A panic attack is a
terrible feeling of fear that suddenly overwhelms you.
It can come out of the blue and for no apparent reason.
It is not dangerous but it can be very frightening to
the person having it and, to a lesser degrees, to those
around that person. This is because you feel you have
no control and once you have suffered from a panic attack,
your greatest fear can then be the thought of having
another panic attack, particularly in a public place.
A panic attack can last for just minutes (the body cannot
sustain such a response for long) but repeated attacks
can continue to recur for hours.
What happens in a panic attack and what are the physical
symptoms?
Such physical symptoms can include:
o Shaking or trembling all over
o Feeling that your heart is pounding or racing
o Sweating
o Chest pain or discomfort
o Shortness of breath
o Feeling that you are choking
o Nausea
o Cramping
o Dizziness or weakness
o An “out of body” feeling
o Tingling or numbness in your limbs (pins and needles)
o Hot flashes or sudden chills
o Terror that is almost paralyzing
While it is unlikely for someone to suffer from all
of these symptoms at once, the presence of at least
4 symptoms would strongly indicate a panic attack.
The person might also experience a fear of losing
control, going crazy or of dying during such a panic
attack which of course would aggravate the attack.
The fear of having another attack can become so intense
that it becomes the basis for a further condition
known as agoraphobia (the fear of the outdoors) –
which can then cause the sufferer to avoid leaving
home.
Diagnosis, treatment and management for a panic attack
If you feel that you are suffering from panic attacks
then it is important to see a doctor, to get a proper
diagnosis and to get advice and guidance on a treatment
plan. Your doctor, a psychologist or psychiatrist
will be able to evaluate you so that he can tell if
you are having panic attacks or suffering from another
problem. You will be pleased to read that there are
simple treatments available to help control panic
attacks. These can take the form of counseling or
actual medications. Both can be very effective. Relaxation
techniques or support groups are also very helpful
forms of treatment.
Causes of panic attacks
There may be a genetic link or a biological malfunction.
Women are twice as likely as men to get panic attacks.
Extreme stressful events can trigger panic attacks.
Caffeine, cold and flu medications, certain anti-malarial
drugs, appetite suppressants, local anesthetics, and
even exercise can cause panic attacks.
The actual thought of having a panic attack can in
fact trigger such an attack.
Paper bag emergency treatment
You may well have seen the paper bag remedy used
in a sitcom when someone has a panic attack. This
can be an effective short term solution for such an
occasion. This action balances the ratio of oxygen
and carbon dioxide in the blood and can actually work.
Remember that 2 to 4 out of every 100 people will
suffer from a panic attack during some stage of their
life so you certainly would not be alone. People of
all races and economic groups can suffer from panic
attacks and while the condition more commonly affects
those between 20 and 40 years, it can also occur in
the young and the elderly.
The condition is frequently wrongly diagnosed as
a thyroid problem, hypoglycemia or a heart valve problem
so be aware of this when seeking medical help.
