have to give yourself a good "mental shake" to make the anxiety attack stop. There are some counselors who say that forcefully (but in your head) yelling "stop" and to stand perfectly still are viable methods of stopping panic attacks.

Another method to stop an anxiety attack is to learn how to comfort yourself. Try repeating "I'm okay" or "I'm fine" to yourself repeatedly. Calming statements like these are known as "coping statements" and they can be any statement that you know will help you calm down. Some people simply tell themselves "I am having an anxiety attack. I'm okay. I'm having an anxiety attack." Anxiety attacks typically take a couple of minutes to stop, so make sure that you keep repeating your coping statements.

The most important method of making an anxiety attack stop is to acknowledge the fear that makes them happen. Once you have managed to calm down, you should ask yourself what could have started the attack. Accept that something scared you and accept that, the more you learn about them, the easier they will be to work through.