Panic Attacks Disorder

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.



By: peterhutch

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Panic attacks are normal in the sense that it is the body and the minds reaction to a certain stimulus. A certain portion of the brain controls the anxiety switch and becomes activated when there is a potential threat or danger.

This reaction is normal as it prepares the body for either a flight or fight syndrome. It also triggers other defenses into action and prepare for an assault. However when no actual assault occurs, this goes back into its original non-disturbed state and is at rest.

However, when the anxiety switch is repeatedly activated during times of stress, sadness, loss or anger, it can remain in the activated position. Frequent activation causes panic attacks and phobias to develop acknowledged as a new benchmark for the body despite minute or limited trigger.

Even when internally the body knows that the anxiety is a false alarm, the brain controls can no longer alter it consciously ones it becomes used to the frequent trigger. Unfavorably, during a limited or minimal anxiety the brain tends to over react and creates a cycle of fear that is usually difficult to dismiss.

This process happens and every anxiety stimulates the highest reaction without exception that results to panic attacks. Regardless of the anxiety conditions, the length of time they have occurred and their frequency, they ought to be treated regardless as a result of the very same mechanism that requires treatment and solution.

As a normal response of the body to a stimulus, panic attacks occur depending on its intensity. Lesser stressor requires lesser amount or intensity of response. However as the resulting response results in an improper compulsion or if the fear reaction is linked to a negative self-image, it may also create an negative anxiety response such as in stage fright.

Another remedy for a panic attack is taking glycerine which is converted slowly in the liver to glucose and prevents brain starvation and thereby causing a likelihood of an attack.

People who also have repeated attacks are more likely to experience another attack. Those who feel severe anxiety about having another attack are also said to have a panic disorder that triggers repeated attacks.

In some individuals, the exposure to stressful life events, or an environment that is associated with a stressful experience, and psychological thinking that exaggerate normal bodily reactions may often play a role in the onset of panic attack.

Some individuals who are more emotional and melodramatic about a stressful event in their lives and often dwell in a distressful situation are also prone to the incidence of panic attacks. These individuals are typically predisposed to a panic attack along with individuals who have a psychological or mental disorder.

Often a first attack is triggered by a physical illness or a major stress. People subjected to a major illness or stresses are predisposed to an attack along with individuals under certain medications. Adolescents and adults taking drugs are also in danger of panic attacks occurring within their teenage or adult life particularly when one is in a withdrawal stage.

Individuals who are also exposed to excessive responsibilities may develop a tendency to suffer panic attacks. Work and family responsibilities are also a triggering factor in panic attacks that are often associated with too much stress and less rest. However genetics play a very important factor in who are the likely victims of an attack.

Its exact causes are yet unknown but scientific studies believed that an imbalance of serotonin and norepinephrine are the likely culprits in the incidence of panic attacks where the neurological function is subjected to a chemical imbalance. Family tendencies are observed especially where hormone factors bring about a panic attack that is strikingly different from other types of anxiety disorders.

Diabetic patients suffering from hypoglycemia could also develop panic attacks. This is often brought about as the body refuses to respond properly to insulin, thereby interfering with the transport of glucose into the cells.

The brain depends heavily on a steady supply of glucose as its source of energy, a fall in blood sugar levels of the brain sends a distress signal to the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline.

Adrenaline as a panic hormone functions to raise blood sugar levels by converting glycogen into glucose to prevent brain starvation and thereby causing a likelihood of an attack.



By: David Smith

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HotzeHealth asked:

Dr. Hotze explains how low progesterone levels can cause estrogen dominance, leading to anxiety and panic attacks. This can safely be treated with bioidentical progesterone.

Having a panic attack is the body’s reaction to a psychological trigger that has been set off.  Several people who have had a panic attack mistakenly go to the emergency room thinking that they are having a heart attack.  Once there, they are informed that what they were suffering from was actually a panic attack.  That is when you learn to know the difference and seek panic attack relief at the first signs of a panic attack.

The symptoms of a panic attack can actually be very similar to a heart attack as you can feel dizzy and hyperventilate which will cause the heart to start thumping, leading to severe chest pain.  Loss of equilibrium and an itchy feeling of your hands can also occur with a panic attack.  The two main factors of the attack are anxiety and panic.  This reaction can even at times get in the way of your life and daily routine making it near impossible to do anything.  Once you learn to know the difference between a heart attack and a panic attack you will know that you are not dying and then learn the steps to get your panic attack under control with techniques for panic attack relief. 

There is a major factor that you need to take into consideration when you realize a panic attack is coming and that is to control the anxiety so that it does not lead to a full blow panic attack.  The best form of panic attack relief is to simply take deep, slow breaths.  What can get you into trouble is when you start those rapid, shallow breaths and then you start to hyperventilate.  Hyperventilation needs to be gotten under control as that is what can cause many things such as the dizziness and lightheadedness.  This happens because there is too much oxygen being taken to the brain at one time and it has trouble processing all of it. 

There are many commercial pharmaceuticals that can be used for panic attack relief and are widely available making them a huge profit business.  I would recommend using those only if you have a severe panic attack, reason being that there are many natural alternatives that you can use that can give you the same relief.  One of the first things that you should take into consideration is that the panic attack will generally stem from some sort of psychological fear.  There is more often than not a certain trigger that you hit in your mind that sets off these attacks.  It might be that you have a horrid fear of spiders.  Some people will see one and start hyperventilating on the spot.  If that is what happens to you then you need start taking deep slow breaths and remind yourself that the spider is such a small thing that can easily be squashed under your boot.  It’s that simple.  You have to be in control of your fear to get the panic attack relief that you need.

To get the best panic attack relief you just need to remember to be in charge, you can make your body come under control.  You just have to be willing to try.



By: Shun Minh

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Panic attack is perhaps one of the most terrifying experiences a person can go through. Stopping panic attack symptoms are unfortunately, a somewhat difficult thing to do, although not entirely impossible. The main problem here is to overcome your irrational fear.

It is important to understand the reasoning behind the occurrence of panic attack. While the first attack are usually random, subsequent attacks may not be entirely random itself. For most sufferers, after their initial experience with panic attack, they sub-consciously “learned” to fear another panic attack.

They are constantly alert for any signs of panic attack. It is not surprising therefore, that many sufferers avoid situations that they think or “know” might cause the panic attacks to happen. By doing so, they are actually opening the doors for panic attack to strike again. This constant state of worrying about another panic attack is the KEY to the problem.

Don’t you see what is happening?

Your the one causing subsequent panic attacks! You keep worrying about another panic attack. You refuse to let go of that fear.

Hence, once this fear is gone, the body’s reason for maintaining the panic response will disappear as well. Therefore, the key to stopping panic attack forever is to acknowledge this crucial fact and make an effort to change your mentality.

This is why it is difficult. The change must come from yourself. No medicine or drugs can help you change your mentality, they can only give you temporary relief. You HAVE TO learn to accept panic attack and…well…not panic! It really is that simple and ironically, difficult at the same time.

Learn to live with the panic attacks but NEVER give in. It could be a long struggle, but some people make remarkably quick recoveries and never suffer attacks again. Accept that you are a panic attack sufferer and do everything you can to overcome it – do not run and hide from it.



By: Andrew Lim

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