Panic Attacks Disorder

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of extreme anxiety accompanied by significant physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating and shortness of breath. They are usually accompanied by an overwhelming fear of catastrophe – the person may feel they are dying or suffering a heart attack, or they may fear they are going mad. They can occur in response to specific situations (such as crowded areas) or spontaneously and with no obvious cause. They are usually short-lived (lasting a few minutes) but are so unpleasant that a person may live in fear of it happening again – in many cases, this will lead to the person avoiding situations that they think will trigger an attack (“avoidance behaviour”).

Panic attacks quite commonly accompany other anxiety conditions such as generalised anxiety and specific phobias (particularly Agoraphobia – the fear of open spaces). However they can occur outwith these other conditions – a study in 1994 found that 3 people in every 100 had experienced panic attacks alone.

Panic Disorder is the term used by Psychiatrists for those psychological conditions in which panic attacks predominate.

Psychological Symptoms of Panic Attacks

Intense anxiety

Fear of dying

Fear of losing control or going mad

Depersonalisation (the unpleasant feeling that you are not “real” or are detached from yourself)

Derealisation (the unpleasant feeling that your environment is “fake” or you are an “actor in a play”)

Physical Symptoms of Panic Attacks

Shortness of breath or feeling “smothered”

Choking

Palpitations (feeling the heart racing or beating irregularly)

Chest pain

Sweating

Dizziness or feeling faint

Nausea or abdominal discomfort

Flushing of the skin or feeling chilled

Trembling or shaking

The feeing of being unable to breath can lead to a compensatory increase in breathing rate (hyperventilation) by the person. This in turn can affect the body adversely, leading to both a worsening of the physical symptoms above and additional symptoms:

Physical Symptoms of Hyperventilation

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands, feet and face

Headache

Weakness

Spasms of the hand and foot muscles

In a panic attack, people will usually experience at least 4 of the above symptoms, although most experience many more than this. For a diagnosis of Panic Disorder, the person will experience at least 4 panic attacks in a 4-week period, or experience significant fear of a further attack (and exhibit avoidance behaviour) for 4 weeks following a single episode.

Treatment

If the panic attacks are associated with other conditions such as generalised anxiety, phobia or depression, then the appropriate course of action is to address these underlying issues first – the panic attacks should subside as these other issues are resolved.

If the panic attacks are the main problem, then (as with most psychological problems) two courses of action are available – drug treatment and psychological therapies.

The drug treatment of panic attacks limited. Sedative drugs such as the Benzodiazepines (e.g. Diazepam (Valium)) are very effective in the short term, but are highly addictive and can lead to dependence. Further, when these drugs are withdrawn, a resurgence of the panic is likely. Antidepressants, particularly the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Citalopram (Cipramil) and Paroxetine (Seroxat), are licensed for use in panic disorder. They can cause an initial worsening of symptoms when first taken, and can cause other side effects such as gastro-intestinal disturbance and sexual dysfunction. Drug treatments are not as effective as psychological therapies in these conditions.

NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommends Cognitive Therapy for the treatment of panic attacks and panic disorder. Their research has shown it to be more effective than any drug treatments. Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) involve the patient seeing a therapist on a one-to-one basis for hour-long sessions. The total treatment course is typically between 6 and 12 sessions, with one session a week. The therapies involve an explanation of the psychological and physical symptoms of panic attacks, and may involve the deliberate precipitation of a panic attack during a session. The aim is to reduce the fear associated with the physical symptoms – this fear is often a cause of the attacks itself and the associated avoidance behaviours. Once the fear of the panic attacks is reduced, the attacks themselves will lessen in frequency and severity and, hopefully, disappear altogether.

Despite the clear recommendations by NICE, the availability of Cognitive Therapy remains limited in the NHS. If your GP or local Mental Health Trust is unable to provide the appropriate treatment for your condition, they may be able to recommend a therapist in the private sector.



By: Karen Hastings, Hertfordshire

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I am a nurse and it is embarrasing when I have panic attacks on the job. I am supposed to be taking care of sick people not the other way around. Any suggestions?

By: Michelle K

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Symptoms may very from person to person. Each person will have there own unique set of symptoms. Many of these symptoms can be very similar. Panic attacks affect many people around the world and anxiety is a very common part of life for many. An anxiety panic attack symptom is unfortunately quite a normal part of life for some people in today’s stressful and busy world. Do you have panic attacks? Are you prone to anxiety or panic disorders? Can you recognize an anxiety panic attack symptom? In this brief article, I will outline some of those symptoms and also explore what a panic attack is and what causes it.

Many sources suggest that one out of every three Americans suffers from some sort of panic or anxiety disorder in some capacity. This number is steadily rising as the demands of life in this global economy become even more strenuous and harmful. Panic attacks are known as sudden surges of overwhelming emotions such as fear or heavy stress that comes without warning. These attacks affect an estimated 75 million people yearly worldwide.

Symptoms

An anxiety panic attack symptom can vary and can be very dangerous in and of itself. Not only are the symptoms harmful, but the outcome of having a full-on panic attack can be deadly. Talk to your medical professional about how to get help in dealing with your symptoms and your problem. It may involve therapy or medication or any combination of the two.

Some symptoms of a panic attack include a raging heartbeat, hot flashes or chills, choking, chest pains, sweating, trembling, shaking, difficulty breathing, sudden overwhelming fear, fear of sudden death or injury for no reason, anxiousness, fearfulness, general feelings of dread, dizziness, light-headedness, and any number of other similar symptoms.

Now, panic is known to bring about the fastest changes to the makeup of the human body of most afflictions. This is because a panic attack is so sudden and overtakes so many of the bodily systems that the body is often overwhelmed from the attack and may in fact just shut down. Panic attacks generally are masked as some other types of medical problems and this causes doctors and other medical professionals to be often unprepared and ill-equipped to properly diagnose chronic anxiety and panic attacks.

Seek Professional Help

An anxiety panic attack symptom, as discussed above, can vary and generally represents a variety of other afflictions. It is for this reason that it may be important to gather a variety of opinions on your health if you think you have or are experiencing frequent panic attacks. Many medical professionals incorrectly diagnose the panic attack as merely the symptom or the surface problem. It might take several visits to a physician to properly diagnose an anxiety or panic attack as a chronic problem. Don’t procrastinate contacting your doctor. The quicker you can have him consult with you and determine exactly what is going on, the quicker you can get help and relief from your symptoms.

Feel free to visit some of my sites or book mark one Stop Anxiety Now and Stop Panic Attacks



By: Paul Schmitt

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Today depression and panic attacks a very common for millions of people around the world. On average, fourteen million Americans suffer from major panic attack and depression. Three million Americans suffer from panic disorder. It is very common for those with major depression to also have panic attacks and elevated anxiety levels. Because panic can mimic other disorders, such as hypoglycemia, heart problems, asthma and many more serious conditions, sufferers who have not been diagnosed with panic disorder can feel afraid and tentative about their health.

If you are having panic attacks, but are unaware, and are also suffering from depression, then the two can aggravate the other until proper treatment is realized. As depression is another difficult illness to properly diagnose and treat, it is imperative to actively find treatment that works for you.

The Results of Panic Attack and Depression

People suffering from depression will feel bored, sad, hopeless, sluggish, alone and unloved. They may suffer from insomnia, and will have elevated anxiety levels. Because of this elevated anxiety, people with panic attack and depression will often experience panic attacks on a normal basis. When someone has more than one panic attack, they can develop a phobia towards the situation, or a fear to return to a specific place. Add in an already depressed view of the world, a worry that others find no worth in you, and you have a recipe for one miserable person.

Health care professionals are learning that the instances of panic attack and depression coinciding together are more common that thought. While not everyone who is depressed will have panic attacks, many people who suffer from panic may very well be depressed. There are certain SSRI antidepressants on the market today that are specifically recommended for use in treating anxiety along with depression.

Many people who suffer from depression do not know it. When someone who experiences panic attack and depression has a panic attack, it can be very frightening. Oftentimes, people in the middle of panic attacks feel like they are going to die, or that will lose their minds and “go crazy”. This can prevent some from seeking treatment, as they do not understand what is happening to them, and fear the worse.

When the panic attack is over and the sufferer feels normal again, they may not think anything of it until it happens again. Many people who suffer from panic attacks do not realize that they are not alone. A person who is experiencing panic attack and depression may feel especially overwhelmed and will aggravate the situation by worrying and inflating the scenario in their mind. They may feel hopeless to the point where they cannot see how treatment would be effective.

Treatment for depression with panic attacks is available and very effective. Through any combination of medication, cognitive-behavior therapy and relaxation techniques, sufferers can gain control of their lives back.

The first thing you always want to do is see your doctor and discuss the symptoms and trouble that you are having. Your doctor will get you on your way to resolving your trouble.

Feel free to visit some of my sites Stop Panic Attacks and Stop Anxiety Attacks



By: Paul Schmitt

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