It's an ordinary day. You are inside your room, sitting on a chair and reading a book. Suddenly, without any apparent reason, you feel your heart beating so fast. You begin to choke, and you experience chest pains. Your mind races and you feel an extreme fear. You begin feeling lightheaded, nauseous, and dizzy. You experience a tingling sensation, coupled with hot flashes or sudden chills. You sense that you are having a heart attack and that you are already going to die. You may even think that you are going crazy. Your muscle begins to tense, and then you feel body pains. Finally, it stops. This sudden period of intense anxiety lasts for about ten minutes. The scariest ten minutes of your life, you say.

After experiencing this kind of situation, most people think that they just had a heart attack or nervous breakdown. They would call for immediate medical help or drive themselves to the nearest hospitals. Medical evaluation would not present anything grave, though. The doctor would say that it was just a case of panic attack. The doctor, moreover, will assure you that panic attacks are generally harmless. Panic attacks are very common, too, affecting millions of people worldwide. According to a research study, one out of 75 people can experience a panic attack at least once in their life. Another research study says that panic attacks are more common in women than men.

Panic attack causes

A panic attack can be triggered by biological reasons. Our bodies can defend itself against stress, but there will come a point in which extreme physical reactions will be manifested. These physical reactions can be really severe, but there are also instances in which these are barely noticeable. There are individuals, too, who did not realize that they just experienced panic attacks. Panic attacks can re-occur, and those individuals who experience repeated attacks may have a panic disorder. Panic attacks can also be triggered by certain chemical substances or from its withdrawal. Aside from biological reasons, panic attacks can also be caused by certain situations, such as life transitions.

Panic attack treatment

Panic attacks can be treated and prevented. Yes, you do not have to worry about repeated panic attack experiences. Treatment methods for panic attacks include therapy, medication and relaxation techniques. Therapy should be administered by a qualified therapist. Therapy can be cognitive behavioral or exposure. Sessions will be set-up by therapists, and these can entail support from family and friends. Medication, which is an effective treatment method, includes antidepressants. Other forms of medication can be for temporary use only. Some may even be addictive. For the prevention of panic attacks, relaxation techniques, such as meditation and visualization, are duly recommended.

A caution, though, for those individuals who experience panic attacks repeatedly. A panic attack is similar to having an asthma or heart attack. Panic attacks can occur together with other medical disorders, too. Therefore, it is still wise to consult a competent doctor to rule out any other medical disorder possibilities.

Find out more about panic attack symptoms.