How to deal with panic attack?
For panic attacks there is medical treatment available in psychiatry, which is correlated with psychotherapy. Through psychotherapy, the individual learns to relax, to reinterpret their symptoms and react realistically.
Psychotherapy focuses primarily on relaxation. It is very important to understand where this event occurs as a defense. Panic attack is a response to stressors which means "cannot deal with it not anymore". The psychotherapy patient finds realistic and integrated way to solve social problems and to interpret their symptoms.
A technique of healing is the paradoxical exacerbation of symptoms. Some patients who cannot pass this state are even challenged in psychotherapy offices to make a panic attack in front of the psychotherapist they trust. Thus, they will realize that nothing harmful happens to them.
Panic disorder and pregnancy
Pregnancy, especially the first one, can be very stressful. Especially for an anxious person, this is a moment that can trigger symptoms of panic attack because the patient is more vulnerable.
Therapists advise patients to go to a specialist as soon as possible, especially since during pregnancy they cannot use medication. A psychotherapeutic program before pregnancy can help to understand and react constructively during pregnancy. Also, relaxation and breathing exercises, and avoiding pessimistic scenarios are some things patients can do for themselves. Do not let emotions overwhelm you, think things cool and allow relaxation.
During a panic attack nothing bad actually happens! You will notice that nothing happens from what you imagined. It is very important to realize that panic attack is on the inside, is a pronounced state of fear can be mastered. As fear is greater, symptoms will become stronger.
Panic disorder is diagnosed when a person has repeated panic attacks, is very worried that a new one will happen and avoids places that can cause an attack. It is possible that a person has panic attacks without developing panic disorder linked to these attacks occurring with anxiety disorders.
The exact cause of panic disorder is unknown. It is believed to be the result of an imbalance between brain chemicals (neurotransmitters).
It can also be passed from one generation to another (genetic).
It is possible that a person has panic attacks without developing panic disorder.
Panic attacks can be caused by:
- Ingestion of large amounts of alcohol or abrupt discontinuation of alcohol
- Ingestion of large amounts of caffeinated beverages
- Excessive smoking (increases the amount of nicotine in blood)
- Drug use, cocaine or marijuana
- High levels of stress for a long time (chronic stress)
- Surgery with general anesthesia
Panic attacks can be caused by or associated with a particular medical condition:
- Thyroid (hyperthyroidism - too much thyroid hormone)
- Heart disease
- Neurological disorders (epilepsy)
- Asthma
- Lung (chronic obstructive bronchopneumonia)
- Interruption of medication for heart disease
- Depression
- Anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive.
Description panic attack
People who suffer from panic attacks describe the fear of death or feel that they had a heart attack or sudden vision, fainting and nausea, numbness throughout the body, shortness of breath and almost always hyperventilation. Some people also have a sighted, or "tunnel view" because blood is diverted to other areas of the body.
All these symptoms can lead to an intense desire to escape from the place where the attack took place or began to panic; as a consequence the response of "fight or flight" hormones released amount of the body is significant.
A panic attack is actually a sympathetic nervous system response. The most common symptoms include tremors, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), heart palpitations, chest pain or chest tightness, heat waves, cold waves, and sometimes dizziness and loss of balance, sensation of spinning, hyperventilation, paresthesias (odd sensations in the limbs), choking, difficulty moving. These physical symptoms are interpreted as a warning sign of something serious by people who are inclined to make panic attacks. Interpretation of these symptoms lead to increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop, or in other words a vicious circle in which symptoms are maintained by fear and fear is maintained by symptoms.
Panic attacks are different from other forms of anxiety in that they start suddenly. They often occur in combination with other anxiety disorders and other psychological disorders, although the panic attacks often are not indicative of any mental disorder.
