Are women more prone to panic attacks then men? Recent academic studies claim that this is the case. However, while it’s too soon to decide whether women are affected more often than men, the fact remains that there are lots of women suffering from panic attacks. I should know: when I first began to discuss my problems of panic attacks, some of my closest female friends revealed that they too suffered from the same problems as me. Of course, the symptoms were different for my female friends, and when I researched the issue further, it appeared that the causes were also different.

Symptoms of panic attacks in women:

Panic attacks in women are often indicated by hot flashes, migraines and heart palpitations. Apart from the hot flashes, most of the other symptoms are similar to those that men experience.

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According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 2.4 million Americans suffer from panic attacks every year. A panic attack is extremely worrying for the person suffering, and can lead to further problems and complications. However, there are four simple steps to stopping a panic attack. Once you learn these steps and implement them, it’s easy to stop a panic attack in its tracks.

Step One: Relax
Once you realize that you’re having a panic attack, relax. Concentrate on breathing deeply, and take long deep breaths exhaling and inhaling slowly. Taking slow and even breaths will reduce your feelings of being dizzy and light-headed. Physically relax your body by doing simple stretching exercises for your arms and neck.

Step Two: Stop Negative Thoughts
When people have panic attacks, they make it worse by panicking about the attack itself. Stop thinking negative thoughts immediately. Thoughts like, “I’m having a heart attack!” or “I’m going to die!” are very common for people going through a panic attack. Block these thoughts immediately by practicing a deep chanting like “Om” or simply repeat “STOP!” a few times in your mind.

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In order to quickly understand that you’re suffering from a panic attack you have to know the most common symptoms.(Please note that this guide is not a replacement for a full diagnosis by a physician, there are often specific circumstances and physical conditions of an individual that might contribute to any of the following without necessarily implying that the person is suffering a panic attack.)

The most common symptoms of a panic attack are:

Breathing symptoms – the sufferer often feels a difficulty in breathing, as if not getting enough oxygen, which leads to hyperventilation.

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