First Time Panic Attacks

Repeated panic attacks are a serious health problem affecting nearly 2% of the adult population in western countries. Most everyone will experience some form of anxiety or panic attack in their adult lives, but for some, these panic attacks become a reoccurring problem that can lead to severe emotional and health issues. Many have episodes of a few attacks occurring over a span of a few weeks and some even experience several attacks in a single day. Most will experience their first panic attack during late adolescence.

A panic attack can be a very freighting experience for someone who has never been through one. Panic attacks usually offer no warning, and there does not seem to be any real rhyme or reason as to why and when they occur. They share many of the same physical symptoms as heart attack, so first time sufferers usually fear they are in the midst of a life or death situation. May first time panic attacks sufferers often seek medical advice or rush to an emergency room seeking treatment. In many cases, the symptoms have disappeared by the time they arrive. Although this brings on a sense of relief they once again are “normal”, they are often dismayed to find out there is “nothing wrong” with them after they have been evaluated my medical professionals. Many have serious questions about what just happened.

Some of the most common symptoms associated with panic or anxiety attacks are; a racing heartbeat, tingling feelings in the hands and fingers and sometimes in the toes, chest pains and difficulty breathing, feeling dizzy or faint, a sense that you are going to die, and a feeling that you have no control over the situation. Less common are muscle aches and pains, stomach cramps and sweating. Not everyone has all of these symptoms with every attack. The number and severity may vary widely from person to person and with each individual.

Many first time anxiety attacks sufferers also turn out to be only time sufferers. They may experience a panic attack then have no other symptoms for many years. Many just look at their first panic attack as “just one of those things”. They go on to lead normal lives and soon forget their feelings of panic and fear. Unfortunately, not everyone finds his or her experiences so easy to forget. After the initial relief of not having anything “wrong” with them, some people begin to wonder exactly what happened to them. Many worry that they may have an underlying health problem that the doctors just missed. Others may even question whether they actually experienced anything at all or was it just in their head. Some might even begin to question their own sanity. The one thing they all have in common is the feeling that they do not want to have another attack.

So what actually causes a panic attack? Scientists are not 100% sure what causes panic attacks in the first place. There are many different theories about the causes, but no one has been able to determine the exact root cause. Stress is thought to me one of the primary contributing factors, especially stress associated with a major life-changing event, such a marriage, graduation pregnancy or death of a loved one. The actual panic attack symptoms are very similar to the “flight or fight” reflex that have been observed in humans when faces with a sudden situation that is perceived as life threatening. Say you out for a stroll through the wood, when you happened upon a mother grizzly bear and her cubs. Your body would very quickly let you know that you are in a very dangerous situation, and you need to do one of two things now. Either run away before you are seen (smart), or stand and fight the bear and her cubs (not so smart). To enable you to do this, you body cranks itself up into high gear. Adrenaline is almost instantly released in to the bloodstream, the heart starts racing, you start breathing faster to take in more oxygen, and you become keenly aware that something is about to happen. Does this sound familiar? The only real difference is that panic attack sufferers are not about to be eaten by a bear, although sometimes they might wish that was their only problem.

It seems in some people, this natural response of the human body to stress, fires off for no reason that is apparent to person experience the sudden onset of anxiety associated with panic attacks. There is no bear, or monster under the bed, or crazed ax murderer standing outside their bedroom window on a dark rainy night. The might be stuck somewhere in traffic waiting for a light to change. They might be at an important social event, out to dinner on a date. They may be sitting at home in the relative safety of their own bed quietly reading a favorite book. Then suddenly out of nowhere, same response as if they were being chased by the momma bear and her cubs!

One of the most unsettling aspects of that first time panic attack is the questions that usually remain unanswered after the symptoms have ended. Most first time panic attack sufferers will usually seek medical attention during the height of their symptoms, since most feel there is something defiantly not “right” and they may feel they are in a life-threatening situation. Since most panic attacks last only for a few moments, although to the sufferer they seem to last forever, the symptoms may have all but disappeared by the time they are actually receive medical attention. Medical personnel may be able to determine what was actually happening to the person since the symptoms are no longer present. The person may appear to be perfectly normal. The sufferer may be referred back to the primary care giver for further follow up, but in some cases it is usually just chalked up to nerves or some other one time incident. The panic attack sufferer knows something out of the ordinary is going on, but to everyone else, all seems fine once the anxiety symptoms go away.

Now the first time sufferer is faced with the uncertainly of what to do next. Was it just one of those things? IS there something actually wrong? Was it just in my head? One of the biggest questions: Will it happen again? And if it does, then what then? This uncertainly can be a source of stress and worry. The very act of wondering about what caused the first attack, and worrying about what is going to happen next, may actually be the cause for the second panic attack. In some people, this fear of another attack can become so strong, that it might actually be the underlying cause of repeated attacks. This can become a real catch-22 for recurrent panic attack sufferers. This is turn can lead to the development of further phobias, avoidance issues and other mental health issues.

So what should the first time panic attack sufferers do? Most will likely seek medical advice during the course of the anxiety attack. They should follow up with their medical doctor as soon as possible to see if there are actually any underlying physical conditions that may be contributing to their anxiety. There are many self help guides and programs available in the internet and in other places, but everyone should speak to a medical professional before trying anything on their own. Although it is sometimes very difficult to diagnose panic attacks, it can be done. Treatments are available and many people have been able to significantly reduce the effects of anxiety and successfully treat panic attacks given time and proper motivation. Sphere: Related Content