Anxiety disorders affect about 12% of the Canadian population. The term "anxiety disorder" actually refers to a broad category of mental disorders linked together by one common trait: extreme anxiety that is irrational or disproportionate for the triggering situation. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you understand how crippling the symptoms can be. 

One of the most debilitating anxiety disorders is called "panic disorder." The most notable symptom of panic disorder is the dreaded panic attack, an actual physical reaction to situations marked by rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and an impairing fear of losing control. For people who suffer from this disorder, these short but intense bouts of panic can strike unexpectedly and without any identifiable triggers. 

As frightening as panic attacks can be, you probably know that in most cases, emergency treatment is usually unnecessary. Yet, there are things you can do that can help you cope with your panic attacks and lessen this disorder's impact on your life. 

Your Cell Phone: Your Secret Lifeline

Some people cope with panic attacks by calling a close friend or family member at the onset of an attack. This works for some people, but if the thought of engaging socially during a panic attack increases your anxiety level, you can still turn to your cell phone for rapid relief. 

The advent of the smart phone has given rise to "apps" designed for nearly every aspect of life, including anxiety disorder management. These apps offer a range of coping devices, from breathing exercises to relaxing audio tracks to social networking with other panic attack sufferers, aimed at helping you get through those minutes of terror. 

Man's Best Friend

Did you know that service dogs not only help people with physical disabilities but also those diagnosed with mental disorders? More and more people suffering from anxiety disorders are turning to service dogs for support, and you can too. 

Service dogs are trained to assist their handlers in ways specific to their disabilities and disorders. Your family pet does not qualify as a service dog, even if your beloved pet genuinely calms you during anxiety attacks. A legally-recognized service dog must be trained to provide services specific to your disorder; only then will your service dog be permitted to accompany you in public. Your doctor can determine whether you would benefit from a service dog and assist you with the application process.

Plan Ahead

If you have had panic attacks before, you will likely experience them again. The feeling of losing control is perhaps one of the most horrible side effects of a panic attack. Thankfully, you can preemptively limit the impact of this feeling before it happens again. 

Write yourself a reassuring note and keep this note tucked away in your wallet or purse. In this note, explain that these minutes will pass, and you are not actually suffering from a heart attack or "loss of reality." This might sound silly--after all, why can't you just remember this at the onset of an attack?--but recalling these simple facts is not as easy when you are frozen in the throes of an attack. Your note can serve as a voice of reason to remind you of the fleeting nature of the panic attack and give you the strength to disassociate from the event and power through it.