Panic and Anxiety Attacks

John Smith asked:


ve had the misfortune to suffer from a panic attack you know what a truly terrifying experience it is.

Suddenly and without warning you start to feel dizzy or light-headed, you can’t seem to catch your breath, your body starts trembling or shaking and most frightening of all your heart starts to race and you can literally feel it pounding in your chest as if it is about to explode. Your mind screams: Help! I must be having a heart attack!

The first time I suffered a panic attack, I felt sure I was either having a heart attack or about to have one, and took myself off to the local hospital. Oddly, even as I was on my way to the emergency room I felt the symptoms decrease, until by the time the doctors saw me I was feeling much better. Later I was told that this is one of the ways you can tell whether it’s a panic attack or heart attack. Panic attacks symptons generally decrease in a short time, whereas heart attack symptoms generally increase or stay at the same level.

After that first panic attack, I learned that my feelings and thoughts produced the physical symptoms, which in turn fed the feelings and thoughts of panic and terror. Which is why, as I was on my way to the emergency room, the focus of my thoughts naturally moved from how terryfing the symptoms were, to thinking about how much better I would feel at the hospital were I could receive help. I literally stopped myself from being panicked by the panic itself.

Panic attacks usually lasts less than ten minutes, although some of the symtoms may last longer. As soon as you feel yourself in a spiral from anxiety to sheer panic, try and focus on your breathing, and think about how you are feeling. Remind yourself that the actual fear of a panic attack feeds on itself like a raging fire, and that this fire will quickly burn itself out. Fortunately, despite their frightening nature, be reassured that panic attacks themselves do not lead to heart attacks, loss of control, mental illness or death.

A panic attack is a mental thought process that produces the physical symptoms, whereas a heart attack produces physical symptoms that leads to the mental thought process of panic.

Quite simply, you panic first, and the panic attack itself produces the symptoms that make you think you’re having a heart attack. Conversely, you have the physical symtoms of a heart attack, which then produces the worry that makes you get to the hospital.

So in answer to the question, is it a panic attack or is it a heart attack, simply try and ask yourself what came first: the mental panic or the physical pain?

If you have suffered a panic attack, please either get yourself to a hospital or see your doctor to rule out any physical problems. Panic attacks and generalized anxiety are very common and are treatable a variety of ways, but you should be diagnosed by a professional before embarking on any treatment.

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Rebekah Locke asked:


 Here are some of the common signs you are experiencing a panic attack. Have you ever….?

- Had a tight chest and found it difficult to breathe, even to the point where you feared you may in fact stop breathing altogether?

- Found yourself in hospital because you thought you were having a heart attack only to be told that you were just experiencing intense anxiety?

- Struggled with anxious and unwanted thoughts that just will not stop?

- Been constantly afraid that you will just lose control completely?

- Felt nervous and on edge in normal everyday or ordinary situations that have never bothered you in the past?

 - Felt disconnected from what is going on around you?

 Let me tell you a story. See if this sounds vaguely familiar. It was the first day of my new job working at the checkouts in a big department store. Of course it’s natural to feel a little anxious about starting a new job, but I was just going to be a checkout operator – not too much of a big deal. Instead I turned up thinking I was fine, only to find myself 5 minutes later out the back in the staffroom with an ice pack and a cup off tea and everyone asking me if I was alright.

My chest had tightened, my heart had experienced sudden palpitations, I got dizzy, I felt like I couldn’t escape, and I starting to black out. And I had no idea why it had just happened. There was no rational explanation.

I had just experience my first Panic Attack

After suffering from panic attacks myself, I have found that the only way to truly conquer panic attacks and be free of anxiety is to address the root cause of the problem:

The actual fear of having a panic attack

I realised the panic attack was only brought on by the anxious thoughts leading up to the actual panic that was the source of the problem. If you can fix this then you will be free of panic attacks in the future. The difference between an anxious person and someone who normally worries (but their worries never turn into full blown panic attacks) is that an anxious person is constantly afraid they will experience a panic attack because of their worries and problems. Everyone else never usually worries they will end up experiencing anything like that, so they never actually do.

So the first step is to ACCEPT these anxious thoughts of a panic attack. When you accept them instead of resisting them you begin to conquer you fears of the thoughts of having a panic attack. If you accept your anxious thoughts and DO NOT RESIST them they will not be as terrible as you thought. They will begin to lose their power.

The more afraid you are, the more you resist, the greater your anxiety level and the greater the chance of you having a panic attack. However if you accept your anxious thoughts and say “panic attack do your best” and you mean it, panic attack will not come. You have essentially dissolved the fear and anxiety contained within the thoughts of having a panic attack. You have therefore taken back your self control.



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Bette Daoust asked:


The characterization of a anxiety panic attack is a panic attack that is induced as a result of unnatural levels of anxiety. Not just limited to major stressful events or concerns, anxiety attacks can be related to anything. An anxiety panic attack can be caused by anxiety over a party, a loved one, even anxiety over what clothes to wear.

The focus of the attack is one of the key features to an anxiety panic attack. Usually when a person experiences such panic they will have a central trigger. The trigger tends to be the same thing for those who experience chronic panic attacks. Anytime individuals who suffer from agoraphobia travel they tend to have an anxiety panic attack or when they travel beyond a safe distance such as their doorstep.

Triggers

The trigger for an anxiety panic attack will vary according to the situation for most people. The body’s natural reaction to the high levels of stress can be triggered at times of extreme stress panic. The accepted main reason behind any panic attack is known as the fight or flight reaction. The body will react when a person experiences an event that is extremely stressful or traumatic. An extreme reaction to the situation is caused by the release of chemicals into a persons system.

A reactive stressor triggers chemicals that cause an anxiety panic attack. The body assumes there is some danger even if there is no need for it and feels it must react, this is a panic attack. Many key factors can mark an anxiety panic attack. Signs of an attack include overwhelming feelings of fear and hopelessness, increased heart rate, sweating, tingling in the extremities, headaches, nausea and extreme emotional fluctuations.

Symptoms

Since the symptoms are usually a mixed bag when it comes to panic the list can be extensive. The immense feeling of anxiety is mentioned by any panic sufferer when they have an anxiety panic attack. They feel as if nothing can help them, this is a common major symptom that marks the start of an attack.

In most cases an anxiety panic attack can be controlled which is a good thing. To help control panics you should learn exercise, controlled breathing, healthy diet, relaxation techniques and even just have someone to be there and listen. Finding out what causes the panic and reducing this factor in your life is often the key to helping panic attacks.



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Rolf Arne Trondhjem asked:


There are many ways to stop panic attack. If you are anxious about how you could put an end to such an embarrassing and alarming situation, it would be appropriate if you would be reminded that indeed, you could do something to alleviate the disadvantages and setbacks you encounter by the inconvenient disorder. Stop panic attack and have and live a more normal life.

If you are aiming to put an end to panic attack, you should do the necessary measures right away. Stop panic attack and live your life fully. If you are anxious and worrisome that you know nothing about the endeavor, read on and discover practical ways on how you could stop panic attack.

A panic attack is borne mentally. In some form, the situation can be classified as a form of mental disorder. But do not get it wrong. A panic attack is not at all leading and directly related to insanity. A patient r sufferer from a panic attack may seem like he or she is going crazy and uncontrollable. Understand that a panic attack is a product of too much anxiety and fear taking over one’s overall personality. Stop panic attack by observing the following.

Control yourself

First, if you suspect you are having an episode of panic attack, hold control of yourself. Paranoia and extreme fear is part of the manifestations of panic attack. In most cases, patients feel breathless, restless and really tense. At its worse, panic attack often induces a feeling as if death is near. Thus, there is extreme and further fear. In such cases, overall relaxation and self assurance would be necessary. Stop panic attack from further doing harm to yourself by relaxing at the onset of an attack. Meditate, practice quietness and simply relax.

A panic attack may last a few minutes to as long as several hours. To ensure yourself, it would help if you would seek medical and expert help. Doing so is not just ensuring safety but is also psychologically giving assurance that everything will be alright. Often, panic attack patients mistake their attacks for something else, probably a heart attack. This suspicion might further affect and worsen the condition. If an expert or doctor would give assurance that the condition is only panic attack, the patient may be more assured that everything is controllable.

Medications and therapies

There are also certain prescribed medications that will instantly prompt treatment. You could abruptly stop panic attack by taking in prescribed medicines, usually depressants, like serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazpines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Such depressants help lower the rapid heart beat that is greatly contributing to further onset and possible setbacks of panic attacks.

Also, stop panic attacks by avoiding alcohol, illicit drugs and most especially coffee, especially when there is already an onset of the episode. Some people commit the error of taking in such substances at the appearance of initial symptoms of panic attack, wrongly thinking that hot coffee, for example, can relax and warmth the system. Well, now you know the opposite happens.

Another good way to stop panic attack is by taking psychotherapy. Because the number of panic attack cases is rapidly rising all over the world, there are many psychologists and psychiatrists who are practicing activities to control and curtail panic attacks. Stop panic attack by subjecting yourself from such therapies, which have already been proven to be very helpful.

Most of all, the most effective means to stop panic attack is by taking a better grasp and control of yourself. If you could control your fears and anxieties, you are most likely to stop panic attack alone. Remember that medications and therapies would render futile if you would not seek to help yourself most of all.



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