Panic Attacks Disorder

There are many common symptoms of panic attacks. When an individual experiences a panic attack, various symptoms occur that can leave that person in a state of devastation. Generally, these attacks last as little as five minutes, and can be as long as a half an hour.

This attack is a direct result of a high level of anxiety that occurs when fear is experienced at intense levels. People who suffer from this particular type of attack experience both physiological and psychological symptoms. Furthermore, most people who suffer from panic attacks find that these episodes can actually interfere with day to day living. Here are some of the most common symptoms of panic attacks one may experience.

The Symptoms of Panic Disorder Attacks

If a person suffers from panic disorder, or simply panic attacks that are not directly related to panic disorder, the following symptoms may be experienced:

1. The initial emotion and experience of a panic attack generally involves feeling terrified or extremely fearful. When this occurs, anxiety levels are heightened.

2. There could also be complications when it comes to breathing. Breathing may be labored or shallow.

3. Tightness and immense pain in the area of the chest is relatively common.

4. Mild to severe sweating may be experienced.

5. Gastrointestinal difficulties that include those of basic nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and similar conditions may occur.

6. It is relatively common for a person to feel as if their heart rate speeds up during an attack. In many cases, it may feel as if the heart has become weak.

7. Panic attacks may result in an individual feeling dizzy, and potentially “off balance”. In some cases, weakness of the body may also be experienced.

8. It is not entirely uncommon for these types of attacks to result in tingling sensations, and issues with numbness in various areas throughout the body. The most common areas for this to occur are the hands and the feet.

9. When a panic attack occurs, the body is experiencing an undue amount of stress. When this occurs, the natural biological response of “fight or flight” is initiated. As a result, physiological changes such as an elevation in blood pressure and an increased need for oxygen are experienced.

10. Those that suffer from anxiety related attacks often suffer from at least a mild form of depression.

Managing Panic Attack Symptoms

When a person suffers from panic attacks, there are a number of methods in which they can use to manage and overcome them. Generally, a medical professional will suggest implementing the use of medications and even counseling services to equip the patient with the ability to cope effectively with this complication.

There are certain medications, such as Prozac, Paxil, Effexor, Xanax, Klonopin, and those that are similar in nature that have been found to be quite effective in assisting in the management of panic attacks. Professional counseling, group therapy, support groups, and cognitive behavior type therapy are also effective coping strategies.

For the individual that experiences severe bouts of anxiety that is marked by an excessive fear, panic attacks may be evident. There are many physiological symptoms such as complications in breathing, rapid heart rate and gastrointestinal complications that may be experienced. In addition to this, psychological symptoms are also experienced. These may include severe levels of terror, the fear of dying, and depression. There are many means to managing this condition. Prescription medications and counseling are top strategies to eliminating the common symptoms of panic attacks.



By: Ian Spencer

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Learning how to deal with panic attacks is a good thing to know because even with effective medical treatment, there is still a chance that patients could experience the occasional attack. There is also an added benefit to learning how to deal with panic attacks. By effectively dealing with panic attacks, patients might even be able to head off an attack.

Relaxation techniques are one effective way to deal with panic attacks. Use of meditation, muscle relaxation, visualization (guided imagery) and relaxed breathing are all relaxation techniques that can help patients deal with panic attacks.

In order to make the most of relaxation techniques as a way to deal with panic attacks, you should relax both your body and mind. True relaxation is an internal action of peacefulness. Learning true relaxation techniques as a way to deal with panic attacks can help deal with panic attack symptoms like headaches, hyperventilation, and teeth clenching.

To relax begin by blocking out the world and concentrating on your body. Get into a comfortable position and close your eyes. Let your jaw drop and keep your eyelids relaxed and heavy, but not tightly closed.

Use concentration to mentally scan your body and begin the relaxation process that will help you deal with panic attacks. Begin with your toes, work up through your legs, buttocks, torso, arms, hands, fingers, neck and head. As you focus on each individual part, imagine your tension melting away.

Next tighten your relaxed muscles in each section of the body for a count of five or more. Relax those muscles and move to another muscle section. As you do this let the thoughts go through your mind (sometimes it’s very difficult to block them), but don’t focus on them. Tell yourself you’re relaxed and calm and perfectly at piece. Breathe slowly and imagine you’re in one of your favorite places. Do this for five to ten minutes a day.

Other ways to deal with panic attacks include not indulges in what you think could happen. Tell yourself to deal with whatever needs to be dealt with when the time comes. Accept your panic attack. Don’t fight it. Rate it and wait it out using any relaxation techniques that you’re able to do.

You can also deal with panic attacks by using your mind and voice to talk yourself through a panic attack. These are called coping statements. When you use coping statements as a way to deal with a panic attack, speak out loud and use a firm and gentle tone.

Some coping statements that can help you deal with any panic attacks are:

• What’s happening to me might seem overwhelming. But I’ve caught myself in time and refuse to focus on the things that make me feel overwhelmed. In this way my anxiety will shrink and disappear.

• This may be hard now, but it’ll get easier as time goes by.

Above all, the best way to deal with panic attacks is to be practical and patient. Be committed to your recovery, but don’t become a recovery perfectionist.



By: Amit Mehta

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A today, it is believed that a lot of folks have some sort of trouble with panic and anxiety attacks.

When the term is referred to as a ‘panic or anxiety disorder’, this simply means that the person has suffered or continues to suffer with on going attacks.

To get help for panic attacks means initially understanding what the start of the attacks was caused by.

Realizing that you may be having panic attacks along with when and where they occur will aid you to seek help for panic attacks much more effectively.

And by knowing the sequence of when the attacks take place should aid to stop them before they begin. Once you are in the middle of a full blown attack is not the ideal time to avoid it.

To have help for panic attacks can be as simple as knowing what to do before they kick in. Some type of distraction should be employed by trying to focus your mind on another subject, even a silly subject, if you realize a panic attack is about to occur.

Being prepared is the key and knowing in advance what to think of to distract yourself works better than trying to think of something when the attack starts. Have a group of things to think of, such as:

A loved one

A place you like to visit

A favourite town or city

A joyful event in your past

Having fear is the most negative thing when it comes to help for panic attacks. Understand that it is VITAL to take command of your fear. Fear creates side effects like rapid heart rate and light headedness. Again, being prepared will bring confidence and in return, reduce fear.

Other symptoms during a panic or anxiety attack is feeling tightness in the chest area coupled with an erratic and unnormal breathing pattern. Try learning and practicing breathing exercises in advance.

Knowing how to breathe properly if an attack occurs will arm you with more confidence to face any attack head on, knowing that, as usual, you will be ok at the end of it.

For some folks, writing down your distractions along with your breathing patterns will be more effective as they can be taken with you.

This can help for panic attacks as for some people, the mind is not clear when an attack happens and all the well laid out plans in your head are forgotten. If you can remember to reach for the written plan and follow the instructions, this alone can serve as a useful distraction and will help quell any attack quickly. Write down the list of distractions that work for you and always keep a copy on your person. You can not always trust yourself to recite the plans in your mind when a panic attack is in full swing.

Hopefully, these words will have given you some help and advice to overcoming panic attacks. Do not let panic attacks ruin your life. They can be cured but only if you think they can be cured.



By: Frederic Robinson

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