Panic and Anxiety Attacks

Andrew Lim asked:


Panic attack can be an extremely frightening experience. Suddenly, your hit by a barrage of symptoms, you may feel like having a heart attack, suffocating, or losing control. This experience can be so traumatizing and real that you will feel like dieing right at that moment.

Panic attack can strike anytime, anywhere and to anyone. It don’t even need a reason to hit you. Although excessive stress can trigger a panic attack, it is completely random for most of the time.

However, once you experienced the first panic attack, the body will be put on “alert” status and the chances of having another attack is increased. This becomes a problem if panic attack occur again and again.

An important contributor to the occurrence of further panic attacks is related to where the first one occurred. For most, it happens in a place where they cannot escape easily: for example, in a train, bus, taxi, elevator, building. For example, if the panic attack occurred during a bus ride, chance are, you would be quite nervous during your next bus ride as you think panic attack might hit you again. The more nervous you are, the more likely another panic attack will happen.

With your initial experience with panic attack, you will most probably try to escape before you feel the attack coming on. Once out of the bus, the panic feeling subside and your worst fear is confirmed. You associate bus ride to your panic attack. A few more experiences confirms this and you avoid taking a bus altogether.

What I have just explained is a typical example of the development of panic attack and it can be applied to any situation. You have a panic attack at a particular place or situation. You link it to that place or situation and avoid it.

The main culprit here is fear. The fear and anxiety of having a panic attack causes it to happen. Panic attack feeds on fear and anxiety. The more your fearful of it happening, the harder and faster it will hit you. In order to control a panic attack and stop it forever, you need to attack its roots – fear.

The most effective way to stop panic attack forever is to KNOW that you will not be harmed. A large part of the fear comes from the fact that the sufferer thinks he is about to die, which is totally untrue!

Here’s a few FACTS about panic attack:

-Panic attack CANNOT cause heart attack

-Panic attack CANNOT cause suffocation

-Panic attack CANNOT make you faint

-Panic attack CANNOT cause you to go mad/crazy

Doesn’t feel like it? But its true! There more than enough medical evidence to prove all these. The symptoms feel unnatural because its a panic response from the body, your not suppose to feel it unless your in danger – which your not! Panic attack is the result of this “panic alarm” going off for the wrong reason. Use this knowledge to your advantage, KNOW that you are safe and panic attack cannot harm you. Don’t fear panic attack…and certainly don’t fear having one!



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David Smith asked:


Panic attack is a period of intensive fear that is often abrupt and is often a sign of mental and emotional distress.

In some individuals they appear without apparent cause and most often the distressed individual reports loosing control of oneself. Often they are provoked or triggered by a sense of trying to escape from someone or from the place where the attack started. Although in normal cases, the individual when subjected to a stimulus often resorts to a fight syndrome as a form of protection, in panic attacks, the individual employs the flight syndrome. Often episodes of panic attack come with chest pain and shortness of breath with a tunnel vision even after seeking medical advice or attention.

Panic attack is different from other anxiety disorders because of its sudden intensity and its occurrence in individuals. Often panic attacks are psychological conditions but may not be a sign of a mental disorder. At least in normal individuals, a panic attack may occur in a year particularly in persons with anxiety and phobias. As a result of a triggering factor, they are often short-lived and will subside once the triggering factor is eliminated. In some individuals exposed to a panic attack, one attack may trigger another leading to a nervous breakdown.

Scientific studies point out to the imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine as the culprits in the incidence of panic attacks where the neurological function is subjected to a chemical imbalance. Often genetics play a role in the disorder and has been found to run in families.

Common symptoms include trembling, palpitations, and shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation and tingling sensations. Others develop a sense of being choked or smothered. In repeated and unprovoked panic attacks a sign or manifestation of a panic disorder may ensue. However panic attacks are also associated with other common anxiety disorders like in persons with phobias whose exposure to their feared object or scenario trigger an attack.

Panic attacks are potentially disabling, but it can be controlled. The various symptoms of a panic attack are often mistaken as a cardiac attack or a life-threatening medical illness. This misconception often increases the incidence of future panic attacks. People often submit to the hospital emergency rooms when they are having a panic attack, and extensive medical tests are performed to rule out other conditions, which creates further anxiety.

Treatment for panic attacks includes medications and psychotherapy. Normally the mental health practitioners assisting you in the treatment of panic disorder are psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. To submit for a medical treatment for panic disorder however, one should visit a psychiatrist. Psychotherapy may be provided by a clinical or counseling psychologist. Medications can also be used to break any psychological connection between a specific phobia and panic attacks.

Common medications prescribed are antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs in anticipation or during a panic attack.

Some psychologists believe that usual exposure to the phobia trigger with medical assistance can often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing people to gradually adjust to the stressor without the help of medications. However, minor phobias that develop as a result of a panic attack can be prevented without medication through behavioral therapy or simply by assisted exposure.

Under a combination of therapy and medications, the best results are often seen. For some, a fair improvement may be noticed in a short period of less than 8 weeks. Finding the right pair of medications and mental health professional takes more effort. Appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can often prevent panic attacks or at least reduce its severity and frequency.

Other panic attacks caused by an underlying emotional problem like depression, alcoholism and drug addiction are more frequent in people with panic disorder. The underlying problem needs to be treated before the total panic disorder is completely or at least partially eliminated.

Most less severe and less recurrent attacks submitted to the emergency rooms are advised to breath in paper bags to help boost the carbon dioxide levels in the body.



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Susan Willis asked:


Panic attacks can strike at any time or any place. For people who are prone to them, they can rule their lives. For those who have had more than one panic attack, the fear that another will occur can be debilitating. Here is an FAQ on stopping panic attacks.

FAQ #1: What does a panic attack feel like?

A: During a panic or anxiety attack you can feel a range of feelings, both mental and physical. You may feel that the world is closing in on you. You might feel dizzy. Your heartbeat will likely be much, much faster than usual. You might feel a tingling in your chest. You may sweat. You may want to lie down and at the same time lose your ability to concentrate. Also, an acute fear of dying accompanies the panic attack for some people. Caution: If you do have a panic attack, be sure to remove yourself from a situation whereby you might be of a danger to others (such as driving a car).

FAQ #2: What causes panic attacks?

A: Physiologically, panic attacks usually involve an excess of adrenaline suddenly entering into your system, in combination with a number of other related factors going on in your body. The precise cause of panic attacks is still under study, but the cause does seem to vary from person to person. Some panic attacks seem to come on unexpectedly. Other may be triggered by a traumatic event, such as a car accident. Still others might be situation-specific, whereby the attack is triggered after a certain pattern of circumstances arises for the individual.

FAQ #3: Are panic attacks common?

A: Yes. The Merck Manual indicates that about one-third of adults experience a panic attack each year. Some people, however, have these attacks more frequently and can experience them many times in a given year or month.

FAQ #4: Should I avoid situations that cause them?

A: The common wisdom seems to be that eventually you should try to face situations that tend to trigger your panic attacks so that you can overcome them as triggers for the attack. However, this should be done with caution since you do not want to unnecessarily put yourself through a panic attack. Ask your doctor about this.

FAQ #5: How can I stop one?

A: Stopping a panic attack is not easy. In fact, they can seem to feed on themselves, whereby the more you try to control one the more it takes control. Panic attacks are difficult to stop sometimes because the attack itself causes a series of negative mental states in the person having the attack. Those negative mental states in turn keep the body (e.g., the adrenal glands, sweat glands, heart, breathing, etc.) in an agitated state. This vicious cycle can often be broke by relaxing, doing breathing exercises, and creating positive thought patterns to counter the negative mental activity that the attack can create.

Panic attacks can be one of the scariest experiences but do not always seem to have an obvious cause. This mysterious quality can actually make them even more feared, thereby making them harder to overcome when they do occur. Be sure to take control and do not let your panic attacks run your life. There are ways to overcome them.



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Eddy K Elgin asked:


What are the symptoms?

This type of chronic anxiety disease symptoms are very similar to a heart attack disease, and a sensation that you have lost touch with reality and an impending dread often accompanies the physical symptoms.

Not knowing what to do for the first time what to do may end up in the emergency room the first time, this is not adequate treatment. In order to control panic attack symptoms, you need to help prevent them in the first place.

What are the options?

Option One. Of course, one option is to consult a physician about taking antidepressants. Some medicines on the market, such as Paxil and Prozac, can help panic attack sufferers from reoccurring. But always remember to take note of the side-effects of such medications.

Option Two. It is called cognitive-behavior therapy. This method utilizes visualization, breathing and relaxation techniques to fend off the symptoms of a panic attack when they occur. You may not see immediate results but it is worth a try.

Option Three. Some sufferers choose to help control panic attack symptoms is to actually face the fears. For some, gradually confronting the situations that cause panic can help eradicate them. There is method to this treatment, and it should be undertaken under the care of a physician or therapist so as not to aggravate the problem, as it may backfired.

There is another type of chronic panic attack also called panic disorder syndrome. This medical condition is quite a serious medical condition that can drastically affect the quality of your life. Not only to yourself but may affects the people around you. Take note to seek medical help as soon as you may be diagnosed with this disease.

Chronic panic disorder is not necessarily a permanent condition and it can be treated successfully. One have to know that there are other treatments out there though should help you can beat those fears and control panic attack symptoms quick!

What are the results for controlling panic attacks?

By understanding the available options that work for you in helping control your panic attacks, you are able to live a life that is free of suffering from constantly being consumed with fear of your next panic attack ever again.

By know what to expect when a panic attack comes, you can use this valuable knowledge to help others that may be in the same position you were in before you found the proper help initially. Others will appreciate your efforts and knowledge with this chronic disease, and may consider that you are an expert in this area.

The ability to encourage someone to see their doctor is the best way to go, but

due to their medical condition, many are too afraid to seek professional help. Another way to help them is to teach them some relaxation breathing exercises and the like that have worked for you is something that can offer them at least a small amount of relief.

Besides knowing what are the available options and possible treatment for panic attack disorders and symptoms quick, you should be able to free yourself the agony of having this type of attack ever again. However, you should never add to, or alter any component of your current panic attack without first consulting your physician.

However, many patients sometimes tend to forget that even though there may be many effective control panic attack symptoms plans around in order to have an panic attacks free life, of course the failure to control panic attacks may indirectly sparked off anger tension. Therefore, without a proper anxiety and anger management system, there will not be much panic attack free lifestyle to hope for.

Apply this effective tips together with an effective system – enjoy your life once again.

Eddy K Elgin is the author of the 17 Minutes Anxiety and Anger Management Secrets. Drop by at Control Panic Attack Symptoms Quick for more details.



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