If you are prone to anxiety attacks, you know how debilitating they can be. In some cases, they turn into full-blown panic attacks, and it’s impossible to do simple things until you get through them.
To reduce the odds of such an attack, it is important to understand what triggers your anxiety and makes it worse. Naturally, this is different for everyone. You may have specific triggers that no one else does. Below are a few of the most common ones:
- Spending too much time by yourself. While getting out on your own can help calm you down in some cases, spending all of your time alone just gives you too much time to think. Problems seem to grow in your own mind, and it is hard to break out of that cycle.
- Spending too much time with negative people. Don’t assume that all human interaction will help, though. People who put more pressure on you, stress you out or make you feel worse about yourself are just going to increase your anxiety. Know when to leave a social situation.
- Drinking too much coffee. Caffeine can really make your problem worse. It’s not just coffee. You also want to avoid soda and energy drinks.
- Trying to turn off your brain. Attempting to stop thinking often only makes you fixate on the problem. It’s a vicious cycle when you start getting more stressed out about the very fact that you feel anxious.
Trying to change your lifestyle to avoid your triggers can help, but anxiety attacks are still a serious medical condition that may strike at any time. When they limit your ability to work, you need to know all of your options for seeking Social Security Disability benefits.