Panic Attacks: Symptoms and Treatment

Coping with anxiety panic attacks

Anxiety panic attacks are frightening whether you are the one experiencing the attack, a family member or a friend. A person may suddenly be concerned that he or she is having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. That person may feel a loss of control or that he or she is trapped, going crazy or dying. Visual disturbances occur also.

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is an abrupt response by the sympathetic nervous system, attempting to defend itself. The human body is suddenly filled with hormones, especially epinephrine, which triggers a fight or flight response. Sudden psychological arousal, associated with cognitive and somatic symptoms, intense anxiety related to fear and bowel or stomach problems, may last 1-5 minutes, or even hours.

Symptoms

There may be no outward symptoms or they may appear as physical, mental, emotional or perceptual symptoms.

Serious symptoms should not be ignored, ie. chest tightness, shortness of breath and chest pain. Go, or to take the person having the attack to emergency immediately, to rule out a pending heart attack.

Other symptoms may include trembling, palpitations, sweating, nausea and dizziness. One can feel dizzy or lightheaded, have a tingling or burning sensation, the feeling of choking or smothering, vertigo, nausea and hyperventilation.

Where can one go for diagnosis and treatment?

A person may or may not, need diagnosis or treatment, depending on the severity of the attack.

For recurrent and severe attacks, medical investigation is advisable. Conditions like hypoglycemia and hyperthyroidism should be ruled out. Caffeine or nicotine, ritalin, vitamin B deficiency, marijuana, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders are all possible causes. It can be an inherited condition.

Common treatments

Even if no immediate treatment is required, investigation by a doctor is still a good idea.

Breathing slowly into a paper bag may resolve the attack, as the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide may need to be corrected.

Diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing techniques are highly recommended.

A proper medical assessment should be done. Your doctor may prescribe medications like diazepam and lorazepam or antidepressants.

What to expect if you are the person who is experiencing a panic attack?

Having a panic attack can be very frightening, so try to relax.

Breathe slowly and deeply. Hold a paper bag over your nose and mouth while you breathe in and out.

Stay in touch with reality.

Remind yourself that you are not going to die.

Focus on the present, not on what is upsetting you. Remember that line from "Gone With the Wind," where Scarlett O'Hara says, "I'll not think on that today!"

Acknowledge that you are having a panic attack.

Remind yourself that it will pass and ride the symptoms out.

If you need help, go to emergency.

Learn correct diaphragmatic and abdominal breathing techniques.

Talk to someone for emotional and psychological support, eg. your physician, a cognitive behavioral therapy counselor, a family member, or friend.

Join or form a support group.

Identify what triggered your attack. (Is this an allergic reaction to something like citrashine, the wax that is sprayed on apples and green peppers or an insect bite?)

What should your family and friends expect?

No one anticipates your first anxiety panic attack, so do not be surprised if others don't know what to do. While you are educating yourself, make a point of educating them too.

Resources

Many resources are available in libraries, book stores or on the Internet. Do research. Talk to your doctor or counselor about current or new information.

Hot flashes and panic attacks

Hot flashes may be part of anxiety panic attacks, but so are cold flashes. In your menopausal years, hot flashes can be the direct result of a hormonal imbalance or lack of estrogen. Discuss hormone replacement therapy with your doctor.

Public speaking and panic attacks

Many public speakers have panic attacks. Stay calm, cool and collected. Practice your speech. Make notes, just in case. Breathe deeply and slowly, smile and take a good look at your audience. Speak to only one person in the crowd. Add humor to your speech. You and others will respond positively to it! Remember that you are an over comer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panic_attack