Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Panic Disorder and Treatment.

Anxiety

Anxiety is the feeling of apprehension, worry or fear, and although its effects can be troubling, it is for most simply a normal human emotion. Unfortunately, for some, these normal symptoms can spiral into panic and anxiety attacks, and can be a sign of an underlying anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders include Social Phobia, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Panic Disorder.

Panic Attacks

A panic attack is an overwhelming, terrifying feeling of fear and helplessness. It usually comes without any warning or obvious reason. Symptoms may include; chest pains and a racing heartbeat, trouble in breathing, dizziness and faintness, tingling feelings in the extremities, and perhaps most unsettling, a feeling of impending doom or death. Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and individuals always have the same symptoms in every attack. Thankfully, most panic attacks are usually brief, with most only lasting a few minutes, and rarely pose a long-term health threat.

Scientists do not know the exact cause of panic attacks or why they occur seemingly without cause. Several theories exist as to their cause that range from diet, lack of sleep, genetics, or chemical imbalances in the brain. Most agree that stress plays an important role in triggering the initial onset and reoccurrence of panic attacks. Women are almost twice as likely to suffer attacks as men are.

Most adults will suffer some form of anxiety inducing stress in their lifetime. Most everyone has experienced the classic rush of adrenaline from a horror movie or an unexpected scare in the night. This is due mainly to the body reacting to stress with the normal “fight or flight” response. Approximately 2% of adults will experience a full-blown panic attack, with most experiencing their first attack sometime in their late teens or early twenties.

Many adults will experience a single panic attack without further reoccurrences or symptoms. Some however, begin to have repeated panic attacks, which can lead to a host of other problems ranging from depression and substance abuse to withdrawing from normal activities, and in extreme cases, even suicide. These repeated at tacks can lead to the development of phobias and Panic Disorder.

Panic Disorder

Repeated panic attacks can lead to severe changes in behavior. Panic sufferers may begin to avoid areas and situations where they have experienced previous panic attacks. This is turn can lead to feeling in a constant state of fear, mainly the fear of experiencing another attack. This can develop into a situation where the person is constantly thinking of having another attack, which in turn can trigger another attack. In some extreme cases, this can lead to agoraphobia and the eventually inability of the sufferer to face the any “unsafe” situation or location.

Treatment

Thankfully, Panic Disorder is treatable. There are several different treatment avenues available from medicinal and herbal remedies to behavioral and lifestyle modifications. Not every treatment is 100% effective, and individual responses vary widely. Some sufferers require extensive institutional and professional help, while others are able to help themselves through a variety of readily available aides.

We will be looking at several of these available treatment options. Hopefully you will be able to find the help you need in overcoming your struggle with anxiety and panic attacks. Sphere: Related Content