While panic attacks can be quite disconcerting, they are generally not fatal. These may last for more than 30 minutes although most people suffering from them report 10 minutes is the most common duration.

There are several treatments that have proven quite effective in stopping anxiety attacks. Let us examine them:

1. Control your breathing

Proper breathing is one of the most effective ways of controlling panic attacks. This is because it slows the heartbeat and helps calm the tensed muscles. This technique also diverts the mind's from the "trigger" and helps calms itself. This can stop the attack even faster. It may take some time before mastering this technique but once you do, it is very effective.

Hypnotize yourself

If under a anxiety attack, try to lie down on your back or in any comfortable position. Then while there try to process your thoughts. It is essential to identify the origin of such these fear-inducing thoughts. Sometimes the attack can be induced by something that is not real. Self-hypnosis, while not very popular, is now being recommended by psychiatrists as a viable treatment for anxiety attacks

Practice meditation

Meditation has long been known to relax the body and mind and also relieve stress and anxiety. This is because it promotes the release of negative energy from the body. This in turn reduces irrational fear and apprehension. Like breathing control, meditation also requires one to master the technique. But once it is mastered, the benefits are without doubt.

Herbal remedies

These include chamomile, passion flower, lavender, and ginkgo biloba. The herbs have been known to be very effective and long-term treatments for anxiety attacks. Their popularity stems from the fact that they are all-natural and hence posses no side effects. Prescription drugs, while being just as effective, might induce some side effects.

Prescription drugs

This is a no-brainer. If your panic attacks persist, consult a physician. He or she may recommend antidepressants. For these to work, they must be taken continuously, which may take as long as six weeks before they start working. Other drugs such as beta-blockers are a type of drugs that prevent symptoms from recurring. Then SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors boost the level of serotonin in the brain which in turn regulates and normalizes the surge of emotions.