Skip to main content Skip to bottom nav

Should I avoid my triggers for panic attacks?

46 Answers
Last Updated: 03/30/2020 at 4:14pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Jennifer Fritz, LMSW, PhD

Clinical Social Work/Therapist

Day to day life can be stressful and overwhelming and my strength is assisting my clients in a supportive, empowering and practical manner.

Top Rated Answers
MadisontheGemini1717
October 23rd, 2014 8:15pm
Of course you should! its emotionally unhealthy to purposely emerge yourself Into situations in which you may be triggered.
Jessiexyloto
October 25th, 2014 5:18am
I think it all depends on what your triggers are. Some shouldn't be avoided, such as work or school deadlines. I feel like better handling of your triggers produces better results than simply avoiding them.
Errika
October 25th, 2014 9:46am
Avoiding your triggers can end up making you panic about them even more when you have no other choice but to face them. First learn to control your panic attacks by noticing when one is about to happen then controlling your breathing. This is a task that takes some time and a lot of practice.
StormWilliams
October 25th, 2014 11:09pm
Yes, it can be immensely helpful to avoid triggers. triggers may need to be processed in the future, but that can be done with a trained professional in a safe environment.
KayBay
October 27th, 2014 1:35am
Yes, definately. If you know what the triggers are then by all means avoid them because you dont want to be provoking the attacks and allowing them to contine.
Anonymous
October 29th, 2014 4:15pm
No. I have panic attacks too, and I often put myself in the situations where I would often get an attack, and I've become so used to the situation that it doesn't bother me anymore.
Anonymous
October 29th, 2014 9:01pm
No. You should remind yourself what your triggers are so you're more prepared. The more ready you are the less likely you are to experience the panic attacks.
RachxTheLight
June 22nd, 2015 1:47am
It is a good idea to avoid any triggers that are causing panic attacks. The less you interact with them, the better.
elizabethdarling
November 10th, 2014 2:59am
Yes, yes you should. If these things are bringing you into an anxiety attack, it would be unhealthy to continue visiting them. The best thing would be to focus on other things.
RaduMemete
November 12th, 2014 10:31pm
You can't avoid them because they are subconscious. What you have to do is to find them and be aware of them. When you do this, you will be able to consciously stop them.
Mayaisthename
November 15th, 2014 4:54pm
No, try figure out what's triggering them and try avoid those things, if you can't try seeking help
KKGunner
November 16th, 2014 4:49am
It depends on what feels comfortable for you. When you feel comfortable enough, confronting your triggers can help your anxiety, but this should only be attempted if you know how to calm yourself down once a panic attack does occur. You may also have to confront your triggers multiple times for them to go away. This is hard and mustn't be rushed. Some people choose never to confront their triggers and get around them by other methods. Ultimately, the decision is up to you.
Anonymous
November 16th, 2014 11:06pm
you should try to face these triggers when you feel you are in a comfortable situation to do so, and that there will be no harm done to you.
Spiderman93
November 18th, 2014 1:24am
Sometimes thats best, but not always. Learning to face your triggers can help you to overcome the effect!
Mateia
November 18th, 2014 4:43pm
Yes and no. It is important to learn how to handle our triggers. But the problem is that when we experience them as really acute, all we do by facing them is to scare ourselves even more, sometimes even to the point where we may find that we cannot carry on with our lives. So we have to be clever when we face our monsters. In bad cases it is best to take a companion with on the journey in the form of a professional who knows how not to be scared by monsters and can also teach you how to face up to yours. This should be someone you trust. And the second thing is to be endlessly patient with yourself and to learn the endless lessons of self compassion.
SpiritWolfNYC
May 30th, 2015 2:23am
No. As a person who has suffered from them in the past year i say never avoid them. Panic attacks are created from the fear in your mind. Your mind is the enemy in this case and you have to fight the fear as it is not real. Most of the things you worry most about never happen. Just remember the more you tackle your triggers head on, the more you will recover. Definitely try the Anxiety and Phobia workbook. You can find it on Amazon!