Statistically 1 out of every 1130 Americans will have suffered or will suffer from a panic attack between the age of 18 and 54. There is no quick fix cure to panic or anxiety attacks, some people are lucky enough to only experience one attack in their lives other live in fear of having a panic or anxiety attack yearly, monthly and even daily. With the prevalence of panic and anxiety attacks in today’s society it is important to firstly understand what these attacks mean and how to deal with them.
What is a Panic and Anxiety Attack?
Panic Attacks are can occur with out warning; it is a sudden intense fear, terror or nervousness and normally carries on for 10 minutes or so before the feeling subsides. Generally these panic feelings are associated with your body or your mind, such as a feeling that you may be having a heart attack.
Panic attacks when occurring on several occasions are a symptom of Panic Disorder. It is currently unknown what causes panic disorders although it is thought that it is a combination of biological and environmental factors including family history and reaction to stress.
Anxiety Attacks are very similar to panic attacks, as you get an extreme feeling of anxiety, panic or fear, the difference been that you are thinking about something bad and as a result you have these feelings. These attacks generally do no last longer than 10-30 minutes and are stress related.
Anxiety attacks can often turn into panic attacks when a sufferer gets so worked up that they start thinking something bad is going to happen to them. These attacks are very similar disorders, however when seeking medical treatment the prescribed medication will vary.
Rapid heart beat or increased palpitations, sweating , shaking, choking sensations, shortness of breath sensations, chest pain or discomfort , nausea, bloating, indigestion or abdominal discomfort, dizziness or unsteadiness , feeling light-headed, derealization (feeling unreal or dreamy) , depersonalization (feeling outside yourself or like you don’t exist), hot and cold flushes. These are just many of the symptoms.
If you have any of the above symptoms which occur when you feel anxious or have panic attacks, they ARE caused by the anxiety, not some other unidentified condition.
Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks
Physical Symptoms
A pounding heart, sweating, stomach upset or dizziness, frequent urination or diarrhea, shortness of breath, tremors, twitches, muscle tension, headaches, fatigue, and Insomnia.
Emotional Symptoms
Feelings of apprehension or dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tense and jumpy, anticipating the worst, irritability, restlessness, watching for signs of danger and feeling like your mind’s gone blank.
Cures of Panic & Anxiety Attacks
Unfortunately there are no known quick fix cures for pains and anxiety attacks. There are prescription drugs that can be taken such as anti depressants, but these can have side effects. Side effects include addiction and loss of fine motor skills. One of the best ways to deal with your Panic attacks is to figure out your triggers.
Most people have set triggers for Panic attack, this my be when they have to do something they hate, flying, they are confronted, or perhaps speaking to people they are intimated by. The fact is these triggers take many different shapes and forms. Even seeing a slug can set off a panic attack in some people!
When having frequent panic attacks you may often see a pattern, such as being an environment, a situation or seeing a person. This often means that these situations are triggers to the panic attack. By pin pointing the triggers you are able to prepare your self for these situations, by breathing and talking yourself into it. Eventually you would have prepared yourself for these situations, by learning how to live with panic and anxiety attacks and will no longer suffer from these triggered panic attacks.
How to live with Panic & Anxiety Attacks
Whilst suffering an episode there are a few things you are able to do to help you through the attack.
• Remember the attack only lasts 10-20 minutes so it will be over soon
• Establish a steady breathing pattern
• Repeat reassuring phrases
• Distract yourself by perhaps watching TV, singing a song
• Tell someone you trust so that they can reassure you that everything is going to be ok
• Go to a comfortable “happy” place such as your garden.
Always remember that these attacks will not last, they will be over and done with within 10-20 minutes.
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