PANIC ATTACKS & PANIC DISORDER: SYMPTOMS, CAUSES, AND TREATMENT

Panic disorder may be an identification given to people that expertise repeated surprising panic attacks.

Learn about the condition and the way to manage panic attacks here

WHAT IS A PANIC ATTACK?

A fearfulness is associate abrupt surge of intense worry or discomfort that reaches a peak inside minutes, and through which era a spread of psychological and physical symptoms occur.

These symptoms include rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, hot flashes, and lightheadedness—as well as a sense of impending doom, chills, nausea, abdominal pain, chest pain, headache, and numbness or tingling.

WHAT IS PANIC DISORDER?

Panic disorder may be a identification given to people that expertise repeated surprising panic attacks— that's, the attack seems to occur from out of the blue.The term recurrent refers to the fact that the individual has had more than one unexpected panic attack.

In distinction, expected panic attacks occur once there's an apparent cue or trigger, such as a specific phobia or generalized anxiety disorder.In the U.S., roughly five hundredth of individuals with anxiety disorder expertise each surprising and expected panic attacks.

Take our 2-minute anxiety disorder take a look at to check if you'll enjoy any identification and treatment.

TAKE PANIC DISORDER TEST

 WHAT DOES A PANIC ATTACK FEEL LIKE?

Panic attacks cause a spread of distressing symptoms that may be terrific for the individual experiencing the attack.

Some people mistake panic attacks for heart attacks and many believe that they are dying. Others feel a mixture of self-doubt or impending doom. Some can also find the episodes extremely embarrassing and refrain from telling their friends, family, or a mental health professional.

PANIC ATTACK SYMPTOMS

Based on anxiety disorder DSM-5 criteria, the symptoms of panic attacks are:

Physical

Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Shortness of breath

Feelings of choking

Chest pain or discomfort

Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint

Chills or heat sensations

Numbing or tingling sensations (commonly mentioned as “pins and needles”)

Psychological

Fear or losing control or “going crazy”

Fear of dying

A sense of being detached from yourself or your surroundings, or observing yourself from outside your body

To receive a identification of anxiety disorder, the panic attacks should be surprising and through the attack four or additional of the on top of symptoms should occur.

For panic attacks that are expected, meaning they might not be expected by the individual but are expected in relation to any phobia, anxiety or other mental health disorder, four or more symptoms must also occur.

HOW LONG DOES A PANIC ATTACK LAST?

Although length varies between people, typically, panic attacks reach their peak inside ten minutes or less so symptoms begin to subside.

Panic attacks seldom last for over associate hour, with most lasting for around 20 to 30 minutes.

ARE PANIC ATTACKS BAD FOR YOUR HEART?

According to a study published in Psychology Medicine1, people who suffer from panic attacks and panic disorder may be at higher risk of heart attack and heart disease later in life.

While the link between anxiety disorder and cardiopathy remains polemic, the study found that compared to individuals without panic disorder, sufferers were found to have up to a

36% higher risk of heart failure and up to forty seventh higher risk of cardiopathy.

If you suffer from panic attacks, seek attention for any chest pain symptoms in order to rule out any issues with heart health.

CAN YOU DIE FROM A PANIC ATTACK?

While panic attacks cause a variety of physical issues and many people reporting feeling like they are about to die when experiencing one, you cannot die from a panic attack.

Panic Disorder and Panic Attack Causes

If you are prone to experiencing negative emotions and are sensitive to anxiety you may be at risk for the onset of panic attacks and panic disorder.

Childhood expertise of sexual or physical abuse, smoking, and interpersonal stressors in the months before the first panic are also risk factors.

Furthermore, it is believed that genetics play a role in susceptibility to panic disorder, although the exact genes, gene products, or functions that are implicated are not known.

Individuals with a parent or folks diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder are also thought to be at a higher risk of developing panic disorder.

HOW TO STOP A PANIC ATTACK

As symptoms begin to peak throughout a fearfulness it will want the expertise can ne'er finish.

While you might think there’s nothing you can do except wait it out, there are some techniques you can practice to reduce the severity of your symptoms and distract your mind.

Have a Plan in Place

No matter what your plan is, having one in place is the most important thing. You can think of your plan as your go-to set of instructions for yourself when you feel a panic attack coming on.

One arrange could be to require yourself out of your current surroundings, sit down, and decision an acquaintance or friend which will facilitate distract you from your symptoms

and help you to calm down. Then you can incorporate the following techniques.

Practice Deep Breathing

Shortness of breath could be a common symptom of panic attacks which will cause you to feel frantic and out of management.

Acknowledge that your shortness of breath could be a symptom of a fear which this can be solely temporary.

Then begin by taking a deep breath certain a complete of 4 seconds, hold for a second, and release it for a total of four seconds.

Keep continuation this pattern till your respiration becomes controlled and steady.

Focusing on the count of four not only will prevent you from hyperventilating, but it can also help to stop other symptoms in their tracks.

Use Muscle Relaxation Techniques

In the midst of a panic attack, it’s inevitable that you’ll feel like you’ve lost control of your body, but muscle relaxation techniques allow you to gain back some of that control.

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) could be a easy however effective technique for panic and anxiety disorders.

Start by clenching your fist and holding this clench until the count of 10. Once you get to 10, release the clench and let your hand relax completely. Next, try the same technique in your feet and then gradually work your way up your body clenching and relaxing each muscle group: legs, glutes, abdomen, back, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and face.

Repeat a Mantra

You may feel a bit awkward doing this initially however continuation associate encouraging, positive mantra to yourself throughout a fear will function a cope mechanism.

Try repeating something as simple as “This is temporary. I will be okay,” or “I’m not going to die. I just need to breathe.”

Find an Object and Focus on It

Pick an object that you can see somewhere in front of you and note everything you notice about that object—from its color and size to any patterns it may have,

where you would possibly have seen others find it irresistible, or what something completely opposite to the object would look like.

You can do this in your head or speak your observational aloud to yourself or a friend.

PANIC ATTACK TREATMENT

Both psychotherapy and drugs has been found to be effective in serving to to cut back the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.

Your specific treatment path can depend upon personal preference, medical history, and the severity of your attacks.

A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has been found by several studies to be the most effective treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder.

During CBT, you may work with a expert on relaxation coaching, restructuring your thoughts and behaviors, mindfulness, exposure treatment, and stress reduction.

Many people that suffer from panic attacks begin to note a discount among weeks, and symptoms often decrease significantly or go away completely within several months.

Your doctor may also recommend that you simply strive some type of medication as a part of your treatment path.

These medications is very useful in managing fear symptoms, as well as anxiety and depression.

SSRI depressants square measure typically the primary alternative for treating panic attacks and anxiety disorder because of their effectiveness and therefore the low risk of any serious aspect effects.

Serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine (Effexor) square measure authority approved for the treatment of anxiety disorder.

Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin) may also be prescribed.

ANXIETY ATTACK VS. PANIC ATTACK

Many people use the terms anxiety attack and panic attack interchangeable, but in reality, they represent two different experiences.

The DSM-5 uses the term fear to explain the hallmark options of anxiety disorder or panic attacks that occur as a results of another disturbance.

To be thought of a fear, four or more of the symptoms outlined in the DSM-5 must be present.

In distinction, the term anxiety attack is not a specifier outlined in the DSM-5.

Rather, anxiety is employed to explain a core feature of multiple completely different anxiety disorders.

The culmination of symptoms that result from being in a state of anxiety—such as restlessness, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and difficulty concentrating—may feel like an “attack,” but are generally less intense than those experienced at the height of a panic attack.

Given that anxiety attacks aren’t specifically outlined as a diagnosis in the DSM-5, the usage of the word is open to interpretation and different individuals may use it in varying ways and circumstances.

For one person, an anxiety attack might be overthinking about a specific worry to the extent that they are unable to concentrate on anything else; for another, anxiety attack

might sit down with sweating and shortness of breath once Janus-faced with a particular scenario.

HOW TO HELP SOMEONE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK

Seeing a friend or a loved one experience a panic attack can be a frightening experience. It can also be challenging to feel powerless to help that person and to watch them suffer. While you’re unlikely to be able to stop your loved one’s panic attack in its tracks, there are things you can do and say to help them through the experience.

Primarily, it is important to stay calm, patient, and understanding.

Help your friend wait out the fear by encouraging them to require deep breaths certain four seconds and out for four seconds.

Stay with them and assure them that this attack is only temporary and they will get through it. You can also remind them that they can leave the environment they are in if they would feel more comfortable elsewhere and try to engage them in light-hearted conversation.

Once the panic attack is over and the person has returned to a calm state, encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional at their earliest convenience, if they haven’t already. You can help them further by assisting with the search for a licensed professional, researching coping techniques online, and looking for self-help books that might be useful.

PANIC ATTACK HELP AND SUPPORT

If you’ve been experiencing panic attacks or suppose you'll have anxiety disorder, we tend to encourage you to hunt identification and treatment from your doctor and a psychological state skilled.

Although panic attacks can feel like a debilitating and embarrassing condition, it is important to remember that you aren’t alone and your mental health is nothing to be embarrassed about.

There are a variety of resources available to you for advice and support, both online and in the form of support groups. For more information, Click Here.