Dealing With Panic Attacks
Firstly, what is a panic attack? A commonly accepted definition of a panic attack is ‘an exaggeration of the body’s normal response to fear, stress or excitement’. 20% of the adult population have experienced a panic attack which if left untreated can become a more regular occurrence. Some people have one or two panic attacks and never experience another while others have attacks once a month or several times each week. Even the fear of anticipating the next attack can be quite overwhelming for most people.
Typical signs of a panic attack area pounding heart, profuse sweating, higher sensory alertness and thoughts racing through the head which can be brought on without warning during any daily activity. Other symptoms include a tingling sensation in the limbs and a feeling of faintness. All of these sensations are brought on by adrenalin flooding the body in response to a potentially threatening situation. Some people can get so panicked that they will admit themselves to the emergency room in the mistaken belief that they’re having a full blown cardiac arrest. In fact twenty five per cent of those people who are admitted to hospital for chest pains are experiencing panic attacks and not heart attacks. Panic attacks can come on very quickly and usually last for between five and 20 minutes.
One of the causes of panic attacks is chronic stress which can be caused by financial worries, loss of a job, or perhaps a divorce, but more generally through unresolved emotional issues. People can have a full blown panic attack because they have grown up with some type of emotional trauma which they have repressed and never really dealt with. The situation can be exasperated through lack of sleep and the use of drugs, nicotine and alcohol or a poor diet which is high in sugar and caffeine which can all contribute to feelings of anxiety.
Psychotherapy can also be just as important in treating panic disorders as medication. Mental therapy helps establish the irrational fears which can then be addressed with relaxation techniques. A combination of both medical and psychological treatment can ease anxiety and prevent panic attacks, together with proper lifestyle choices.
Panic attacks can affect both men and woman, but women are much more likely to seek help whereas men typically tend to internalize anxiety and stress and may even turn to alcohol in order feel more relaxed. Use of alcohol is not a long term effective treatment and can even lead to
alcoholism.
If you do experience a panic attack the first thing to concentrate on is your breathing. When we’re anxious we tend to breathe more shallow which in turn leads to increase in heart rate. You should take deep breaths and try to relax. Longer term treatment should include therapy, medication and a healthier lifestyle. Follow the basics of self care with exercise and diet, and surround yourself with a support network that you can talk and discuss any issues, so that you don’t have to live in fear.
Hugo Davenport
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/dealing-with-panic-attacks-669417.html
13 Responses to “Dealing With Panic Attacks”
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February 26th, 2010 4:29 am
Don’t leave the house. It works for me.
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February 26th, 2010 4:31 am
Exercise, eating right. Enjoying a hobby..creating things. Being idle will make anyone go crazy. These things all worked for me, that’s all I know.
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February 26th, 2010 4:33 am
Deep breathing exercises and meditation
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February 26th, 2010 4:35 am
taking a b complex vitamin or st johns wort vitamin
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February 26th, 2010 4:37 am
deep breaths and think of your ‘happy place’…. I know it helps me!
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February 26th, 2010 4:39 am
excercise works wonders. Not only does it take your mind off of things but it makes you feel really good about yourself.
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been there, done that!
February 26th, 2010 4:41 am
unfortunately you have to train yourself not to react with anxiety. accept the fact that you have these problems and allow yourself to go through the experience. try to observe your physical and mental reactions with detachment and you’ll find that the symptoms will lessen over time. keep exposing yourself to your fears and eventually they will not take over your life. Good luck.
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February 26th, 2010 4:43 am
St.John’s wort is supposed to work.I tried it,don’t really think it helped me a lot.It’s bad if you go outside a lot.You have to avoid the sun.Zoloft helped me with anxiety attacks.It also made me talk non-stop and jittery.I’m not on anything right now and just don’t do a whole lot.I’m breastfeeding,so I’m on my own with the post-partum depression.Just pay attention to any possible side-effects from herbal remedies.A lot of them just really aren’t safe.I know,not much help.Sorry.
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February 26th, 2010 4:45 am
1. Quit eating splenda and other artificial sweeteners
2. 10 minutes a day on a treadmill (more if you want, but 10 mins will do.
3. Don’t watch the news.
4. Help someone else with their problems. If you don’t have problematic friends, volunteer at a women’s shelter (mine lets me do their grocery shopping) or somewhere else where there are people with bigger problems than yours. It will put you mind back into perspective and make you feel good about your world all over again. TRUST ME!
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February 26th, 2010 4:47 am
stress relaxation exercises are very helpful. I have an alternative healing book, that has great relaxation and stress relieving exercises. It was actually a text book from a college course a few yrs ago. I really hope that something works for you.
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February 26th, 2010 4:49 am
I to went through doctors for years. I also felt everyone thought I was crazy. In just the last 8 months my symptoms have started to subside. I found out that I was going through menopause. I really feel like a lot of women with this problem have major hormone problems that the doctors do not yet understand. I started looking back and realized that with each one of my babies, while I was pregnant I felt great! But, after the birth back came all the same stuff. To answer your question. I have tried just about everything from medicine to meditation. I have found that throwing myself into something I love doing, whether it is work or hobbies helps. I have found also for me rest is really important. and last, I try not to expect myself to be what others want all the time. When in the middle of the night a panic attacks hits out of the blue just walk it off and take really deep breaths. I learned after 20 years of them that they will not kill you, you only think they will!
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February 26th, 2010 4:51 am
I see most people say exercise. It’s the opposite for me. Anything that increases my heart rate too much sets a panic attack off. It’s very annoying having to maintain a slow heart rate either through inactivity or medication. Staying cool helps me too. I can wet my face with some water then turn the air conditioner on and aim it at my face. Deep breaths are nice as well. Good luck. It’s a really nasty disorder.
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February 26th, 2010 2:27 pm
What are some natural ways of dealing with panic attacks and depression?
I have already been through the whole doctor thing for years..the meds they put me on made me worse…any ideas?