Persons experiencing repetitive, severe panic attacks may simply have panic attacks and that is all. Other persons may begin to experience a progression of bothersome or …
Stop Panic Attack Without Drugs
anxiety attacks
A Panic attack is defined as an anxiety reaction. It usually appears during the teens or early adulthood. Causes of panic attacks are unclear, there seems to be a connection with major stressful life events. There is also evidence for a genetic predisposition; Studies with twins have confirmed the possibility of genetic inheritance of the disorder.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning and is not backed by any reason. According to the Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed, panic disorder (which is a result of a number of panic attacks) affects 1 to 3 percent of the general population at some point in their lives (Ham, Waters and Oliver, 2005).
Some Symptoms of a panic attack are a racing heartbeat , paresthesias, chest pains or discomfort, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, shaking, choking, hot flashes and chills.
A panic attack occurs suddenly and lasts for about 10 minutes, during a panic attack, these symptoms rise from out of nowhere and they can occur during sleep. A panic attack is not dangerous; however, it often leads to other complications.
The phobias that people with panic disorder develop do not come from fears of actual objects or events, but rather from fear of having another attack. Patients with agoraphobia or social phobia usually suffer from panic attacks (Ham et al, 2005).
Diagnosing panic attacks can be difficult, people sometimes see 10 or more doctors before being properly diagnosed, and only one out of four people with the disorder receive proper treatment. The symptom of panic disorder is the persistent fear of having future panic attacks. Studies show that women are twice as likely to get the disorder as men.
A study was done to see if there is a relationship between cognitions and panic attack intensity, this study was not conclusive, however more study need to be done because many times a panic attack is usually made worse by how a person thinks, or a person my suffer future panic attacks just by thinking about the panic attack. An individual's cognitive process may cause the body to respond with the symptoms of panic attacks (Hedley, Hoffart, Dammen, Ekeberg and Friis, 2000).
Panic disorder has many side effects if left untreated. A study showed that people who experience panic attacks are prone to alcohol and drug abuse, they have greater risk of attempting suicide, spend more time in hospital emergency rooms, have no social life, tend to be financially dependent on others, report feeling emotionally and physically less healthy than non-sufferers, are afraid of driving more than a few miles away from home
Panic disorder can be treated successfully, and sufferers can lead full and satisfying lives (Rae, 2004). A combination of cognitive and behavioral therapy is the best treatment for panic disorder. Medication might also be appropriate in some cases. Before treatment can begin people who suffer from panic attacks need to understanding exactly what it is, and how many others suffer from it. Cognitive restructuring which is changing one's way of thinking helps to replace those thoughts with more realistic, positive ways of viewing the attacks. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can help the patient identify possible triggers for the attacks (Ham et al, 2005).
Relaxation techniques can further help someone go through an attack. These techniques include breathing retraining and positive visualization. Learning to slow the high breathing rate can help a patient deal with a panic attack and can also prevent future attacks.
Another form of treatment is the use of Anti-anxiety medications may be prescribed, as well as antidepressants (Ham et al, 2005), and sometimes even heart medications (such as beta blockers) that are used to control irregular heartbeats.
The Success of treatment depends on a person's willingness to carefully follow the instructions given by the physician. Noticeable improvement occurs within 20 weeks. People who suffer from panic attacks should find a licensed mental health professional that specializes in panic or anxiety disorders.
Reference:
Hedley L. M., Hoffart A., Dammen T., Ekeberg O. & Svein (2000). The Relationship between Cognitions and Panic Attack Intensity. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavia 102, (4), 300.
(2005). Panic Attacks. American Family Physician 71, (4),1.
Ham P., Waters D. B., & Oliver M. N. (2005). Treatment of Panic Disorder. American Family Physician 71, (4), 733
Rae K,(2004), Waves of Panic. Chatelaine 77, (6), 162.
