Panic and Anxiety Attacks

Don Levy asked:


 

Your first panic attack should be a learning experience that will help you control attacks in the future. Sometimes people with a panic attack go to the emergency room thinking they are having a heart attack as the symptoms are similar and come on suddenly. You’ll feel things like sudden periods of extreme fear, anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, rapid heart beat, hyperventilation, tingling sensation, nausea, etc. When they learn that it was a panic attack and knowing the difference they can start taking control of their future attacks. This is important because often a panic attack will keep you from even functioning.

Panic attacks are caused by many physical, mental and emotional triggers. Genetics may play a part and females are more apt to get them than men. Allergies or sensitivities to food, drink or chemicals can trigger an attack along with memories or trauma. Alcohol and drug can also cause panic attacks and disorders. Serious and upsetting experiences along with everyday events could trigger an attack.

Panic disorder may lead to “situational avoidance,” where the sufferer feels they have to avoid every place or situation in where attack has occurred and might not even leave their house which could be a very serious disruption to a normal life.

Control subjects were less likely to have panic attacks then patients with panic disorders after both drank a high amount of caffeine, according to results of a small study by Isabella Nascimento, MD, and colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

People who had went to a doctor for treatment told me that they were usually told they should avoid caffeine in colas, coffee, chocolate and teaI’ve talked with several people who gave me the following natural treatments they have used to cure or avoid panic attacks without using medicine.

Deep Breathing

One of the best forms of panic attack relief is to simply take deep, slow breaths to prevent hyperventilation. By getting hyperventilation under control you avoid things such as the dizziness and lightheadedness which happens because there is too much oxygen being taken to the brain at one time.

Exercise

This appears to be a one of the best ways of dealing with a panic attack once it’s started. An adrenaline rush usually accompanies an attack and the exercise can bleed it off according to people who use it.

Aroma therapy

After listening to a number of people talk about using aroma therapy to combat panic attacks it appears there are two schools of thought. The first swears by using smells that bring back pleasant memories, such as baby powder, certain flowers, farm animals or barbecuing. The others said that aromas from essential oils or candles were the best.

Meditation

This is a way that several people said helped them from having attacks or by being able to stop them once they started.

Think happy thoughts or take your mind off your problem

Others told me that once an attack started they tried to empty their mind of anything but pleasant things that they had done in the past and it appeared to help them. They also said taking your mind off the attack with things like counting backwards from one hundred was helpful.

The above ways are used by ordinary people to cure or get over a panic attack. In some cases they just can’t do it themselves and need professional help. Below is some information on several different natural methods used to cure people with panic disorders.

Getting Professional Help

Hypnosis

Diane Ulicsni, director of The Hypnosis Center in Lake Oswego, Ore., suffered from chronic panic attacks for many years. She finally found relief through hypnosis and is now a board certified hypnotherapist. She says that hypnosis — recognized by the American Medical Association since 1958 as a form of treatment — is one approach that is non-drug and can greatly ease or even cure panic attacks.

Laugh your panic attacks away?

That’s a good strategy, says Steve Sultanoff, PHD, a clinical psychologist in Irvine, Calif., and past president of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor. He uses humor visualization with his panic attack patients, telling them to imagine themselves in a situation where they’ve laughed uncontrollably. When they have a panic situation, they are able to return to the picture of themselves laughing.

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy

James D Herbert, PHD, associate professor of clinical psychology at MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, says that cognitive behavioral therapy is his choice for treating panic disorders. Cognitive-behavior therapy is made up of two parts: One is to identify and modify the thinking patterns that produces anxiety (cognitive therapy), and lessening anxiety by exposing the patient to fearful scenarios (behavior therapy).

If you suffer from panic attacks try some of the treatments listed above. They have worked for people I talked with and maybe they’ll work for you too.

Sources

Natural Panic Attack Treatments http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/natural-panic-attack-treatments?page=1

James D Herbert, PHD http://www.academyofct.org/Library/InfoManage/Guide.asp?FolderID=153&SessionID=

 

 

 

 



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yourasthmatreatment asked:


An anxiety panic attack is known as a panic attack that is brought on due to unnatural levels of anxiety. This kind of anxiety can be related to just about anything. Anxiety panic attacks are not just limited to big stressful events and occasions. You can have anxiety over someone you love, a event, and we can even have an anxiety panic attack over what clothes to wear. One of the main features of an

anxiety panic attack is the focus of the attack.

During the very first panic attack, the shock of having one can leave a very lasting experience on the person. In fact, it can be so traumatizing that the person will associate the panic attack with the activity or place and start to AVOID that situation. Needless to say, panic attack never does go away and the person continue to re-live the experience again and again.

Panic attack is perhaps one of the most frightening experiences a person can go through. During a panic attack, the body reacts in a way similar to a “fight or flight” response. Your legs may shake as they are prepared for running; your hands may shake as the large muscles of your arms are prepared to fight. Your palms and feet may become sweaty to give you better grip.

The first and most effective method that will help you during panic attacks is to control your breathing. Although it can be difficult at times (with the amount of fearful thoughts flooding you), its still can be done, with some determination on your part. Although you may feel very short of breath during a panic attack, your actually VERY FAR from lack of oxygen. In fact, most sufferers are unaware that they are breathing too much!

Most doctors will readily prescribe SSRIs, benzodiazepines and other medications that make up anxiety attack panic treatment even with side effects and high cost (in the long run) involved for following reasons. Medications appeals to both doctors and patients alike. It does a fine job of suppressing symptoms quickly and many patients are under the impression that the only solution to their problem is medications.

Standardized Herbal Supplements

In line with its natural constituents, the body easily adapts to the active compounds of herbal remedies and therefore promotes healing without ensuing negative physiological consequences. Today, herbalists have come up with standardized herbal supplements for anxiety and panic attacks, such as PureCalm, which have been formulated from the expert combination of lemon balm, lavender, and passion flower extracts, and prepared in a concentrated tincture format to holistically promote the routine functions of a healthy nervous system.

Know that panic attack cannot harm you. Despite all the painful sensation and feeling of death that you have to go through during panic attack, know that they cannot harm you. Eventually, the panic attack will go away and nothing will happen to you – no heart attack, no fainting and no dieing. This is the key to get rid of panic attacks. Know that panic attack cannot harm you, assure yourself that it cannot harm you and you have nothing to fear.



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peterhutch asked:


acks are the most extreme manifestation of panic disorder, an anxiety response resulting from an over-production and under-use of adrenalin, the bodily chemical which cause them. When the anxiety reaction has no use for adrenalin, this powerful hormone can create a group of physical reactions which can peak with the formation of a panic attack. This response is natural and physical – it has nothing to do with mental or physical illness or chemical imbalances, but it can feel very threatening indeed.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn to deal with panic symptoms, using techniques like muscle and breathing relaxation. They also gain reassurance that panic will not lead to the catastrophic events they fear, since many people fear they are having a heart attack.

There are many reasons why people have panic attacks. They are often triggered by a specific situation that causes you fear. Some people don’t like crowds. Others experience panic attacks when they know they’ll have to speak in public. It could be anything. It is important that you recognize what triggers your panic attacks and do what you can to reduce or remove these triggers. For example, if your panic attacks are brought on by crowds, you may be able to successfully stop panic attacks by avoiding crowds. You may be able to stop panic attacks by gradually making yourself more comfortable in small groups then larger groups and so on.

Once someone has had a panic attack, for example, while driving, shopping in a crowded store, or riding in an elevator, he or she may develop irrational fears, called phobias, about these situations and begin to avoid them. Eventually, the pattern of avoidance and level of anxiety about another attack may reach the point where the mere idea of doing things that preceded the first panic attack triggers future panic attacks, resulting in the individual with panic disorder being unable to drive or even step out of the house. At this stage, the person is said to have panic disorder with agoraphobia. Thus, there are two types of panic disorder: panic disorder with or without agoraphobia. Like other major illnesses, panic disorder can have a serious impact on a person’s daily life unless the individual receives effective treatment.

Then, with gentle reassurance, progressively tense and relax all the large muscle groups. Tighten your left leg with a deep breath in, for example, hold it, then release the leg muscles and the breath. Move on to the other leg. Move up the body, one muscle group at a time.

Most panic attack sufferers find that some of the best treatment can be found with a panic attack support group. For a panic attack sufferer these support groups can be an extremely valuable resource. Most panic sufferers tend to feel very alone during their panic attacks, even when they have others to talk to. There is something about knowing that there are others out there that experience the same feelings, it can be very reassuring to most chronic panic sufferers.

Before you begin any form of treatment, your GP will discuss all of your options with you, outlining the advantages of each form of treatment, while also making you aware of any possible risks, or side effects. This is because no single treatment is best for everyone, and which treatment is recommended will depend on your general health and the severity of your condition, as well as your personal preferences.



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