Panic Attack Symptom

Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks, can have many different symptoms. Being able to tell the difference between a panic attack and several other medical conditions that produce similar effects is not always easy. So how can you be sure if something is a genuine panic attack symptom or not?

Firstly it is normal to experience anxiety at times. It is only when the experience is out of proportion to the situation at hand that there may be a problem. If you find that feelings of anxiety are stopping you from performing everyday activities and affecting your daily routine then it is likely that you have an anxiety disorder and should see your doctor.

Even though the symptoms associated with a panic attack are often different for each person there are some that are commonly experienced by most sufferers. A racing heartbeat and chest pains are common as are a shortness of breath and dizziness. Many people report that they feel like they are going to die and that they have trouble concentrating and focusing on anything specific. You may also sweat excessively and feel fatigued.

As you can see these symptoms may all be associated with other physical illnesses so it is important to see your doctor so that other conditions can be ruled out. Once you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder you can focus on getting better as this is a condition that responds quite quickly to treatment.

The important thing is that you seek help if you believe that you have experienced a panic attack symptom. Left untreated, anxiety usually gets worse over time. There is nothing to be ashamed about if you have experienced an anxiety attack and you doctor can suggest a treatment that will help you overcome them.

Symptoms Of Panic Attack

If you think that you may have had a panic attack it is important that you see your doctor as many of the effects associated with them can be very similar to several physical conditions and it is important to rule them out first. However it can be beneficial to understand the symptoms of panic attack disorder in order to be better prepared to deal with any subsequent ones.

Clinically, a panic attack is defined as a period of intense discomfort or fear that is also associated with at least four of the following symptoms. Common symptoms or sensations include nausea, sweating, chest pain, dizziness, shaking or trembling, chills, hot flushes, numbness or tingling in your arms and legs, as well as a shortness of breath. Of course these are just the physical symptoms and there are emotional symptoms as well. An intense fear, usually not associated with something that most people would find scary is the predominant feeling.

Typically panic attacks will appear suddenly and reach peak intensity within a minute or two. They then tend to diminish slowly over the next half an hour or so. Women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks then men and the disorder usually manifests between the ages of twenty to thirty. There is no one definitive cause of panic attacks and no one clear solution either.

While there are several medications available in the treatment of panic attack, psychological therapy has also proven to be very effective. This includes learning relaxation and slow breathing techniques as well as cognitive and exposure therapy. With the appropriate treatment, most people can overcome their panic attacks and not have them reoccur.

Panic Attack Help

If you have experienced panic attacks or have suffered from extreme anxiety then you understand how isolated these conditions can make you feel. It is important to get some type of counselling or assistance as no one needs to go through this alone. Panic attack help and support can be found in many places and it is recommended that you try several of them until you find one that you are comfortable with.

The first thing that you can do is to talk to a trusted friend or family member about what you are experiencing. Sometimes just being able to talk about your fears can bring some relief and it may also help to put them into a proper perspective.

Educating yourself about the condition can also be beneficial. Panic attack symptoms are scary and can often be mistaken for other illnesses so understanding what a typical panic attack is like for other people and what treatments are available can help. This can be done online or you could also go to your local library for information.

There are various government organizations that you can contact, anonymously too if you wish, to talk about your problems. Most will provide crisis line type phone numbers where you will be able to talk to someone who understands what you are going through and who will be able to provide you with further support if you need it.

Of course your general practitioner is an obvious choice for any health problem that you have. They can check to see whether there is any physical cause to your symptoms and if not may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further diagnosis.

If you need help in dealing with your panic attacks please let someone know. It is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about and help is readily available. Imagine living your life without crippling fear or anxiety? It is possible.

Panic Attack Medication

If you have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or panic attacks your doctor may discuss with you the option of treating your symptoms with drugs. The decision to use a particular panic attack medication is a personal one that should be made after careful research and consideration. There are five main types of drugs that are commonly used to treat panic attacks and anxiety including beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Beta blockers include atenolol (Tenormin) and propranolol (Inderal) and are helpful in controlling the physical symptoms of panic attacks such as trembling or a rapid heartbeat. They also produce fewer side effects when compared to other medications but can still cause drowsiness, insomnia, diarrhoea and short term memory loss.
Tricyclic antidepressants include imipramine (Tofranil), venlaxfaxine (Effexor), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (norpramin) and nortriptyline (Aventyl). These drugs are used to treat both depression and panic attacks and can cause constipation, weight gain, dry mouth, difficulty urinating and disturbed sleep patterns as side effects.
Benzodiazepines include chlordiazepoxide (Librium), alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin) and oxazepam (Serax). They have proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms of panic attacks in over 70 percent of patients and can be taken for an extended period of time. Side effects include irritability, drowsiness, decreased libido and slurred speech.
MAOI’s include phenelzine (Nardil) and tranlcypromine (Parnate). Like tricyclic antidepressants they are also used to treat panic attacks as well as depression. They can produce weight gain, a dry mouth, low blood pressure and a disturbed sleep pattern as side effects.
SSRI’s include sertraline (Zoloft), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil). They are the most recent type of panic attack medication and work by assisting the brain to maintain a higher level of serotonin, which is often low in people suffering from depression. Side effects include headaches, decreased libido, nausea and possibly agitation.
The decision to begin using any type of panic attack medication should not be made lightly. Many of these drugs will take a period of time before any benefit can be seen and will likewise need a certain period of time before you can stop using them. It is important to raise any concerns you have with your doctor before beginning any sort of treatment.

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• The Linden Method

  
  
  

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