Panic Attack Site

Panic Attacks – What Causes Them?

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:01:30 +0000

A panic attack is, at its core, the unprovoked and sudden onset of severe feelings of fear. A person suffering from a panic attack might become suddenly and unexplainably convinced that she or he is in danger or that they have lost touch with the world around them. He or she will not know what caused the panic attack to happen and they might not be able to comfort themselves or keep the attack from happening. Usually, when it comes to panic attacks, the sudden onset of the fear causes the sufferer to feel even more afraid of what could be happening to them.

Nobody knows what causes panic attacks to happen. Sometimes a panic attack starts because a person is forced to be in a situation that makes him uncomfortable. Sometimes a panic attack will start because the person is under a large amount of stress and the stress eventually becomes overwhelming. There is no way to know what the exact triggers of a panic attack are because panic attacks are different for each person who suffers from them.

Caregivers and scientists have learned that people who are more likely to suffer from mental health problems are more likely to suffer from panic attacks than the people who don’t usually have mental health issues. Clinical depression, drug abuse and alcoholism are all circumstances that can increase the intensity and frequency of a person’s panic attacks. Panic attacks can also be hereditary. If one of your relatives suffers from panic attacks regularly, it is very probably that you will suffer from them too.

Unfortunately there are no definitive tests that can be done to diagnose an anxiety disorder. Often panic attacks will take on the signs and symptoms of other physical problems like heart attacks or food poisoning. When this happens, a person gets treated for a physical disorder instead of a mental one and is often sent on his or her way without even being question as to the levels of his or her anxiety (or their mental health). Another problem with definitively diagnosing an anxiety disorder is that the symptoms are so varied.

If you start suffering from panic attacks regularly or frequently you need to find a professional counselor. A licensed therapist or counselor will work with you and together the two of you will learn what causes your panic attacks and then your therapist will teach you how to comfort yourself when you feel a panic attack start or even to keep your rising anxiety levels from becoming a full blown attack. If you want to gain control over your panic attacks it is imperative that you learn how to calm yourself down.

Panic/anxiety attacks are not usually life threatening. They certainly aren’t pleasant experiences but if you learn how to calm yourself you will most likely be able to keep the attacks at bay. If you suffer from panic attacks, make sure that you have a support system in place as they will be able to help you in the event that you can’t help yourself.

How To Treat A Panic Attack

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:00:29 +0000

If you have ever had to endure a panic or anxiety attack, you know just how terrible the attacks can be. You most likely already know that panic attacks have a tendency to be hereditary, which means that if one of your relatives suffers from panic attacks or from an anxiety disorder then it is very likely that you will also have to deal with panic attacks as well. Because of this it is incredibly important that you learn everything you can about how to treat a panic attack.

Treating panic attacks is different for everyone. The treatment depends on many different factors—how severe the attacks have become, how often the attacks happen, if the person suffers from an anxiety disorder—all of these are looked at when determining the best course of treatment for a person who suffers from panic attacks.

If you don’t usually suffer from panic attacks, you will most likely be able to control your anxiety with some easy relaxation methods. Teach yourself how to take cleansing (deep) breaths when the anxiety begins. This is the first step in reducing the severity of your attack. You might also teach yourself to say calming phrases like “this is just an anxiety attack” or “I’m all right” or even “this is only in my head. Everything is okay.” Repeat these phrases to yourself when you feel your anxiety begin to rise.

If you are a frequent sufferer of panic attacks, you need to look for a mental health specialist. For many frequent sufferers of panic attacks, cognitive and behavioral therapy work incredibly well when it comes to treating their anxiety attacks. You and your therapist or counselor will work together to identify the various triggers that might start your anxiety or panic attacks. Your therapist will teach you a variety of breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that will help you to alleviate the anxiety attack symptoms before they become too intense for you to control.

If you are someone who experiences panic attacks on a regular or frequent basis, you might actually have a panic or anxiety disorder. Only a professional mental health therapist will be able to diagnose you with an anxiety disorder. This therapist will also be able to help you figure out which method of treatment is best for you. Some people are able to treat their disorder with counseling and relaxation techniques. Other people, however, need to be medicated to keep their anxiety disorders under control. According to studies, anxiolytic agents and antidepressants (when partnered with therapy) are very effective in easing anxiety disorder symptoms.

You do not have to figure out how to treat your anxiety disorder by yourself. If you start to feel like your attacks are happening too frequently or if you want to learn what is causing the attacks, consult a therapist or professional counselor in your local area. Your therapist will be able to help you figure out which treatment method will work best for you.

Understanding The Signs And Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:59:30 +0000

One of the most horrible things about anxiety attacks is that their warning signs are also signs of other health problems. Because of this, it is often hard for people to realize that they are actually having anxiety attacks and not, in fact, suffering from something else, which means that they might not be given the correct treatment.

Even if you haven’t ever had an anxiety attack, it is important that you learn how to identify the signs of one because then, if you start to experience any of the symptoms of an attack you can ask yourself if you are suffering from a physical or mental problem.
Here are the symptoms of anxiety attacks that are the most common:

Pain in the chest
Lightheaded or Dizziness
Flexing/curling or cramping of toes or fingers
Hyperventilating
Sweating
Shaking
Heart starts pounding
Hot flashes
Cold flashes
The feeling that you are going to die
The sensation that you’ve lost touch with the people around you or the surroundings themselves
Intense feelings of losing control and/or embarrassment
The feeling that something terrible is going to happen (impending doom)
Palpitations of the heart
Racing heart
Diarrhea
Nausea
Uncomfortable or painful stomach
Tingling in your extremities
Numbness or tingling in your moth and lips
Feelings of suffocation

A lot of these signs and symptoms are also signs and symptoms of medical problems like heart attacks or food poisoning. If you start to feel any of these symptoms it is essential that you teach yourself how to take a moment to question whether the symptoms might actually be signs of an anxiety attack. This is easier if you learn how to calm yourself down when these symptoms present themselves. If you stop feelings these symptoms once you’ve calmed down, you were having an anxiety attack. If they persist even after your attempts at relaxation, you need to see your physician as soon as possible.

If you are related to someone who regularly suffers from anxiety attacks, it is probable that you will have anxiety attacks yourself. Obviously the only person who can give you the official “anxiety disorder” diagnosis is a professional mental health specialist. If you suspect that you could be prone to an anxiety disorder or if you notice that anxiety attack symptoms have been happening to you regularly, you should find a counselor and ask for a professional diagnosis.

Once you’ve found a therapist, the two of you will work together (along with your family and friends) to decide upon the best methods to prevent and work through anxiety attacks. It is vital that you let the important people in your life know about your diagnosis and teach them about the warning signs of anxiety attacks. That way, if you find that you can’t comfort yourself, your friends and family can step in and help.

By recognizing the signs and symptoms of anxiety attacks, you will be better able to work through the attacks and calm yourself down.

Tips On Dealing With Panic Attack Symptoms

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:58:28 +0000

If you have ever had an anxiety attack you know that anxiety attacks are always horrible. Even if you don’t have panic attacks often, it is a good idea to learn how to work through them. If you happen to be prone to panic disorders, it is a good idea for you to learn how to calm yourself down in the event that you are alone when an anxiety attack hits you. This is because while your friends and family might be able to calm you down quickly, you can’t take them everywhere, right?

First you need to learn how to identify a panic attack’s symptoms. Clearly, the most obvious sign of an anxiety attack is suddenly feeling intensely scared without knowing why. You could suddenly start worrying about somebody doing you physical harm, that you could greatly embarrass yourself or even be scared that someone is trying to kill you. Once in a while, an anxiety attack starts on a smaller scale. You could start feeling shaky or nauseous. Your heart might start pounding. You might start to sweat profusely. Some people start hyperventilating or feeling like they are suffocating. If you learn how to identify the warning signs of an anxiety attack you will be able teach yourself to ask “where did these feelings come from?”

One of the most effective methods to keeping a panic attack from escalating is to take some deep breaths and practice some relaxation techniques. Occasionally, a few deep and slow breaths are all it takes to keep the anxiety attack from getting out of control. If you find that deep breathing is too hard or if you start to hyperventilating, you will need to sit down. Breathe into a paper bag and putting your head between your knees are both methods of getting your breathing under control. By getting your breathing under control, you will be well on your way to stopping the anxiety attack entirely.

Every once in a while you might have to give yourself a good “mental shake” to make the anxiety attack stop. There are some counselors who say that forcefully (but in your head) yelling “stop” and to stand perfectly still are viable methods of stopping panic attacks.

Another method to stop an anxiety attack is to learn how to comfort yourself. Try repeating “I’m okay” or “I’m fine” to yourself repeatedly. Calming statements like these are known as “coping statements” and they can be any statement that you know will help you calm down. Some people simply tell themselves “I am having an anxiety attack. I’m okay. I’m having an anxiety attack.” Anxiety attacks typically take a couple of minutes to stop, so make sure that you keep repeating your coping statements.

The most important method of making an anxiety attack stop is to acknowledge the fear that makes them happen. Once you have managed to calm down, you should ask yourself what could have started the attack. Accept that something scared you and accept that, the more you learn about them, the easier they will be to work through.

What Are Anxiety Attack Disorders?

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:57:13 +0000

Anxiety attack disorders are actually a form of “anxiety disorder.” “Anxiety disorder” is an umbrella term that is used to describe a variety of mental health problems. Typically, an “anxiety disorder” can range in its severity. The disorder is as likely to be centered on minor fears as it is to describe major phobias. An agoraphobic, for example, is someone who cannot leave his or her home because the fear of doing so is too crippling.

Anxiety attack disorders typically describe conditions in which people get so scared that they end up suffering physically. This includes people who might suddenly feel like they are going to die but now know where the fear is coming from. The person might begin hyperventilating and experiencing heart arrhythmias. Anxiety attacks can also show themselves in a number of other ways and nobody is sure which exact triggers bring them on.

Just because you have a panic attack does not mean that you are suffering from an anxiety attack disorder. If, on the other hand, you notice that you have panic attacks somewhat regularly or if they start occurring frequently, you should contact a mental health professional. When it comes to anxiety disorders, only qualified counselors can actually diagnose you with an anxiety disorder.

After you are diagnosed, how do you treat your anxiety attack disorder? Panic attacks can be treated in a variety of ways. One person might decide to try changing their lifestyles. Others might try medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy has proved to work well for some people. Still other people have found that anxiolytics and antidepressants are the best treatment for their disorder.

Of course, the most successful treatments of anxiety attack disorders has been therapy. Your therapist will work with you to learn the various triggers that bring on the attacks. Your therapist will teach you how to recognize the beginning symptoms of an anxiety attack—both physically and mentally. From there your counselor will teach you how to acknowledge your panic and work it through.

It is very important that those who suffer from anxiety attack disorders tell their family and friends about the disorder. It is very helpful to anxiety attack disorder patients to have people around them who recognize and understand the signs of an impending panic attack. The more people you have around you who can understand the disorder, the better off you will be. People who suffer from anxiety attack disorders don’t always realize their feelings as a panic attack but the people around them will and can be helpful in calming the sufferer down.

You are more likely to suffer from panic attacks if someone in your family suffers from an anxiety attack disorder. While you might not suffer from an all out anxiety attack disorder, you will probably still be a lot more susceptible to stress and panic. Learning everything you can about how anxiety disorders work is the best thing you do to learn how to keep your anxiety under control.

Medication For Panic Attacks

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:55:52 +0000

When it comes to treating panic and anxiety attacks, medication is most often the treatment that doctors use. There are both advantages and disadvantages of using medication for panic attacks and we will look at many of them.

It’s important to note that medications are used to treat the symptoms and reduce their severity and frequency. They are not a “cure” to eliminate them forever. That’s why it is always best to take them in addition to using other methods such as counseling or home treatment exercises.

Most Frequent Types Of Medication For Panic Attacks

SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

SSRI’s are the more common medications prescribed. These include Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil among others. Today’s medications are designed to specifically build your level of neurotransmitter serotonin that is generally lower in patients who suffer with depression, anxiety and panic attacks.

Naturally, you can experience side effects like headaches, nausea, sleeplessness and even the feeling of being irritated (at least initially).

Benzodiazepines

Medications such as Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan and Librium are examples of Benzodiazepines used in treating panic attacks. Most of the time they work well, but not in all cases. Your doctor will certainly monitor your condition.

Side effects can include irritability, sexual dysfunction, drowsiness, slurred speech and others as well.

Beta Blockers

Used in helping to control the physical symptoms of panic attacks, beta blockers such as Atenolol and Propranolol are often prescribed. For those with rapid heartbeats, shaking and blushing, beta blockers have shown to work well.

Side effects can include drowsiness, short-term memory loss, and light-headedness, among others.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA’s)

Medications that fall under this category include Tofranil, Norpramin and Sinequan. They are prescribed most of the time in cases of severe depression or anxiety.

Side effects are frequent and include dry mouth, loss of sex drive, weight gain, difficulty in urinating and others as well.

Medications for panic attacks should help you reduce the frequency and severity of future bouts within 6 to 8 weeks. Most likely, once you start taking them, you will be on them for at least one year, longer in certain circumstances. Some people stay on them for years. Only your doctor can know for sure.

Tips On Preventing Panic Attacks While Driving

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:51:40 +0000

One of the most stressful parts of anyone’s day is when they are driving out on the road. Rush hour can be like a jungle at times. This is why panic attacks while driving can make for a dangerous situation if left untreated. If you find yourself having anxiety or panic while driving, try some of these tips.

One thing to keep in mind before getting started is that these tips will require your participation. They will not only tell you why you are suffering from panic attacks while driving, but how to solve the problem as well.

Write down An Affirmation Statement

Writing out an affirmation statement and repeating it when finding yourself becoming anxious behind the wheel is very helpful.

For example: “I can drive in the right lane at the speed limit and know I’m safe.”

Find Your Automatic Thought

When you drive and begin feeling panic attack symptoms, you most likely have some of the same thoughts going through your mind that is causing them. For example, when you merge onto the highway, do you find yourself thinking, “I’m going to get hit?” Or when you are at a stop sign you think, “I’m going to get rear-ended.”

These types of thoughts feel like they are real and that this is exactly what is going to happen. But they are not true and you have to tell yourself that every time.

Write It All Out

Take the first two parts I’ve listed and begin to write down your ideas and situations you have experienced that are causing the anxiety.

Ask yourself what this means to you. This type of cognitive behavioral therapy is very good in treating anxiety and panic attacks while driving.

Tips For Panic Attacks And How To Minimize Them

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:50:26 +0000

As anyone who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks can testify to, they can be debilitating. The feeling of being out of control and even dying is hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it yourself. With that said, here are some tips for panic attacks that will help minimize and even prevent them in the future.
Breathing

This is one of the more important areas to concentrate on when it comes to coping with a panic or anxiety attack. It’s so easy to forget how to breathe the right way when you are suddenly in the middle of a very stressful situation.

What happens subconsciously is that your nervous system is altered by your muscles tensing up. This greatly affects your breathing and contributes to the panic attack.

By learning how to breathe the right way you can:

-Reduce your heart rate
-Lower your blood pressure
-Improve your circulation

It’s amazing at how our body’s control nervous system regulates so many bodily functions without us even realizing it. But, when you add stress into the situation you can quickly alter the response and begin to hyperventilate. Before you know it, it can lead to a full scale panic attack.

Breathing and relaxation exercises can help immensely in this area. It can give you back control over your body and free you from anxiety. It is your first defense against too much stress.

Activity

Staying active is another highly effective way to minimize future attacks with panic and anxiety. Do you have a job where you sit at a desk for hours on end? Get up frequently and walk around. Practice some deep breathing at times while sitting at your desk.

Walking is a fantastic activity to help reduce the stress and anxiety of the day. Just a 30 minute walk can greatly help prevent stress from building up and overtaking you.

These two tips alone can make a difference in reducing and even preventing panic attacks.

Diversion Tactics For Anxiety And Panic Attacks

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:48:23 +0000

There’s no question that anxiety and panic attacks are one of the worst experiences anyone can go through in their lives. The feelings of distress, loss of control and even dying are a nightmare for anyone who has had them. If you find yourself in the beginning stages of a panic attack you can try some of these diversion tactics to end the attack.

1. Cold Water – Try splashing your face with cold water. It will cause your brain to tell your body to slow down and regain control.

2. Get physical – Slap your face a few times and dance around to confuse your mind and create a distraction.

3. Turn up the music – Turn on some music and crank up the volume. You can even begin singing along to it. this diverts attention away from the thoughts that are creating the anxiety and panic attacks.

4. Create distractions – If you can distract your mind away from its current state, you can eliminate the attacks in many cases. Count backwards from 50, turn on the TV, listen to music, etc.

5. Walk – Get up and start walking. Don’t just sit there.

6. Get on the phone – If you feel a panic attack coming on while you’re alone, get on the phone and call a friend. Talk about anything but your anxiety.

7. Talk to yourself – Speak out things such as this is not going to hurt me; this is nothing to be concerned with, etc. What this does is eliminate the power of any attack or bout of anxiety.

8. Eat – Grab an apple or banana and eat it. You may not feel hungry, but this helps to distract your mind.

You can do 2-3 or even more of these diversions at the same time if you want. They will help if you will put them into action.

3 Simple Tips For Preventing Panic Attacks

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:30:36 +0000

For approximately 1 out of every 4 people, a panic attack is something they have or currently are experiencing in their lives. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old, panic and anxiety can strike anyone. With that said, here are some common tips for panic attacks that will help anyone deal with this issue.

1. Reduce the stress – There is no question that being in stressful situations only increases your chances of having a panic or anxiety attack. It could be stress at work, at home with the kids, etc. No matter what is causing the stress you have to find a way of reducing it.

Some things that are helpful include walking away from the situation for a few minutes. Clear your mind and then go back and deal wit it. Better yet, begin to make permanent changes that will help eliminate the stress from your life.

2. Exercise – This is a biggie to help reduce and eliminate panic attacks. We all know how beneficial exercise is for our physical health, but it’s also just as good for our mental health as well.

It can be something as simple as going for a walk every day. How often have you went for a walk and come back feeling refreshed? It really helps clear your head and eliminate the anxiety.

3. Diet – This is yet another tip that will help in preventing panic attacks. And I’m not just talking about losing weight, but also about what you drink. Too much caffeine from drinking tea or soda can easily lead to anxiousness. Watch and track what you are eating and drinking each day for a week. You may be shocked at what you discover.

These simple tips for panic attacks are all you need in many cases to prevent them from happening. But, if you find they are not helping, you will want to see your doctor and check into some alternative cures.