What is a Panic Attack?

by Gordon Dalwood

Everyone has anxious moments regardless of who you are or what you do. A little bit of anxiety is not going to hurt anyone but there are levels of anxiety that can actually make you physically ill. This is a full blown panic attack.

So, what exactly is a panic attack? A panic attack can best be described as the immediate onset of a severe amount of anxiety that occurs with very little warning. When a panic attack occurs, the symptoms are unmistakably clear. These symptoms involve rapid breathing, chest pains, dizziness, and disorientation. Yes, these symptoms sound dangerously close to a heart attack. Often, that is exactly what people suffering from a panic attack will believe they are experiencing.

This can cause the sufferer to become very frightened. This is typically why they are called panic attacks. The person with constant anxiety attacks will often have a less than desirable life. They suffer from anxiety attacks and often can not participate in many of the things they would like to do. This is because having another attack is always in the back of their mind.

Strangely enough, the fundamental cause of panic attacks still remains unclear to a large extent. On the other hand, research as shown that there are numerous factors which can and do contribute to a panic attack such as depression, frustration, anger, alcohol and also drugs. Even certain genetic factors can result in the onset of panic attacks.

While it may well appear to be easier said than done, it’s crucial that one takes certain steps in order to lessen the impact of a panic attack and most important of all, these steps need to be taken immediately upon the onset of an attack. Interestingly enough, deep, slow breathing has been proven to be effective and as a result, this method is widely practiced.

Of course, if anxiety and the resultant panic attacks could be controlled simply by doing a few breathing exercises, anxiety would not be considered a problem in the first place. In other words, if you suffer from anxiety, it’s crucial that you consult with a duly qualified health professional in order to receive adequate treatment.

Therapy may not be the entire answer for problems that are anxiety related. Consider your need for psychotropic solutions which may become a necessity. A complete psychiatric evaluation will be necessary before a psychiatrist would prescribe these drugs. By keeping to the schedule that is recommended by your doctor for the medicine, there may be a big difference in the rate at which the attacks occur and how severe they are in turn helping you to get a handle on the attacks.

Regardless of the method you explore, it is possible to get a handle on issues related to panic attacks. While the condition is most definitely severe, it is not untreatable. As long as you can recognize the problem you will be able to seek help. Once you seek help you can take the steps to deal with it and, hopefully, be free of it.

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