Panic Attack Help

Archive for December, 2009

Ignoring panic attack treatment can be detrimental in a number of ways however, performing self treatment without proper medical advice is folly to say the least. If you suffer regular attacks then you know how socially debillitating the condition can be but be aware that there is help available.

Having had two successive panic attacks within a short space of time during a stage of my life when turmoil was the rule rather than the exception I took some well worn advice and visited my health physician for an assessment. Thankfully, my episodes were isolated to current circumstances and with the application of some relaxation techniques, panic attack hasn’t been a factor in my life. But it got me thinking. What about those individuals who are completely oblivious to the number of treatments available?

Panic Attack Treatment Options

So what are the options. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises are a good starting point. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used successfully in many panic/anxiety related disorders. In many cases, patients thoughts can prove destructive in a fashion that leads to an episode and learning how to keep these thoughts in check are associated with this type of treatment. How a patient reacts to these thoughts in a positive way, replacing negative thoughts is the basis of Cognitive-behavioral therapy. However, the process can be a long drawn out one and will require committment but the results are well worth the effort.

Taking it a step further, the use of medication in conjunction with CBT can prove extremely effective. Under proper medical supervision, medication has proven to be beneficial in a high percentage of instances. The problem with many panic attack sufferers lies in the aura associated with what is perceived as receiving treatment for mental health and is a strong reason why many either delay or completely ignore the treatment that is available to them.

Making Your Move

The initial step is vital. Remember the old saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. Well, seeking professional treatment for panic attack shouldn’t be scary. The initial process will involve assessing the level of symptoms being experienced along with areas of your life which may be contributing to episodes. These could be relationship issues, work issues, family problems, personality traits and even on a more personal nature, things such as substance abuse.

Dependent on the level of symptoms being experienced, a plan of action will then be outlined. It may be that just a minor adjustment is required and this could simply involve setting some short term goals. In more chronic cases, then a longer working partnership will be required between you and your doctor.

The bottomline is panic attack treatment is not an ordeal. Your quality of life is important isn’t it? Taking that initial step may be just a matter of picking up the phone and making a call.

Dean Caporella
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/how-panic-attack-treatment-can-lift-the-dark-clouds-hovering-over-your-life-82595.html

The female sex is scientifically proven to have been affected with more panic attacks than their opposite sex. Depression, anxiety, tension are the usual factors associated with panic attacks. Even one has an adverse effect on the person, leading to a panic attack much to the misery.

A female is known to go through a lot more hormonal changes through a month. These hormonal changes even affect their behavior and mood from time to time. Small things such as these cause anxiety in them. Any stressful, worried thought might lead to anxiety and other devastating problems one will need to encounter. You cannot help but accept the hormonal changes in your body, which also can cause you some anxiety during it’s time. Depression is soon to follow in such cases making things more difficult to cope up with.

Depression is the most frequent follow up to anxiety problems. It bogs you down so much that you lose faith in yourself and the confidence to live any longer. It, in a way, increases the tension and intensifies anxiety. You do not get good sleep and peaceful things running in your mind during depression. Food habits start to change and life becomes very hard to deal with. The more you sleep, the better your body responds but depression will prevent you from having a good sleep. Panic attacks are a result of these things put together. It might either come in stages or attack you with a bang. Panic attacks usually are the ones to follow after severe increase in depression and anxiety. It affects you physically and psychologically to a great deal. Everything that time would be related and that fear and worry might overcome your life totally. Heart problems, sweating and twitching are related symptoms of a panic attack.

A healthcare professional’s help might be sought if you feel hormonal changes are causing your anxiety. A proper hormonal treatment can ensure you some good health. Psychotropic medication too can aid you to good health. While anti-depressants are used, these days, by females who are under depression and anxiety, it is often not desired. But they have been proven to be quite effective over the years. The most effective and successful anti-depressants found in the market are: Benzodiazepines and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs include Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac while the benzodiazepines include Valium, Canax, Klonopin and Ativan. These medications certainly help fighting panic attacks, anxiety and depression in females. It is, anyway, very important to contact your doctor or physician when such panic attacks are feared. The doctors are the best people to help you out with your problem. Good medication will help you save tackle these panic attacks at its early stages and thus preventing the misery one have to go through.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/panic-attacks-depression-anxiety-in-female-the-art-of-tackling-709353.html

When you experience panic attacks, you will have to seek help. It is not quite possible for you to fight this problem all by yourself. The amount of panic you will experience and the symptoms may get more severe if you do not seek help for these attacks of panic problems. You will need to call a professional from health care and receive help for panic attacks.

The first thing you need to do in seeking panic help is to get an appointment with the medical doctor who generally treats you. Your doctor will enquire about the symptoms that you are experiencing and also the frequency of the panic attacks. The doctor will gather information regarding your psychological symptoms. You will also need to inform the doctor about your physical symptoms when you are experiencing these panic attacks. It is very important to inform the doctor in detail about your physical reactions to the attacks. This will let the doctor know what the cause of your panic attacks is. It may be due to psychological or medical disorder.

Make a list of all the medications you use for your doctor. Some medications have side effects which may cause nervousness, restlessness, anxiety and other symptoms of panic attacks. It is therefore necessary for your doctor to get to know what the cause of your attack is.

You may need to take a blood test if your doctor has a feeling that it may be due to a medical problem. If certain medications are causing your attacks, your doctor may advise you to change your medications.

Prozac, Xanax or Zoloft are certain medications the doctor may put down for you if he or she thinks that the cause for your attacks may be a result of psychological disorder. If you have more severe attacks the doctor will pass you further for more help in panic attacks. You may be referred to a therapist or a psychiatrist.

A psychiatrist will prescribe psychotropic medication and will also keep a look out for your side effects and symptoms. He will change the medications if he needs to do it. You will have to try out a few medications before your psychiatrist realizes what works best for you. It may take a month to be able to see the whole effects of this medication.

Your psychiatrist or your medical doctor will refer you to a therapist for getting help for these attacks. The therapist will work with you and find out the level of anxiety that you will feel that causes the panic attacks. He will also identify you triggers, teach you to calm down your mind and body and also work through situations that trigger panic attacks.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/treating-panic-attacks-what-you-need-to-do-709354.html

Pregnancy for women is nature’s boon to them. It is a specialty which their counterpart (male) can not share. Pregnancy is one of the most joyous moments of any woman’s life! But, when panic attacks occur during pregnancy it becomes not just a bad experience but also a very dangerous experience for both mother and baby! Within society, panic attacks are nothing unusual, in fact they can be very common and are suffered by many people nowadays, some more severe than others. Now during pregnancy this common condition/situation can be extremely dangerous for both mother and baby and is a completely different ball game.

Panic attacks while pregnant can result from the immense stress and anxiety that occurs during pregnancy. It is natural because at this time the stimulative hormone ’serotonin’ is produced in large quantities. So, during pregnancy a woman comes under influence of panic attacks in two ways - first the natural secretion of the hormone and second, anticipated fear.

So, bearing a baby and suffering from panic attacks can make the situation dangerous. So here are some crucial tips you can follow to help with avoiding panic attacks while pregnant!

1. Practice Breathing Exercises - When you are feeling nervous, it is advised to put your hand over the stomach and take deep slow breaths. Expand and compress your stomach softly while inhaling and exhaling. By doing these exercises you can relieve your stress and worries. Try to do this on a regular basis to help avoid attacks surfacing!

2. A Healthy Balanced Diet - You must pay attention to your diet as you are not only feeding yourself but also your baby. Your diet should contain more fruits and green vegetables as they are easily digestible and above all, essential elements required by the body during pregnancy. These foods contain chemicals which are helpful in controlling panic attacks during pregnancy. You should also include protein in your diet like egg white, meat, fish etc. This will enable you to keep your diet balanced!

3. Plenty Of Sleep - Pregnant women are advised to rest and take ample sleep during their pregnancy period. A research, titled ‘Curing Illness by means of Sleeping’ reveals that good sleep can cure many ailments including stress related ailments. The body gets the opportunity to heal by itself, and no medicine can compete with this healing technique.

4. Maintain Balance - You should maintain balanced behavior to avoid panic attacks during pregnancy. Control your emotions - be it positive or negative. Over joy or depression is dangerously harmful during pregnancy. Try to refrain from anything that is associated with extreme emotion.

The best thing you can do to avoid panic attacks while pregnant is - eat healthy, sleep well and think positive. Maintaining this type of attitude is hugely important and will help you cope with panic attacks and ultimately avoid them while pregnant!

Ethan Grays
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/crucial-steps-you-can-take-to-avoid-panic-attacks-while-pregnant-723337.html

Most people are unaware of the magnitude of the disruption panic attacks bring to a patient suffering from them frequently. They do not understand what causes these attacks and why they are so terrible for the patient. Patients who undergo panic attacks are unable to leave home or work. They are unable to handle specific situations or to tolerate the presence of specific objects around them. This can have a terrible influence on their daily life and is very hard on them.

Panic Attacks typically start with fear, worry or anxiety. Normally everyone feels anxious some time or the other, but the patient with panic attacks experiences intense anxiety. Their emotions of anxiety, worry and fear get totally out of control. This fact causes them even more anxiety and gets converted into physical symptoms. They feel as if they are suffering from heart attack or some other critical medical problem like seizure. Physical symptoms represent a big indication in understanding panic attacks. Patients who suffer from a high state of fear, anxiety or worry feel their increased heartbeats, palpitations and a feeling of tightness in the chest. This worries them all the more because they feel they are facing much more than a fearful situation. Some neurological symptoms like uncontrollable shaking, jittering or twitching may also be exhibited. The patient literally shakes from terror and fear over the confronting situation. Other symptoms such as headaches, diarrhea, stomach upset, chills or hot flushes, nausea and other physical reactions may also manifest.

What causes these panic attacks? The causes of panic attacks are varied and they are different for each individual. Chronic panic attacks may manifest as psychological disorders such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety, Phobia and such other anxiety disorders. Persons suffering from these disorders display an astoundingly higher level of anxiety than persons who are lucky not to suffer from these disorders.

Panic attacks may also be a result of underlying medical disorders like Thyroid Disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migraines, some types of heart conditions and certain disorders which are anxiety provoking. Some of these will directly result in anxiety due to physiological reasons whereas others will cause anxiety as an outcome of the medical disorder. The patients with medical problems could be fearful of their deteriorating health or the medical problems may not allow them to undertake certain activities or reduce their capacity as compared to earlier times.

Panic attacks may also result from medications. Many medications have side effects which result in restlessness, insomnia, nervousness and deep anxiety. The people who are prone to anxiety normally find that medication worsens their situation and makes it more difficult to achieve control over their feelings. If the medication prevents them from sleeping, it aggravates symptoms.

If you understand what panic attacks are, it will help you to assist a close friend or a member of the family who may be undergoing panic attacks regularly. It is important to understand that these people are neither going mad nor are they inventing the symptoms that are displayed. Panic attacks are terrible disorders which totally disrupt someone’s life. If you can encourage such a person to seek medical help to reduce these panic attacks frequency and severity, you would have done a lot to support him towards leading a normal life.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/panic-attacks-stop-scaring-yourself-709370.html

Sue called in sick again. She was finding it harder and harder to get outside because she was afraid she would have another attack. The worry about losing her job was actually contributing to the panic attacks.

If you’re someone who has the misfortune of experiencing frequent panic attacks, you may think that your life has become something of a nightmare. But you’re not alone - one in every five or six people has a panic disorder of one type or another.

Panic attacks are defined as sudden intense episodes of extreme physical, emotional and mental panic or terror, usually focused around an abnormal fear. Panic attacks are usually brief, and may last less than ten minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. Despite their frightening nature, sufferers need to be reassured that panic attacks themselves do not lead to heart attacks, loss of control, mental illness or death.

Physical symptoms of a panic attack-

Panic attack symptoms may include shortness of breath, heart palpitations, nausea, chest pain, difficulty breathing, tingling or numbness in the fingers, face, or toes, stomach aches, and headaches.

There may also be symptoms such as the fear that you are losing your mind, and feeling disassociated with your surroundings, as if you are viewing a movie. You may have a fear of death or morbid thoughts.

Doctors and researchers are constantly looking for new treatments every day simply because such a large percentage of the population suffers from panic attacks and anxiety.

Treatments usually involve psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, or medication. Alternative treatments like meditation and relaxation therapy are often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety.

Many therapies merely teach coping mechanisms and strategies on how to get over a panic attack once it happens. Medications can have unpleasant side effects, and the panic attacks start again if you stop taking the drugs.

John Smith
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/cure-panic-attack-how-to-cure-your-panic-attack-in-under-60-minutes-697914.html

To lower respiration is the main strategic center to deal with panic attacks signs.
A cycle of slow respiration each 6 seconds It is the most useful technique to stop a panic attack.
Apply this to the first symptom to prevent panic attack. Do not hold your breath. Remind to breathe slowly!

How the diaphragmatic respiration will slow down your respiration more rapidly?
Pay attention as babies breathe. They obtain a peak of efficiency of your bellows with a bathypnea (deep breath). In order to see if you breathe deeply, locate a hand in he stomach, put the other one on the top superior of your chest. Inhale deeply, if the hand on your abdomen moves first, his diaphragm is working well. If the hand of your chest’s topside moves first ( or if both made it ) you have a poor respiration. Under stress or with panic attack signs only you will obtain of the 2/3 to the 1/2 of your oxygen needs.

Sign and your front resting for be more than enough their hands. Compare your normal style to breathe with the diaphragmatic way that this exercise forces. It is virtually impossible to breathe in form incorrect if your upper muscles are stressed at this position . If you feel your respiration different, you have been breathing of a distressed mode. Practice the stomach respiration, leaning upon your backs, next seated, standing and while you make your everyday things, and next under soft stress. You would move the upper part of your chest very little. Do this periodically every some weeks, until it becomes automatic.

The muscles of your chest will become shorter and the of the ones of the stomach will relax, it is normal. Only two bathypneas will descend also your pressure.The stomach respiration makes you easier decreasing when you almost feel panic attack signs . The stomach respiration will allow you using the two third parts of their lungs instead of your upper third part. Bigger volume means minor effort to minor respiration. To decrease respiration is fundamental to avoid panic attacks. There exists a couple of advantages with lower respiration : the fatigue of the muscles of the chest goes down. It is not the depth of respiration as such that calms. Simply allows you breathing slower. Do not worry very much if you don’t master this technique as once. Get focused in breathing slowly, still if keep on using the top of his chest. These advices do not substitute at all his Medical first evaluation to deal with panic attacks .

As you can probably tell by now, done regularly every day, diaphragmatic respiration can help you coping with panic attacks, because doing so will calm you down and give you peace of mind.

Daniel Kreimer
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/how-to-stop-a-panic-attack-756251.html

Panic attacks treatment is a must for those people who are suffering from constant panic attacks. Because of the varying nature of panic attacks, treatment can become a little bit difficult. The symptoms of a Panic attack have a tendency to differ from anxiety, heart palpitations, to hot flushes and even nausea. So, due to the difference in symptoms from person to person, the analysis of the situation can be difficult.

There are several kinds of panic attacks treatment, which can help in controlling the different types of panic attacks. Here are 5 well known panic attack treatments that may be able to help you:

1. Meditation - The first and one of the best panic attacks treatment is using meditation. This is because meditation helps you to keep your mind completely calm. It also helps the body to relax and repress terror, which always leads to panic attacks.

2. Medication - As mentioned panic attack treatments do vary as per the symptoms. Sometimes the sufferer of a panic attack can be treated by medication. Lots of the medication used in the treatment of panic attacks contains the chemical benzodiazepine and all of them have a sedative effect on the nervous system, as a result of which, a person calms down immediately suppressing the attack.

3. Psychotherapy - The use of psychotherapy is also one of the best and most used types of panic attacks treatment. This process of treatment is lengthy, but it is quite effectual as well. Additionally, for gaining the benefits of this treatment you have to follow some strict and stringent rules. This part, putting many sufferers off the process.

4. Psychologically - Another treatment for panic attacks is Psychological counselling. It is a very common treatment for panic attacks and anxiety. In this treatment you have to spend a short time with an expert, who will help you to identify the source of your panic attacks and hopefully treat the core problem.

5. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - The 5th panic attack treatment is cognitive-behavioural therapy. In this treatment you have to perform meditation and yoga body control exercises. This cognitive-behavioural therapy can help some people in avoiding panic attacks by doing some physical exercises. But it totally depends upon a person’s activity as to how well you perform physical activities and in effect react to treatment.

Many people destroy their panic attacks daily and all take a different route towards treatment. These are only 5 brief descriptions of many that are available in today’s world. One thing is for sure though, and that is, if the condition is left untreated it can quite easily spiral out of control very quickly indeed. So find your panic attacks treatment today!

Ethan Grays
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/panic-attacks-treatment-5-ways-you-can-beat-your-panic-attacks-715843.html