Panic Attacks And Panic 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 (Free Download Anxiety Treatment eBook)

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When Panic Sets In?

Crowds have never been a problem before and neither has speaking up in front of a large room of people, but all of a sudden it seems to send you into a nervous fit of shaking, sweating, increased heart rate and feeling nauseous. The room swirls and it feels like fainting is the next thing that is going to happen. What is this? What has caused the individual to experience one or more of these symptoms?

What this sounds like is a panic attack. Some people may have always experienced panic attacks in certain situations and others may never have had them until it suddenly springs on them out of nowhere. There are many reasons for a person going through a panic attack and all depend on the person who is having them. It could be that some repressed past history has been triggered in the subconscious and has led to the panic attack, the memory of a traumatic experience is triggered and the person can’t push the memory out of their head, or it could be caused by something that is not as easily recognized. A panic attack is something that comes around when someone feels threatened by something and feels as though they are going to come to serious harm if they follow through with something, such as getting into a car after having been through a serious car accident a few months before. Many of the symptoms associated with panic attacks consist of shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea, shaking, increased heart rate and even physical pain in the form of headaches. All these symptoms are caused by the mind in the attempt to avoid danger that can cause serious harm to the individual. It comes from the natural instinct of survival. Fear, which is really the root cause of panic attacks, is a natural instinctual emotion that is triggered when the individual senses they are in a dangerous situation that they need to get out of immediately. Unfortunately, many people can have their fear get out of hand and this is what can result in panic attacks.

Regardless of the cause, a therapist can work with the patient to suffer less or no panic attacks in the future. In fact, there is online therapy available for people who suffer panic attacks that prevent them from leaving their home, or even if the patient wishes to remain in a comfortable environment while they work through their issues. While communicating with the online counselor or therapist, the counselor can work with the patient to determine what might be the underlying cause of the panic attacks. Once the cause is determined, further therapy can help the patient deal with those issues in the hopes that future panic attacks will be avoided. There are cases where medicinal treatment might be necessary when working with the patient and this is also possible to get when consulting an online therapist. Online therapy is normal therapy; the difference is that the patient can communicate with their therapist on their computer. Many individuals who have sought help from an online counselor have been successfully treated and continue to live happier and less stressful lives as a result.

By: Jennifer Baxt (Download Natural Treatment for Anxiety Now!)

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Panic Attacks Treatment: Easy to Follow Steps

There are many panic attacks treatment nowadays.  You can resort to books, programs, techniques and medication to cure panic attacks.  In fact, there are even some simple steps that you can follow and use at home.  This article will give you some easy to follow steps on coping with a panic episode.  And, if you want to permanently get rid of panic attacks, a new technique will be discussed in the later part of the article.

Here’s a word of advice.  Before implementing this panic attacks treatment by yourself, make sure that you are really aware of the symptoms of a panic attack.  Sufferers often associate the feelings of a panic attack with feelings of getting a heart attack or nervous breakdown so make sure you do not confuse it with a each other.  If you are having a heart attack instead of a panic attack, then performing these steps might be of no use.

- Think Positive Thoughts

Go for positive thinking!  Since a panic attack is all in the head, and having unwanted thoughts are a product of it, why don’t you try thinking up positive thoughts?  Tell yourself, “I can do this!  I will get over this panic episode!”

- It Is Harmless

Remind yourself that a panic attack is not medically dangerous and is physically harmless.  The scary sensations are just temporary and it will pass.  You are not going to die.

- Breathe

Learn breathing exercises.  One of the symptoms of panic attacks is a shortness of breath.  For this, you should learn breathing exercises and practice them beforehand, so it will come naturally to you the next time a panic episode occurs.

By: Cathy Shermann (Download Natural Treatment for Anxiety Now!)

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How to Recognize, Avoid and Treat Panic Attacks

A panic attack can easily turn into a terrifying medical phenomenon. Imagine that you are simply walking around your home when suddenly you are embraced by a terrible state of fear. Ranging in seriousness to a simple shortness of breath to a much more traumatic feeling that you are actually dying, anxiety covers a wide variety of symptoms that are absolutely horrifying if you ever experience them. Most incidents can last from anywhere between a few minutes to about a half hour, making them unbearably random, as just when you think it should be over, it may keep continuing. Because so many people suffer from panic attacks each and every year, it is important to know what the symptoms are, how to avoid them and what methods the medical professionals of our world use to treat panic disorders even if you do not suffer from this malady.

Panic attacks can actually come in all shapes and sizes and can include a wide range of symptoms that you should be on the lookout for. While the amount and scope of a panic attacks symptoms can range tremendously, there are a few signs that you can easily use to help you determine if you are actually experiencing a panic attack. The most common symptoms include a rapid heart rate, accelerated breathing, sweating or chills, trembling and dizziness. Oftentimes, these symptoms can be accompanied by other, more severe signs like a tightness in your chest, trouble swallowing and a tight, clenching feeling in your throat as if you are about to die.

Unfortunately, nobody is really sure as of yet about what causes these incidents in some people. Because these attacks are so incredibly random and can simply occur out of the blue, there is really no way to pinpoint a particular cause. Although there has been some information leading people to believe that panic attacks are hereditary, many scientists and doctors do agree that panic attacks are related to overactive chemical responses in your body and can be directly associated with the amount of stress that you feel on a daily basis. A good way to avoid these attacks may be to try and avoid as much stress as possible.

Medication seems to be one of the best ways to treat panic attacks. If your attacks worsen or occur more frequently, it may not be a bad idea to pay your local doctor a visit. Many doctors will proscribe you with an anti depressant style drug to help you alleviate your feelings of stress. Also, you may be required to take an anti-stress medication as well if you feel that your panic attacks are related to high levels of stress. For people who experience frequent or severe panic attacks, regular meetings with a psychiatrist may be necessary.

By: Bill Urell (Anxiety Treatment eBook – FREE)

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Anxiety Cures – How You Can Regain Control of Your Life

Anxiety attacks occur differently for each individual. Some people may experience an anxiety attack once in their lives, while other individuals experience anxiety attacks on an ongoing basis. When anxiety attacks are experienced on a recurring basis, they are often the result of anxiety disorders. An anxiety attack is not life-threatening and to date, no person has died from suffering an attack. They can, however, affect the normal functioning of a person’s life and therefore need to be cured.

Anxiety cures are found in many different forms; one of the most popular forms of curing anxiety is through the use of natural herbs. Many individuals may fear that they suffer from anxiety attacks whereas the symptoms may be related to other health problems. For example, shortness of breath and palpitations may relate to heart problems. Consulting a health physician is important in properly diagnosing anxiety attacks and ruling out other possibilities.

Severe anxiety disorder can cause problems at work, home and in relationships. Many people do not know the cause of their anxiety and therefore consult a counselor to help them determine and recognize the reason for their anxiety attacks. Anxiety cures provided by a counselor involves recognition of the source of the anxiety and various techniques and methods to assist the client to move past and resolve the inner conflict that he or she may be experiencing.

Many counselors assist their clients with various forms of relaxation techniques and encourage their clients to partake in relaxing forms of exercise to reduce unnecessary tension and stress and thereby assisting with the recovery process. Other forms of anxiety cures include prescribed medication such as anti-anxiety drugs. These are usually only used as a last resort when other treatments or methods have been unsuccessful. A more common approach is to try herbal remedies first.

Valerian extract is a natural herb that is utilized to relieve anxiety and its related symptoms. This herb is beneficial in that it enables a person to feel calm and relaxed within a short period after having taken the medication. The advantage of using this herb is that it is not addictive, so even after having taken it for a long period, there are no harmful or unpleasant withdrawal effects.

Anxiety cures that are also proven to naturally relieve the symptoms of anxiety include Passion Flower and L-thianine. Both these forms of natural herbs are found to work as effectively as anti-anxiety drugs without the side-effects. Natural herbs used for anxiety cures relax the individual while still allowing for full concentration, and allow the individual to feel calmer in anxiety-provoking situations and prevent unnecessary stress-related symptoms caused by the anxiety disorder.

There is such a wide variety of natural anxiety cures that selecting the one that is best for you can be a confusing and time-consuming process. The best way to select a natural cure is to take note of the ingredients found in various natural supplements (for example; green tea) and base your selection on proven anti-anxiety ingredients, and the results you experience in using them.

By: Ian Jefferson (Download Natural Treatment for Anxiety Now!)

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Prevent or Cure a Panic Attack With Natural Treatments

 

Your first panic attack should be a learning experience that will help you control attacks in the future. Sometimes people with a panic attack go to the emergency room thinking they are having a heart attack as the symptoms are similar and come on suddenly. You’ll feel things like sudden periods of extreme fear, anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, rapid heart beat, hyperventilation, tingling sensation, nausea, etc. When they learn that it was a panic attack and knowing the difference they can start taking control of their future attacks. This is important because often a panic attack will keep you from even functioning.

Panic attacks are caused by many physical, mental and emotional triggers. Genetics may play a part and females are more apt to get them than men. Allergies or sensitivities to food, drink or chemicals can trigger an attack along with memories or trauma. Alcohol and drug can also cause panic attacks and disorders. Serious and upsetting experiences along with everyday events could trigger an attack.

Panic disorder may lead to “situational avoidance,” where the sufferer feels they have to avoid every place or situation in where attack has occurred and might not even leave their house which could be a very serious disruption to a normal life.

Control subjects were less likely to have panic attacks then patients with panic disorders after both drank a high amount of caffeine, according to results of a small study by Isabella Nascimento, MD, and colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

People who had went to a doctor for treatment told me that they were usually told they should avoid caffeine in colas, coffee, chocolate and teaI’ve talked with several people who gave me the following natural treatments they have used to cure or avoid panic attacks without using medicine.

Deep Breathing

One of the best forms of panic attack relief is to simply take deep, slow breaths to prevent hyperventilation. By getting hyperventilation under control you avoid things such as the dizziness and lightheadedness which happens because there is too much oxygen being taken to the brain at one time.

Exercise

This appears to be a one of the best ways of dealing with a panic attack once it’s started. An adrenaline rush usually accompanies an attack and the exercise can bleed it off according to people who use it.

Aroma therapy

After listening to a number of people talk about using aroma therapy to combat panic attacks it appears there are two schools of thought. The first swears by using smells that bring back pleasant memories, such as baby powder, certain flowers, farm animals or barbecuing. The others said that aromas from essential oils or candles were the best.

Meditation

This is a way that several people said helped them from having attacks or by being able to stop them once they started.

Think happy thoughts or take your mind off your problem

Others told me that once an attack started they tried to empty their mind of anything but pleasant things that they had done in the past and it appeared to help them. They also said taking your mind off the attack with things like counting backwards from one hundred was helpful.

The above ways are used by ordinary people to cure or get over a panic attack. In some cases they just can’t do it themselves and need professional help. Below is some information on several different natural methods used to cure people with panic disorders.

Getting Professional Help

Hypnosis

Diane Ulicsni, director of The Hypnosis Center in Lake Oswego, Ore., suffered from chronic panic attacks for many years. She finally found relief through hypnosis and is now a board certified hypnotherapist. She says that hypnosis — recognized by the American Medical Association since 1958 as a form of treatment — is one approach that is non-drug and can greatly ease or even cure panic attacks.

Laugh your panic attacks away?

That’s a good strategy, says Steve Sultanoff, PHD, a clinical psychologist in Irvine, Calif., and past president of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor. He uses humor visualization with his panic attack patients, telling them to imagine themselves in a situation where they’ve laughed uncontrollably. When they have a panic situation, they are able to return to the picture of themselves laughing.

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy

James D Herbert, PHD, associate professor of clinical psychology at MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, says that cognitive behavioral therapy is his choice for treating panic disorders. Cognitive-behavior therapy is made up of two parts: One is to identify and modify the thinking patterns that produces anxiety (cognitive therapy), and lessening anxiety by exposing the patient to fearful scenarios (behavior therapy).

If you suffer from panic attacks try some of the treatments listed above. They have worked for people I talked with and maybe they’ll work for you too.

Sources

Natural Panic Attack Treatments http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/natural-panic-attack-treatments?page=1

James D Herbert, PHD http://www.academyofct.org/Library/InfoManage/Guide.asp?FolderID=153&SessionID=

 

 

 

 

By: Don Levy (Anxiety Treatment eBook – FREE)

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