When you’re having an anxiety attack, you want it to be over as quickly as possible. Minutes feel like hours, which can make your anxiety even worse. In this guide, we’ll discuss how long anxiety attacks last, along with helpful tips on how to prevent them.
Anxiety before a Panic Attack
The panic attack isn’t the only element to consider here. Many people experience lingering anxiety long before a anxiety attack occurs. Sure, some panic attacks are sudden, but others involve a long stretch of anxiety beforehand. Mild to moderate anxiety may be an ongoing issue in your life. If so, consider the anxiety treatments we discuss near the end of this guide.
The Average Length of a Panic Attack
On average, a panic attack will last for 30 minutes in total. Symptoms will peak around the mid-way point, and then they will taper down. If you know how to stop a panic attack, you may be able to get control of your symptoms faster. If you take medication for anxiety attacks, they may take 30 minutes to an hour to go into effect.
Repeat or Cyclical Anxiety Attacks
Some people experience cyclical panic attacks – the end of an anxiety attack leads to the beginning of another. This is not common, but it can happen at times. The experience may feel like one prolonged panic attack, with high and low points throughout. Breathing and grounding exercises can help break the cycle, along with other anxiety treatments.
How to Prevent Anxiety Attacks
To prevent panic attacks, you need to understand what’s causing them. Is there something that triggers your anxiety, or do the attacks seem to occur out of nowhere? Once you understand your anxiety triggers, you can learn how to effectively respond to them…or avoid them altogether.
You don’t have to go through this process alone. With anxiety therapy, you can learn personalized strategies to treat your anxiety. You’ll learn how to prevent anxiety attacks and how to decrease their prevalence altogether. Your therapist will help you find solutions that work for your life, your personally, and your unique experiences.
To get matched with an anxiety therapist near you, contact Sherman Counseling: 920-733-2065.
