Panic attacks are horrifying episodes that thousands of people have to live with. They can occur anywhere, at anytime and happen to anyone. Those who experience these episodes feel an intense fear that comes out of nowhere without warning. They cause not only a physical reaction to the body, but a mental one also. Many who live with this condition end up spending most of their time fearing and worrying about the next attack.
Symptoms vary person to person, but normally many experience some of the same signs. In general, the heart starts to pound, there is a shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, and you become flushed. At times, these symptoms can look like a life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack. The symptoms come on suddenly, without warning, and peak within ten minutes and can last up to half an hour.
What causes or triggers and attack is not known at this time, making it harder for many to stop an attack. What is known is that it seems to run in families, so heredity does play a role. Those with phobias who find themselves faced with their fear may also experience an attack. Other things such as stress, certain places, and medication may all trigger or cause an episode to occur.
Studies have shown that more women than men experience this disorder, and the symptoms often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. Many people experience one or two of these episodes in their lifetime because of certain situations they are in. But when the problems go away and the stressful situation ends, so do the episodes.
Living with this disorder can make life very complicated and difficult. There is the constant worry about when the next attack will occur, so they fear doing anything. The quality of life can be ruined if the condition is left untreated, causing one to become depressed, have problems at work or school, turn to substance abuse, or even contemplate suicide.
To diagnose someone with this disorder, several tests and exams are performed. It must be determined if you are have an actual disorder or if something else is going on that can mimic the warning signs, such as thyroid or heart problems. Not everyone who experiences the symptoms has the disorder, which means a certain criteria needs to be met before treatment can begin.
Those who receive effective treatment are able to eventually live a rather normal life. Treatment is designed to help eliminate the symptoms and to teach one to control an attack when it starts. This can be done through psychotherapy or counseling, medication, or a combination of both. Psychotherapy helps one to understand why they are experiencing the attacks and ways to cope with symptoms at the start. Medication helps to reduce the symptoms.
Having to live with panic attacks can ruin the quality of one’s life easily. That is why there is help and treatment out there, offering ways to help prevent an attack from occurring and reducing symptoms. Discovering why you experience an attack can help arm you with the right tools to combat symptoms and stay in control when one does appear.
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