Symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks may include trembling, increased heart rate, hyperventilation, shortness of breath, sweating, hot flashes, and dizziness, among others. If your anxiety and panic attacks keep on repeating then chances are you have a medical condition called panic disorder.
Before, panic attacks were merely seen as a manifestation of stress but now they are understood as a medical condition. They can indeed greatly affect the quality of life of their sufferers so a lot of treatments were developed to help prevent and/or control them. However, in order to more effectively cure your condition and take the appropriate treatment option, you must be able to pinpoint what is causing it.
It is not known what exactly causes anxiety disorders and panic attacks. However, studies suggest that several factors may increase the probability of its incidence. Reasons for panic attacks vary from case to case. The important thing is to identify the cause and find the appropriate treatment for it.
"Fight or Flight" Response
Some people experience panic attacks because of extreme fear to a real or even an imaginary threat. Because of our "fight or flight" response, which is activated in situations where danger is imminent, our body prepares itself by increasing the breathing and heart rate. Such reactions occur in panic attacks.
Genetics
Studies have shown that if one family member is suffering from panic attacks and anxiety, the possibility that other members might have the condition is increased.
Health
A deficiency in certain vitamins (e.g. vitamin B) and minerals may be the root cause of panic attacks. This is very rare but very easy to cure.
Exercise
It has been found that those who experience anxiety usually have quit their exercise routine. Exercise gives people a sense of well-being and thus helps decrease anxiety.
Medication
Some medications have panic attack as a side effect.
Phobias
Those who have phobias experience panic attacks when they come face-to-face with their feared subject.
Life-altering Incidents
Certain life-changing situations like accidents, marriage, divorce, and getting fired can cause anxiety and hence some episodes of panic attack.
After you've traced the cause of your panic attacks, you may be advised to take therapy for it. Examples of therapy for anxiety disorders include Panic Away, the Linden Method, and Panic Anxiety GONE!.
Contents at a Glance
Read about this condition on Wikipedia
Panic attacks are very sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological arousal, fear, stomach problems and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and cognitive symptoms. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may have no obvious triggers. Although these episodes may appear to be random, they are a subset of an evolutionary response commonly referred to as fight or flight that occur out of context. This response floods the body with hormones, particularly epinephrine (adrenaline), that aid it in defending against harm.Bourne, E. (2005). The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 4th Edition: New Harbinger Press. Experiencing a panic attack is said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person's life.
According to the American Psychological Association, the symptoms of a panic attack commonly last approximately thirty minutes. However, panic attacks can be as short as 15 seconds, while sometimes panic attacks may form a cyclic series of episodes, lasting for an extended period, sometimes hours. Often those afflicted will experience significant anticipatory anxiety and limited symptom attacks in between attacks, in situations where attacks have previously occurred.
Panic attacks are commonly linked to agoraphobia and the fear of not being able to escape a bad situation. Many who experience panic attacks feel trapped and unable to free themselves.
The effects of a panic attack vary from person to person. Some, notably first-time sufferers, may call for emergency services. Many who experience a panic attack, mostly for the first time, fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown.
