Anxiety and panic attacks terms are used interchangeably so
often that they have come to be regarded as the same thing.
Panic attacks and anxiety are related phenomena, and the
symptoms of a panic attack may include hyperventilation.
Anxiety and panic attacks are horrifying experiences and
are much more common than sufferers think. Depending on
what research you read they either strike more than 10
million people or affect as many as 15% of all adults.
Whichever figure you look at though, I am sure you will
agree it is a massive problem affecting women more often
than men.
Anxiety and Panic disorders becomes classified as a mental
illness when the condition causes enough distress to reduce
ones ability to function socially, occupationally, or
psychologically. During a panic attack, unless you were
medically educated, you might think you were having a heart
attack, or some other form of medical crisis. Although when
they get to this level they are both considered psychiatric
conditions, they can be the easiest of all to treat and in
most cases are highly treatable. Anxiety and panic attacks
are an emotional and physical reaction to a threat, whether
that threat is real or perceived. The attacks are often
associated with shallow, rapid patterns of breathing and
can respond to muscle relaxation techniques and breathing
exercises that form a part of many complementary therapies.
It doesn't matter from what walk of life you come from
anxiety and panic attacks are non discriminatory and they
appear in situations where your usual skills and talents
seem to make no difference, so telling yourself to calm
down, doesn't work that well. The attacks seem to be
self-perpetuating and they need prompt and effective
intervention. Although anxiety and panic attacks are
similar, panic attacks are more high pitched than anxiety.
Anxiety and panic attacks are very frightening and very
real to the person suffering the attack and no matter what
anybody says they are medical conditions as real to the
person as if they were suffering from heart disease.
Although they are very scary once you stop letting the
fears take over, you'll feel more in control. Which is the
first step in recovery. You may be particularly vulnerable
to anxiety and panic attacks if you are suffering from
medical conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, heart disease, severe pain or medical
obesity.
Symptoms can include but are not limited to are: Rapid
heart beat, palpitations (awareness of your heart beating),
raised blood pressure feeling of tightness in the chest,
breathlessness and hyperventilation (rapid, shallow
breathing) sweating, pallor, chest pains, feelings of
light-headedness and dizziness. Shaking and trembling pins
and needles (caused by hyperventilation) usually in hands
or feet. Feeling of intense fear and/or impending doom
headaches and muscular aches and pains. Insomnia,
irritability, nightmares fatigue digestive disturbances,
e.g., abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea and/or vomiting.
Feeling cut off from yourself and other people, fear of
dying, desensitization, depersonalization, feeling of
unreality, depression, numbness and difficulty falling or
staying asleep. symptoms of panic attacks, feelings of
unreality, bodily sensations, body muscles, nausea and
diarrhoea, natural instinct, flight reaction,
derealisation, muscle tension, abdominal distress,
tightness in chest, pounding heart,
Anxiety and panic attacks are a relatively short period of
very intense fear and can start with an unpleasant feeling
in the throat and a sudden shortness of breath. Anxiety and
panic attacks usually last for 10 minutes but more severe
attacks may last up to two hours. They may be part of an
underlying anxiety disorder such as phobias (irrational
fear of, for example, crowds or open spaces), obsessive
compulsive disorder (recurrent thoughts and repetitive
behaviour), post-traumatic stress, depression or other
psychological problems. Or anxiety can come about as a
result of pressure at work, in school, at home or even when
having a major event or change in your life like death of
loved one or divorce.
Anxiety and panic attacks are disorders and although you
might be able to put a quick fix together during attacks it
is important that you find treatment to free yourself from
this disorder and eliminate anxiety and panic attacks
permanently. Anxiety medication may not work as it may
mask the symptoms and when you stop taking the medication
the attacks generally flare back up again. Ultimately
because anxiety medication is superficial, it doesn't treat
the root cause of your anxiety.
----------------------------------------------------
Rachel Harding provides more information and help on
anxiety and panic attacks. Go to
http://www.beatingdepressionandanxiety.com to find out more.
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