Grasping Panic Attacks

Grasping Panic Attacks
After a panic attack has occurred, many times a visit to
the emergency room follows to ensure that a heart attack,
stroke, or some other serious ailment has not just
happened. After every test possible, the doctor comes up
with a diagnosis. He tells you that all of your tests have
come back negative and what you are experiencing is normal
and harmless. He explains that you are experiencing panic
attacks. The doctor prescribes medicine, a follow up
checkup with your general practitioner, and then sends you
on your way. As the doctor is explaining this, thoughts
are racing through your mind. How can this be normal and
harmless? The doctor just cannot be right. He has to be
missing something. After leaving the hospital and feeling
as if the doctor has completely misdiagnosed your
situation, you have decided to take it upon yourself to
grasp what this new diagnosis means.

Grasping the fact that the diagnosis of panic attacks is
correct is the first step to conquering them. According to
The Lancet, panic attacks are sudden, sometimes unexpected
paroxysmal bursts of severe anxiety accompanied by several
physical symptoms. (eg. Cardio respiratory,
otoneurological, gastrointestinal, or autonomic) Such
attacks are often striking in their initial presentation,
affect the individual's function, and could be progressive
and disabling, especially if accompanied by agoraphobia (an
extreme form of phobic avoidance). (Roy-Byrne & Steine,
2006) In other words, panic attacks are caused from a
build up of stress and anxiety, which led you to feel
sensations in many areas of your body. You then experience
the Fight-or-Flight response.

What does Fight-or-Flight response mean? When your body
senses danger, your adrenalin will kick in. This usually
occurs when you feel fear that something might happen or is
happening. The Fight-or-Flight response is discussed in
more detail in our next article. These sensations lead us
to believe that they are symptoms of some type of serious
underlying illness, or that we are experiencing a major
health risk.

Many individuals that have encountered these dreadful panic
attacks feel as if they are losing control and worse yet,
going crazy. The fear that is caused by these sensations
leads us into being apprehensive about going out into the
public. These attacks affect our sleep. We tend to
constantly need to sleep in order to escape from the
attacks because it is on our mind from the time we wake up
until the time we go to sleep. The bad news is that you
can experience a panic attack even in your sleep! The good
news is that there are treatments and remedies that you can
take to overcome these attacks.

It is a common fact that women experience panic attacks
more than men. However, both can be subjected to it.
Whether male or female, the attacks are very distressful.
At some point in their lifetime, millions will experience
these distressful attacks and will be searching for answers
like you. Now that you know what panic attacks are, you
should learn what the symptoms (sensations) are so you can
identify them next time with your panic attack. Grasping
panic attacks is your first step to recovery!

Reference: Roy-Byrne, P., Craske, M., & Stein, M. (2006,
September 16). Panic disorder. Lancet, 368(9540),
1023-1032. Retrieved November 12, 2007, from Psychology and
Behavioral Sciences Collection database.

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This article is for people who have had or know someone we
has had panic attacks. Please read the valuable information
and take control of your life. Please
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