Overview
Panic attacks are a sudden and unexplained feeling of extreme fear that occurs when there is no imminent or obvious danger. They can be frightening leaving a person feeling like they are having a heart attack, losing their mind, or like they are about to die.
Whilst it can be scary it’s important to remember that you are not in any physical danger, and that panic attacks can’t harm your health. The duration and intensity of panic attacks can vary from person to person. They can last between five and twenty minutes and generally start to reduce in intensity after ten minutes, although people have reported them lasting as long as an hour.
If you have multiple attacks that happen without warning, then you may be suffering from panic disorder which is a type of anxiety disorder. Panic attacks are the main feature of panic disorder but they can also occur in conditions such as:
· Anxiety disorders
· Medical conditions such as thyroid or heart disease
· Mood disorders
· Phobias
· Psychotic disorders
· Side effects of certain medications
· Substance use
· Trauma
Causes
It’s not fully understood what causes panic attacks but it is believed that certain things can be contributory factors or increase the risk of them occurring. these can include:
· A family history of panic attacks
· Pre-existing mental or physical health conditions
· Childhood trauma
· An imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain
· A stressful or traumatic life experience
Symptoms of a panic attack
As panic attacks happen suddenly without warning they can occur at any time, at work, when you are socialising, and even when driving or sleeping. They can vary in severity and length amongst individuals, but typical symptoms will include:
Physical symptoms
· Feeling like your heart is racing
· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
· Trembling or shaking limbs
· Feeling faint, light headed, dizzy or nauseous
· Sweating, hot flushes or chills
· Tightness or pain in the chest
· Feeling like you’re choking
· Pins and needles
· Headaches or stomach pains
· Tingling or numbness in the fingers or toes
Psychological symptoms
· Feeling panicky anxious or afraid
· Things feeling unreal or like you are detached from your body
· Feeling like you might die
· Feeling like you are losing control
· A feeling of dread or impending doom
Treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder
If you are struggling with feelings of anxiety or panic you should initially consult your doctor. They will ask you to describe your symptoms so that they can diagnose any physical cause or confirm that you are having panic attacks or have panic disorder.
They can prescribe you with antianxiety or antidepressant medication or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s), which can help with your symptoms. They may also refer you to a mental health practitioner for therapy which tends to be the main treatment for panic disorder.
Therapies which can include psychotherapy, a form of talking therapy aimed to change unhealthy thoughts and behaviours. CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which can help identify triggers and change your reactions and negative thinking and behaviours, can help to manage or eliminate panic attacks. Written by Jan, Jeana and Wendy at Barnsley Hypnosis and Counselling (UK). For more free information click above link.
