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Symptoms of Panic Attacks - 'Why
Me?'
by Anthony Pace
The symptoms of panic attacks are some of the most troubling and frightening
feelings a human being can face. A panic attack is a distinct period of intense
fear or discomfort that usually reaches a peak within a few minutes. Some of the
symptoms include: 1) Pounding heart or accelerated heart rate, 2) Sweating,
trembling, or shaking, 3) Feelings of choking, chest pain, or discomfort, 4)
Nausea or abdominal distress, 5) Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or faint, 6)
Feelings of unreality of being detached from oneself. 7) Fear of losing control
or going crazy, 8) Fear of dying, 9) Numbness or tingling sensations, 10) Chills
or hot flashes.
Not all of the above symptoms of
panic attacks are present in each individual attack. Usually at least four are
necessary to be considered a true panic attack. A panic attack can occur
suddenly, without warning causing anxiety between attacks that another attack
will occur at any time. When someone is having a panic attack they usually have
a pounding heart. There may be chest pain and some people actually think they
are having a heart attack. They may feel sweaty, weak, faint or dizzy. There may
be tremendous fear that they losing control of their mind (going crazy) or that
they are going to die. They also can have feelings of unreality or of being
detached from themselves. Usually attacks only last a few minutes; however, the
fear associated with the symptoms of panic attacks can be so profound that it
may feel like the length of an attack is an eternity.
Not everyone who has a panic
attack will go on to have more attacks. If they do then they may be diagnosed
with Panic Disorder. Panic Disorder is estimated to affect 3 to 6 million
Americans and is twice as common in women as in men. If a person is diagnosed
with Panic Disorder it is important that they receive treatment as the condition
can become very disabling. The symptoms of panic attacks can cause a person to
avoid certain situations for fear that an attack may occur. For example if
someone had an attack in a closed space like an elevator they may develop a fear
of elevators. In the extreme, some people who experience panic attacks will not
even leave their home. This is called agoraphobia.
Treating the symptoms of panic
attacks in the medical model is generally a three pronged approach. First is
education, second is therapy, and third is medication. Educating the suffer that
some how their fight-or-flight response to danger is getting triggered in non
threatening situations usually helps put their mind to ease. Letting them know
that the attack is short lived and will not harm them also seems to help.
Second, short-term therapy that focuses on relaxation and imagery techniques
that can be used during an attack may also be helpful. Learning to know what
sensations bring on the fight-or-flight response can help a sufferer calm down
before they have a full-blown attack. Also dealing with the persons fears about
having another attack can also lessen the anxiety about panic attacks. Finally,
if all else fails there is medication that can be prescribed that can help with
the symptoms of panic attacks. Many times a sufferer will be prescribed
medication and only take it when they feel like they may have an attack. Soon,
just knowing there is something at hand that can bring them down from an attack
allows them to be comfortable without taking the medication at all.
As frightening as a panic attack
is for the sufferer, the symptoms of panic attacks respond well to education and
even self-help. Often a person doesn't need therapy. Rarely does a person have
to take medication full time, if at all. This should be encouraging news to
those of you who wondering 'Why Me'. There is help and the prognosis is very
good. Find what works for you.
Anthony
Pace is the author of this article. If you would like to learn more about panic
attack treatments, check out:
http://www.my-product-reviews.com/symptoms_of_panic_attacks
Symptoms of Panic Attacks
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