 Here are three common mistakes that people make when dealing with panic attacks. I made them too. The first mistake is frantically and urgently trying to stop a panic attack dead in its tracks. That doesn't work. Chemistry is chemistry. It just has to run its course. And when you try really hard to stop it, but can't, that often gets interpreted as a sign that something really is wrong and it just amps up your fear level even more. Mistake number two is trying everything possible to avoid triggering a panic attack. When I did that, I was mistakenly teaching myself that panic attacks were things that were dangerous and had to be avoided at all costs. It seemed like common sense, but it was keeping me stuck for a very long time. And the third mistake was retreating for days on end after a panic attack. I would treat myself like it was fragile and couldn't risk being re-triggered. That was just rewarding my brain for sending false alarm signals. Again, seemed like common sense, but it was making things worse for much longer than they had to be. Which of these mistakes are you making?