What Are The Causes Of Panic Attacks

There really isn’t one single cause that panic attacks happen, as the cause varies from one person to another. They are always involuntary however, as no one wants to experience a panic attack, and there may even be more than one trigger.

There are many panic disorder symptoms that you may experience immediately before or during a panic attack, including sweating, chest pain, nausea, shaking, cramping, dizziness, shortness of breath, and cold chills or hot flashes.  There are a few less common symptoms also.

Commonly Used Prescription Drugs

When it comes to the treatment of panic attacks, panic attack drugs are frequently used. Although they are not intended to be used for long term help of panic attacks, their purpose is to help the person relax and deal with their attacks while they find a long term solution to the problem.

There are many different panic attack drugs that are used today, including Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa, just to name a few. Panic attack drugs that are used to treat panic disorder include antidepressants and antianxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines. These tend to work faster than antidepressants but users need to be more concerned here because benzodiazepines also are more likely to cause drug dependence.

Panic attack drugs can prove to be very effective in the treatment of panic attacks and even panic disorder, but it is important that doctors proceed with caution when it comes to any sort of medication. This is because of drug dependence but also because medication should not be considered as a good long term solution. Rather, it should be used to help the patient deal while they do find a real long term solution, namely through therapy.

Natural Treatment Methods

Cognitive behavior therapy, for instance, is sometimes used in conjunction with antidepressants, so you can use the medication to deal with their panic attacks while you are gradually getting control of the problem. Cognitive behavior therapy has proven to be incredibly valuable and successful at treating panic attacks, and works by helping to change your way of thinking so in turn your behavior will change as well.

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“In between attacks there is this dread and anxiety that it’s going to happen again. You are afraid to go back to places where you’ve had an attack. Unless you get help, there soon won’t be anyplace where you can go and feel safe from panic.”

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder affects about 6 million American adults1 and is twice as common in women as men.2 Panic attacks often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood,2 but not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder. Many people have just one attack and never have another. The tendency to develop panic attacks appears to be inherited.3

Panic disorder is a real illness that can be successfully treated. It is distinguished by sudden attacks of terror, usually accompanied by a pounding heart, sweatiness, weakness, faintness, or dizziness. During these attacks, people with panic disorder may flush or feel chilled; their hands may tingle or feel numb; and they may experience nausea, chest pain, or smothering sensations. Panic attacks usually produce a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control.

A fear of one’s own unexplained physical symptoms is also a symptom of panic disorder. People having panic attacks sometimes believe they are having heart attacks, losing their minds, or on the verge of death. They can’t predict when or where an attack will occur, and between episodes many worry intensely and dread the next attack.

Panic Attacks Can Occur Any Time

Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer.

People who have full-blown, repeated panic attacks can become very disabled by their condition and should seek treatment before they start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack happened in an elevator, someone with panic disorder may develop a fear of elevators that could affect the choice of a job or an apartment, and restrict where that person can seek medical attention or enjoy entertainment.

Some people’s lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About one-third become housebound or are able to confront a feared situation only when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. 2 When the condition progresses this far, it is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.

Early Treatment Is Key

Early treatment can often prevent agoraphobia, but people with panic disorder may sometimes go from doctor to doctor for years and visit the emergency room repeatedly before someone correctly diagnoses their condition. This is unfortunate, because panic disorder is one of the most treatable of all the anxiety disorders, responding in most cases to certain kinds of medication or certain kinds of cognitive psychotherapy, which help change thinking patterns that lead to fear and anxiety.

Self Help

Many people who go undiagnosed with panic disorder eventually choose self help with great success. There are many self help methods available. When it comes to panic and anxiety disorder one size does not fit all. Some people go through two or three methods before being cured.

What Are The Symptoms?

Many panic disorders have similar symptoms. Among those symptoms are fatigue, fidgeting, and headaches. Nausea, fidgeting, and irritability are also common symptoms experienced by panic disorder sufferers. The list goes on: hot flashes, trouble swallowing, trembling, and especially sweating are also associated with many panic disorders. They may also suffer from heart palpitations.

There are also panic disorder symptoms that are not physical. Moments of intense terror are very common. A person needs to be tested for an panic disorder to be properly diagnosed.

What happens during a panic attack?
Panic attacks are associated with physical symptoms that include the following:

* Shaking or trembling
* Feeling that your heart is pounding or racing
* Sweating
* Chest pain or discomfort
* Shortness of breath
* Feeling that you are choking
* Nausea
* Cramping
* Dizziness or weakness
* An out-of-body feeling
* Tingling or numbness in your hands, arms, feet or legs
* Chills or hot flashes

A person may also have an extreme fear of losing control, going crazy or dying during a panic attack. It is very rare for a person to have all of these symptoms at once. However, the presence of at least 4 symptoms strongly suggests that a person has panic disorder.

Other Symptoms

The panic disorder symptom that is most often associated with panic disorder is, of course, panic attacks. A person is debilitated by intense terror and apprehension. Panic attacks occur after prolonged stress or frightening experiences. The panic attacks can last anywhere from a couple of minutes, all the way up 10 minutes. A panic disorder sufferer experiences panic attacks frequently for no apparent reason.

How Does It Affect Everyday Life?

Symptoms of panic disorders greatly affect people’s lives. Someone suffering from agoraphobia – or fear of certain places or situations – will go out of their way to avoid those situations. For instance, if they suffer a panic attack while driving, they will then avoid driving if possible. Another situation common to someone with agoraphobia is that, if they are around other people, they need to always keep an “escape route” – such as the door – in sight. Social panic sufferers are terrified of being seen negatively, and they can become so anxious that they actively avoid all social situations – including gatherings with their friends and families. The physical symptoms of these panic disorders are also difficult to deal with as well – constant headaches and fatigue can really wear you down.

Panic Attack Hope

While panic disorders are difficult to deal with, they’re not impossible. Behavioral therapies or even medications can help alleviate the symptoms associated with panic disorders. People can go on to live happy lives, thanks to the medical breakthroughs being made right now.