Steve (not his real name) is a vocalist who sings with his brother. Steve is usually at ease while performing. Occasionally, Steve will feel like he is on the brink of a panic attack for no reason at all. Although singing is something he loves, Steve admits that sometimes he feels like running off the stage – and away from this brother as well.
Steve is a sufferer of Panic Disorder, a condition that affects 96 in every 100,000 Americans today. The number may not seem high, but it is on the rise, from less than 10 in every 100,000 in a study conducted in 1996.
A variety of causes have been reported for the condition, from hereditary inheritance to behavioral patterns including separation anxiety learned from a very early age.
For sufferers, Panic Disorder can be debilitating. Even the most mundane daily tasks can, without warning or reason, induce a panic attack that renders the individual physically incapable of doing anything but sit down, shaking and hyperventilating until the attack passes. Attacks can be as short as 15 – 30 seconds or as long as 15 minutes.
Those who have been diagnosed are taught early on to identify when they are having an attack, and can get some help using prescription medication. Antidepressants are known to aid in limiting the symptoms of anxiety quickly, but can also encourage dependency on these drugs.
Though debates still split the health society, Benzodiazepines have also been prescribed for treatment of Panic Disorder. Some experts believe that benzodiazepines are ineffective in taking care for long term sufferers. For some sufferers, SSRI drugs can also be used to reduce symptoms of Panic Disorder and in some cases they even completely restrain its effects.
Occasionally unidentified victims might fight the effects of Panic Disorder without understanding what it is and that it is even very likely to be treated. Subsequently, sufferers might expect more problems; some studies show menopausal women are at higher risk of heart attack by almost 300%. Senior people taking analgesic medications are also at increased risk of fatal heart attack when using Benzodiazepine.
In certain cases, medicines are not needed to alleviate this disorder. There is a mental health therapy called cognitive restructuring which can often cut back or completely obliterate this condition without the need of medicines. Whether or not drugs are necessary, the primary step in intervention is to admit that you have the condition, and this can be challenging when there is fear of being viewed as mentally unstable.
The key to addressing and potentially beating Panic Disorder is not to ache in silence. Modalities are there for the taking, and those who they fell they have this should talk to their physician.
Find out more how to Stop Panic Attacks by visiting Yuval Harpaz’s site at www.stressfreeport.com, where you can download a FREE self-help guide on how to Start Reducing Stress NOW for your needs.