People ask me all sorts of questions about anxiety but there's one question that I'm always a little bemused by.
When people ask "How long does a panic attack last?" I'm always reminded of that famous question: "How long is a piece of string?" I can understand that people worry about things that might happen to them but this question is almost an irrelevant one.
You see, the thing to remember is that everyone is different.
In the same way that people have different fears, worries and dislikes in life, so anxiety sufferers have panic attacks of differing lengths.
In fact, ask anyone who experiences regular panic attacks and the chances are that they'll tell you that each one is different, in both length and severity.
So perhaps the question shouldn't really be "How long does a panic attack last?" so much as "Why am I worrying about how long a panic attack 'should' last?" If you've never experienced a panic attack then curiosity could be a factor in asking, I suppose.
However, if you have had a panic attack (or more than one) then you should already know the answer to that question! I'm sure you'd agree that it can last anywhere from just a few minutes to half an hour or so - or perhaps an hour.
Yes, that's how varied the accurate answer really is! Also, during an attack, you'll probably experience a distortion of time so that it seems like time is almost standing still.
This can give the appearance of something lasting for ages when in fact it has only been a few minutes.
So even to give you an accurate answer would not equate to the speed that you feel time is passing during the actual panic attack.
The one exception to this would be if you said you had a panic attack that lasted for days.
This wouldn't be a true panic attack, not for that length of time.
I'm sure that doctors would describe that more as a much heightened state of anxiety instead.
The duration of an attack also depends a lot on the individual involved and the approach that they have to their anxiety.
Someone who is constantly fearful of having a panic attack is likely to experience a much longer and more severe attack than someone who is learning to deal with their anxiety more effectively.
If you have been practising techniques that will help you cope much better with your anxiety then your experience is going to be much shorter than somebody who has made no effort at all.
Needless to say, if you know what your trigger for an attack is and are able to remove yourself from that trigger or the situation you find yourself in, your symptoms will fade that much quicker.
So, next time you find yourself asking "How long does a panic attack last?" ask yourself if it really matters.
Maybe it would be much more beneficial to you if you were to redirect your thoughts towards thinking more positively about the way that you view your anxiety.
It is the way that we think about things, with all the "what if such and such happens?" and the worrying that accompanies it, that causes most of our anxiety.
Yes, that's right, it is your thoughts that cause your anxiety! With time and practice you can learn not only to control your thoughts but also to not fear your panic attacks.
Let them happen and let them pass (and don't stress about how long they lasted!).
Controlling your thoughts will mean you take control over your feelings and that will bring such huge improvements to your life with regards to reducing your anxiety that you'll wish you'd mastered it years ago!
When people ask "How long does a panic attack last?" I'm always reminded of that famous question: "How long is a piece of string?" I can understand that people worry about things that might happen to them but this question is almost an irrelevant one.
You see, the thing to remember is that everyone is different.
In the same way that people have different fears, worries and dislikes in life, so anxiety sufferers have panic attacks of differing lengths.
In fact, ask anyone who experiences regular panic attacks and the chances are that they'll tell you that each one is different, in both length and severity.
So perhaps the question shouldn't really be "How long does a panic attack last?" so much as "Why am I worrying about how long a panic attack 'should' last?" If you've never experienced a panic attack then curiosity could be a factor in asking, I suppose.
However, if you have had a panic attack (or more than one) then you should already know the answer to that question! I'm sure you'd agree that it can last anywhere from just a few minutes to half an hour or so - or perhaps an hour.
Yes, that's how varied the accurate answer really is! Also, during an attack, you'll probably experience a distortion of time so that it seems like time is almost standing still.
This can give the appearance of something lasting for ages when in fact it has only been a few minutes.
So even to give you an accurate answer would not equate to the speed that you feel time is passing during the actual panic attack.
The one exception to this would be if you said you had a panic attack that lasted for days.
This wouldn't be a true panic attack, not for that length of time.
I'm sure that doctors would describe that more as a much heightened state of anxiety instead.
The duration of an attack also depends a lot on the individual involved and the approach that they have to their anxiety.
Someone who is constantly fearful of having a panic attack is likely to experience a much longer and more severe attack than someone who is learning to deal with their anxiety more effectively.
If you have been practising techniques that will help you cope much better with your anxiety then your experience is going to be much shorter than somebody who has made no effort at all.
Needless to say, if you know what your trigger for an attack is and are able to remove yourself from that trigger or the situation you find yourself in, your symptoms will fade that much quicker.
So, next time you find yourself asking "How long does a panic attack last?" ask yourself if it really matters.
Maybe it would be much more beneficial to you if you were to redirect your thoughts towards thinking more positively about the way that you view your anxiety.
It is the way that we think about things, with all the "what if such and such happens?" and the worrying that accompanies it, that causes most of our anxiety.
Yes, that's right, it is your thoughts that cause your anxiety! With time and practice you can learn not only to control your thoughts but also to not fear your panic attacks.
Let them happen and let them pass (and don't stress about how long they lasted!).
Controlling your thoughts will mean you take control over your feelings and that will bring such huge improvements to your life with regards to reducing your anxiety that you'll wish you'd mastered it years ago!
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