Stop Panic Attacks » panic attack

What Cause Panic Attacks?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:24:27 +0000

The causes of panic attacks are very far reaching and can be associated with many medical conditions, commonly exhibited in assorted drug withdrawals and attributed to an assortment of toxic effects on your body. Chronic stress is a main cause of panic attacks and a high stress level makes you much more prone to developing them. For some reason undergoing surgery or being under anesthesia can also lead to panic attacks and genetics play a huge factor in developing panic attacks. In fact you are eight more times likely to have panic attacks in your lifetime and suffer from them if a parent or other close family member also suffers or has in the past suffered from panic attacks.

Many people that seem to get them for no reason, they would like to know exactly why and according to one theory it is the body’s normal natural alarm system, which is the set of physical and mental and chemical mechanisms that allows a person to appropriately respond to a danger. Only in the case of panic attacks it tends to be triggered unneeded when there is no threat in sight, it is not, however known exactly why this happens or why some people are so much more susceptible to panic attacks than others. There is though to be an imbalance in the chemicals of the brain, or neurotransmitters, associated with panic attacks and often things like physical illness or certain medications can start the panic attack process.

Drinking large amount of alcohol or suddenly stopping the use of alcohol when you have been using for a long time can cause panic attacks as can large amounts of caffeine that tend to make you more nervous and jumpy. Smokers exhibit a much higher rate of panic attacks as the nicotine in the blood concentrates very highly and nicotine is a natural panic attack inducer. There is also increase in the frequency of panic attacks that can be seen in some women during or after pregnancy.

Serious medical conditions can sometimes have panic attacks associated with them such as heart problems like Mitral Valve Prolapse and seizure disorders like epilepsy. Asthma and respiratory problems like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) also have a higher risk of panic attacks. For reasons probably associated with the shortness of breath that panic attacks bring and a real fear of dying from those symptoms that could just be a panic attack instead of life threatening problem. Depression also carries with it a huge risk of panic attacks or other disorders that stem from the panic attacks such as agoraphobia and panic disorder being the most common.

Many people will have intense anxiety between episodes and about 30% will use alcohol to deal with these attacks which can indeed make them worse. In the search for the causes of panic attacks there are many road blocks and closed doors but with any luck a person can at least get treatment and support, for right now there is no cure for panic attacks.

What Are Panic Attacks?

admin — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:05:34 +0000

Panic attacks themselves are a malfunction of natures fight or flight response. A panic attack includes a sudden overwhelming surge of fear that comes with out any real warning or obvious reason as to why. It can not be explained to those that have never felt if, but it is far more than the average feelings of being anxious or stressed as most people experience throughout their lives. Around 1 in 75 people may get full blown panic disorder which are panic attacks more the 2-3 times per week without any known cause.

Again talking about the flight or fight response that occurs naturally to help keep us from harm, telling us to run away or prepare to defend ourselves from a situation of danger. These feelings in the right circumstances are vital to our survival but in the case of a panic attack they appear for no reason, rising out of no where to confuse a person tremendously as to what is happening. Panic attacks can even happen when you are asleep maybe having a vivid dream of being attacked or falling off a building.

The feelings of dread with shortness of breath along with all the other symptoms tend to pass in a few minutes but can last up to an hour as the body cannot sustain the response of flight or fight for any longer. However, subsequent attacks can follow and make it seem like one long continuous panic attack. This can be detrimental to ones well being and cause problems in sleep and daily functioning. Panic attacks in themselves are not dangerous to one’s physical health, but over time upset can occur such as stomach problems, migraines and a variety of disorders.

In worst case scenarios suffers of panic attacks can feel so overwhelmed that they turn to drugs, excessive alcohol or other harmful activities to help numb the intensity of their attacks. Also people that suffer from long term, reoccurring panic attacks or panic disorder are more that twice as likely to commit suicide. So to say panic attacks have no danger is a misnomer, it is all about how and whether a sufferer treats their symptoms. But many treatments but traditional and alternative are available and many therapists can help patients handle their symptoms.

Developing phobias are also common place with panic attacks, as the attacks are so terrifying that people avoid the things or places that tend to trigger them such as crowds, driving or other people. Fear and embarrassment go along hand and hand with panic attacks as well. Many people will stay away from people to avoid feeling ashamed and uncomfortable in case they may have a panic attack in their presence. The three main phobias the develop with panic attacks are agoraphobia, a fear or leaving home and being trapped in public places; social phobia, an extreme fear of people or public and a fear of looking stupid or foolish there; and simple specific phobia, which can be of anything.

Side Effects of Panic Attacks

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:44:00 +0000

We are taught that which does not kill us makes us stronger, but is that always the case? With out acknowledgement and treatment, panic attacks can lead to serious disorders and phobias as well as seriously compromise to ones life. Once you suffer a panic attack you want to do all possible to prevent another one from occurring. So you may avoid situations that in any way resemble the one you were in while the panic attack happened. This situational avoidance in very common in panic attacks sufferers especially with ones already experiencing the more severe from or panic disorder, which is basically long term, frequent panic attacks.
As an example, someone may have a panic attack while driving and begin to avoid driving, prolonged fear and avoidance of driving may result in an actual phobia of doing it. This can be said for many, many things that a panic attack sufferer may see as a cause of panic attacks and eventually their quality of life will greatly diminish. In the worst case scenario of phobias people develop full blown agoraphobia, a fear of going outdoors or leaving home all together. They develop so many phobias that they believe staying inside is the only option to avoid all situations that may provoke an attack.

Aside from phobias other side effects of panic attacks are: a greater propensity to abuse drugs and alcohol, less time spent on hobbies friendships, more time spent in the emergency room, increased suicidal feelings and even a greater risk of suicide, decreased physical and emotional health, being less financially dependent and having trouble being very far from home. All these problems and many more can be experienced by someone suffering from panic attacks and are especially severe if panic disorder comes into play.
The treatments for these side effects are varied and include medication and therapy along with exercise and changes in habits and thinking processes. The easiest way is to avoid them from ever happening by getting treatment for your panic attacks right away and not waiting for them to progress to states of phobia or terrible depression. Be wary of some medications not carefully prescribed to you by a knowledgeable doctor as they have been known to actually make panic attacks worse or cause other symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms in these medicines are known to be especially harsh.
Try natural calming exercises and natural sleep aids to sleep at night and try deep breathing and anti anxiety to go on through your day and control your panic attack symptoms. If you need to see a therapist do not be ashamed, talking to someone about your problem can help you to overcome it and a therapist can help you with things that have worked with other patients and slowly get you on to the road of healing yourself. Medications if properly prescribed can also work to alleviate those symptoms, so you do not get to the point of phobias or further disorders.

Panic Attack Self Help

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:19:15 +0000

If you have tried traditional techniques and still cannot seem to get any better with your panic attacks you may look into ways you can control them on your own with out as much outside help (though you still need support) or intervention. Relaxation techniques are a very important step in long term self treatment, they can be done alone at home and are proven to work in reducing stress and stopping panic attacks in their tracks. Take time to at least once a day practice them and although they won’t cure all your symptoms alone, in combination with other treatments and techniques they will help you immensely in easing anxiety levels and feeling better.

The first part of relaxation techniques is deep breathing. Deep breathing techniques can be used either as a short term response to when you are about to or experiencing a panic attack or used when anxiety levels are high to help lower them. Although they cannot get rid of the stemming fears that cause the panic attacks they can treat the end result, the attacks themselves and the fear that leads to them. Simply slowly let your lungs fill with air by breasting in through your nose and letting out a long slow breath from your mouth, repeat this for a few seconds, maybe 10 or so times in a row and you will begin to notice a calming effect emerging.

Positive thinking can also be very effective during the process of recovery or preparing for an anxiety filled day, this is only however, if a person actual believes what they are telling themselves, so try to think of a true statement that you can believe before having to go into that scary situation that you dread. Something like “If I have a panic attack I can always go sit in the bathroom or my car and breath until I feel better.” verses “I will be fine and love every minute I am there.” You can repeat positive phrases as much as you like to yourself, but unless you are actually believing them, your anxiety level will remain the same.

You may also wish to work on affirmations that you are doing better in your self help, count how many panic attacks you have had this week versus last and whether they were as severe, did you have to go home or leave any activities or did you use techniques to get through them? Consider rewarding yourself for things well done and make sure to stay on track with trying new techniques and repeating the things that seem to be working.

Something else that can work with all of these self help areas are distraction techniques, very simple things like reading a book or magazine or turning on the TV can immensely help those stress levels. And literally take you mind off of having a panic attack by entertaining it with something it finds relaxing. Even when in public, things like counting all the red cars on the road or imagining everyone in there underwear, seriously, can help in distracting you enough that you can get on a new wavelength.

Five Fun Tips For Dealing With Panic Attacks

admin — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:05:22 +0000

There are many ways to help fight panic attacks and give you a better leash on life. Most ways are simple and will greatly increase your level or tolerance while lowering your anxiety levels and give you a feeling of satisfaction from being able to control your panic attacks. We will focus on only the best and most rewarding ways to reduce the anxiety and depression associated with panic attacks. You don’t have to suffer from panic attacks, you can instead use plans to work against their plot and find a better appreciation of the small, important things in life.

1. Watch a funny movie. Humor can literally replace the distressed emotions you feel when you are about to have a panic attack with positive ones in your brain. That is because when you are stressed you release a stress hormone called cortisol, laughter actually is proven to reduce this hormone and instead put out a happy one in it’s place. So put in your favorite comedy and maybe ask a pal to join you with some popcorn and you can both be in on the laughs.

2. Pet your dog. People who have pets live longer lives and have lessened risks or heart attacks and you guessed it, they better deal with anxiety! In fact, every time you run your fingers through your pets hair the relaxing motion and bonding feeling actually lowers your stress levels and promotes a more even breathing pattern and happier demeanor. Your dog will thank you for it.

3. Use a yummy natural anxiety aid. Not all medicine has to be bad tasting and boring. Many foods rich in vitamins in the “B” food group work to lower your stress levels. So treat yourself to a banana split or frozen yogurt at your local ice cream store as banana’s and yogurt can significantly lower your anxiety and well taste great while doing it, just make sure to avoid that excessive caffeine while on your splurge.

4. Do your favorite thing. When distracting the brain with something you can get really ‘into’ you stop the process of a panic attack. Whether you like to paint or garden go at it! Can’t think of anything to do, start a new hobby in scrap-booking or buy a magazine on fun cooking ideas. Who can be stressed when crafting a set of cupcakes to look like happy zoo animals, it may not be piratical but don’t be afraid to feel silly sometimes, you are helping yourself to get better after all.

5. Take a walk. Both exercise and exposure to sunlight can elevate you mood, decrease you depression and anxiousness and help you in a multitude of ways. Make your walk to a fun place like by the local duck pond at the park, feed some ducks and do some walking around the place, try not to feel stressed with all the people and instead focus on all the good things in you life right now.