After initially suffering a full blown panic attack, the first thing people typically do is seek medical advice, and that can be good and bad, for this simple reason. Doctors are trained to treat physical discomfort, and to treat symptoms they typically recommend powerful medications, and the drugs used to alleviate panic attacks can be very habit forming. Additionally, most prescription drugs only mask the symptoms, they do not treat the underlying emotional condition of the panic attacks. And if you think panic attacks are burdensome to live with, they are nothing compared to trying to break an addiction to drugs. Your panic attack will seem like a picnic compared to breaking an addiction. With that in mind, let's explore some of the tests and treatments physicians typically bring to the table so to speak. There are medications that can temporarily help you. If you arrange a visit with your physician after experiencing a panic attack, chances are they will place you on prescription drugs as a treatment for the panic attacks. Someone who is having a heart stopping panic attack is usually thought to be having what is commonly known as a nervous breakdown' A doctor will often prescribe drugs as well as perhaps counsel you to obtain therapeutic care. Your physician will also most likely advise you to stop harmful activities such as smoking or drinking of alcohol, to eat properly and increase physical activity. These may be helpful when you are seeking to prevent or control panic attacks. When you see the physician the first time, it is highly likely that he or she will prescribe an anti-panic attack sedative. Most prescription drugs used to calm panic attacks are labeled benzodiazepines. They work to lessen your fears and will take the edge off of your panic attacks. The problem with these medications is that they are habit forming and can cause even greater panic attacks when you are trying to control your use of them. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for panic attacks include Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan. The important thing to remember when taking drugs like Xanax is that they are not only addictive, but they build up a tolerance in your system. This means that you gradually require higher dosages to achieve the same effect. While these drugs can effectively relieve the symptoms, they should only be taken as needed - that is, when you are experiencing an actual panic attack. Xanax and other drugs work to reduce the symptoms that you feel from your panic attacks, but they do not cure the underlying cause. In order to treat panic attacks properly, and prevent panic attacks, you have to get to the underlying trauma for the panic attacks themselves. One must remember that panic attacks are caused by two things - a fear of the unknown and a loss of control. That's it in a nutshell, and drugs, while they can have a temporary calming effect, do not address the primary causes. Thus, speaking from my personal experience, the primary objective from the physician's opinion will be to control the panic attacks with powerful drugs that do nothing more than provide a very temporary relief to the discomfort you feel. Medications do nothing to treat the cause or help you stop panic attacks themselves, but just mask the condition. Is that what you desire? Here is what you must recognize. Even with medications, you will still experience episodes of panic or panic attacks. In my opinion, physicians are not the most suited to treat panic attacks and one should look elsewhere for more permanent results than that offered by prescription drugs. Are you suffering panic attacks? If so, I can empathize with you but I can also tell you there is help for you. If you wish to learn more about panic attacks, visit my blog: . There you can find a free report describing exactly what I did to end panic attacks and take control of my life again.
We live in crazy times. Some of us have lost our homes, our life savings, our financial security. Others are one paycheck away from financial disaster. And the world is an uncertain place- the crime rate is up, Global Warming is getting worse, the US is in the midst of two wars, the Middle East is still in shambles... there seems to be no end to the list of things to worry about. We work harder than ever, as technology enables us (and sometimes pushes us) to always be "connected." Laptops, Blackberries, iPhones, and a global economy all conspire to create an endless cycle of work.
With all that - no wonder 5 million people in the US alone are suffering from anxiety and panic attacks!
A "panic attack" is a sudden episode of intense fear that develops for no apparent reason and that triggers severe physical reactions. Panic attacks can be frightening. When an attack occurs, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
You may have only one or two panic attacks in your lifetime. But if you have panic attacks frequently, it could mean that you have "panic disorder," a type of chronic anxiety disorder. Panic attacks are frightening but, fortunately, physically harmless episodes. They can occur at random or after a person is exposed to various events that trigger a panic attack. They may peak in intensity very rapidly and go away with or without medical help.
Panic attacks won't kill you, but they can sure make your life miserable.
People experiencing panic attacks may experience fears of dying or suffocating, or believe they are having a heart attack. They may voice fears that they are "going crazy" and seek to remove themselves from whatever situation they may be in.
Other symptoms may include rapid breathing and a feeling like their "hearts are jumping around in their chest." Then, within about an hour, the symptoms fade away.
About 5% of the population will experience a panic attack during their lifetimes. People who have repeated attacks require further evaluation from a health professional and may require treatment. Panic attacks can indicate the presence of panic disorder, depression, or other forms of anxiety-based illnesses.
What are some of the causes or triggers of Panic Attacks?
- Heredity. Panic attacks have been found to run in families;
- Biological causes such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, inner ear disturbances, and Vitamin B deficiency;
- Significant personal loss of a loved one, significant life change, and significant stress;
- Negative self-talk ("what-if" thinking), mistaken beliefs ("these symptoms are harmful and/or dangerous"), overly cautious view of the world expressed by parents and cumulative stress over time can all cause panic attacks;
- Panic attacks may be a temporary side effect of some medications;
- Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or marijuana use, prescription medication, or drug withdrawal can cause panic attacks as part of their withdrawal syndrome or rebound effect.
- Hyperventilation syndrome that causes rapid heart beat, dizziness, and lightheadedness.
What does a panic attack feel like?
Experiencing a panic attack is said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person's life. People having panic attacks describe it this way:
- "The world feels unsafe and I terrorize myself with "what if's" that never happen."
- "I have panic attacks that come on suddenly with no correlation to what's going on in my life at the time."
- "The first symptom I get is light-headedness, then I get very hot, racing heart, tingling finger and toes, shortness of breath. I then have a dire need to escape so as not to embarrass myself in public."
- "I have passed out for about 2 minutes at a nightclub before. That was embarrassing. They thought I was drunk, but I had just gotten there and had only had 1 bottle of water!"
- "I felt an intense fear in the pit of my stomach"
- "I keep having these feelings of ? OMG, I'm dying!"
Panic attacks were once dismissed as nerves or stress, but they're now recognized as a real medical condition. Panic attacks can significantly affect your quality of life, but, luckily, effective treatment is available.
Both Michael Borden & Dee Adams are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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