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Helpful Information For Understanding Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are an unfounded fear that can come in the form of increased heart rate, rapid breathing and chills or sweat. These are just a few of the many symptoms of panic, the symptoms you have may vary widely from these. They come on suddenly, without warning. The cause may be known or unknown. Your panic triggers may be very different than those of other sufferers, unless you are suffering from a phobia, which I discuss more below. There are some commonalities in how people feel during a panic attack. Sufferers report that they think they may be dying, may be having a heart attack, are losing control, feeling confusion, and are greatly frightened.

It can be very helpful to know what mechanism is operating inside you when you are experiencing a panic attack. Very simply, some stimulus, either from outside you (a spider, a dangerous moment on the freeway...) or internally (a thought, a fear, anxiety) bypasses the normal rational thinking part of your brain, and instead triggers the part of your brain responsible for the "flight or fight" response. Before you can think about it, this part has triggered the rapid breathing and heart rate, the sweat, the nausea, and all the other symptoms you experience.

Panic attacks are a form of a panic disorder caused by anxiety. Anxiety is a different condition than panic attacks. Anxiety is a condition that seems to be going on all the time, and has no specific cause. Panic attacks usually don't last longer than about 30 minutes, and can be as brief as 5 minutes.

Panic attacks, if untreated, may cause a phobia. When you have anxiety about something specific, like spiders or small spaces, that's a phobia. It's a phobia when you think about it and you react negatively, or just can't function.

Some sufferers are phobic about panic attacks!

How do you know if you are suffering from anxiety, or panic? One fairly consistent indicator is how long your symptoms last. Ongoing symptoms generally indicate anxiety, if they are brief, from 5 to 30 minutes generally, then it's most likely panic. Another fairly dependable indicator is if the attacks occur in a specific circumstance, like in the presence of a snake or spider (or if you think about that thing and you start to have an attack). When there are specific triggers, it's possible you are suffering from a phobia, which may require different treatment than for generalized anxiety.

About 2.4 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder, and there are over 30 years of research into panic and anxiety relief, and yet many go untreated. The variety of treatments include medication, relaxation exercises, physical exercise, breathing, meditation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and more. All of these have been shown to be useful.

The first time you suffer a panic attack you may not understand what is happening. By simply understanding exactly what a panic attack is, and how many other people suffer from it, you can begin to engage your logical, rational mind. If you suffer from panic attacks, or know someone who does, you owe it to yourself to look into a treatment method that is right for you.

This article is presented as informational only, and we do not diagnose or treat any disease. If you believe you suffer from anxiety or depression, we recommend you consult with your doctor.

Want to know more? I offer a free mini-course with panic solutions [http://panicsolutions.info] at my website!

Dan DeLuca, CH, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotherapist, Trainer, and Speaker in the fields of Personal Growth, Motivation and Communication. Since 2005, Dan has been practicing Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, TimeLine Therapy and other transformation modalities.

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Top Ten Panic Attack Frequently Asked Questions

Panic attacks information is abundant these days and those who suffer often ask similar questions in their early experiences and usually following an initial attack and/or consultation with their doctor.

Anybody who has ever suffered a panic attack will tell you that they are possibly the worst possible thing a person can experience. The extreme feelings of terror experienced during an episode leave a haunting reminder in the victim's memory long after the attack has subsided. Hence, it is imperative that we all enlighten ourselves of this problem. Following is a short yet comprehensive FAQ that provides vital insights, therefore read this information very carefully.

Q. What is a Panic Attack?

A. A panic attack, as the name suggests, is an episode of intense fear and panic in which a person feels he/she is losing complete control and/or is going crazy, or even worse going to die.

Q. Do Panic Attacks occur at specific times in life?

A. No, they don't. They usually occur without warning and can strike you at any age. Although certain life events may lead to the incidence of an attack, such as the death of a loved one or a divorce, these events alone cannot be held responsible for causing one..

Q. How long does a typical panic attack last?

A. Although the exact length of an episode varies from one person to the other, generally speaking an attack lasts for about 30 minutes. It tends to reach its peak after about 10 to 15 minutes, following which the symptoms slowly subside.

Q. What are the symptoms of a Panic Attack?

A. Information on their symptoms varies on a case to case basis. However, the common list of symptoms includes hyperventilation (i.e. over breathing which brings about light headiness), heart palpitations (i.e. a racing heartbeat), chest pain, trembling, choking, sweating, nausea, upset stomach, dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, numbness, hot or cold flushes, and detachment from one's surroundings.

Q. According to information, can panic attacks be cured? If so, what methods are used in treatment?

A. Historical information on panic attacks as well as studies on the subject all point to the fact that they are a curable problem. Although the treatment varies on a case to case basis, it should be noted that there are three main types of treatments one can undergo; medication, behavioral therapy, and a combination of the two.

Q. Which is the best treatment option for Panic Attacks?

A. According to statistics and information available today, one can conclude that behavioral therapy is the best treatment option for this problem/disorder. This is because behavioral therapy attacks the root cause of the problem and unlike medication, it aims to bring about permanent changes in the patient's behavior and neurological associations that lead to or trigger a panic episode.

Q. What types of behavioral therapy options are open to me?

A. Generally speaking, there are two main therapy options for anybody suffering from an anxiety disorder. The first option is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy which aims to alter a person's cognitions such that his/her behavior is changed as a result. Meanwhile, the second option is called Exposure Therapy which basically exposes a person to his/her fear(s) in a controlled setting with the aim that with increased exposures, the person will realize that their fears are irrational and baseless.

Q. What are the types of medications I may need to take to counter panic attacks?

A. Generally speaking, you will need to take either SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or benzodiazepines. While benzodiazepines are fast acting drugs which can be used to counter panic attack symptoms as and when they surface, SSRIs are anti-depressants which need to be used for several weeks and offer general anxiety relief. Common benzodiazepines include Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan, while popular SSRIs include Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

Q. How safe and effective are panic attack medications?

A. Medications, especially benzodiazepines, can greatly help counter the symptoms. However, their intake can bring about a long list of side effects. Moreover, the use of these medications with alcohol or sleeping pills can prove to be fatal combination. Furthermore, since panic attack medications are very addictive in nature and can boast severe withdrawal symptoms, it is highly advised that they be avoided and only taken after comprehensive consultations with one's doctor or physician.

Q. Are panic attacks harmful and/or will I die from them

A. You are very unlikely to die from the panic attack or symptoms of one directly. Whilst they appear to be very frightening to the individual concerned and often times you feel as though you are having a heart attack or similar, doctors and specialists will tell you that there is nothing to be feared from the physical symptoms of the attack itself. However as you will discover as you learn more; if left untreated they become a disorder then that's when more harm can happen, but mainly psychologically.

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Death Calculator - How Long Will You Live?

Take the Quiz!

how long does a heart attack last if untreated - in other words, to the best of your knowledge. Don't guess. Begin with 79 years, then add or subtract years based on the scoring of your answers on each item. Your completed (total) score is a rough estimate of your current life expectancy.

1. Where is your ancestral home? (if not given, enter a score of 0). US = minus 2. Austria-UK = minus 1. Canada-France-Italy = 0. Australia-Singapore-Sweden = plus 2. Japan = plus 3. FACT: Life expectancy varies by nation due to genetic and cultural differences.

2. What is your gender ? Female = plus 1. Male = minus 2. FACT: Life expectancy favors the female gender regardless of culture.

3. Do you have an annual physical exam? Yes = plus 3. No = minus 3. FACT: Many diseases (cancers, hypertension) in later life are asymptomatic, go unnoticed and untreated.

4. Do you have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents who lived to 85-plus? Add 2 for each 85-plus relative. FACT: Research demonstrates that long-lived parents tend to produce long-living children.

5. Do you volunteer on a weekly basis? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 1.

FACT: Studies confirm that volunteering focuses attention away from ourselves and onto others.

6. Do you live alone? Yes = minus 3. No = 0. FACT: Adults who live alone tend to be less well-nourished, more isolated, and less nurtured.

7. Are you able to laugh at and learn from your mistakes? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 3. FACT: Laughter, humility, and a positive outlooks are linked to increased life expectancy.

8. Do you have a confidant who listens to your most intimate concerns? Yes = plus 1. No = minus 2.

FACT: Confidants offer emotional catharsis and a sense of personal worth to those in crisis.

9. Do you engage in daily mental exercises such as puzzles, games, learning or problem-solving? Yes = plus 4. No = 0. FACT: Individuals that continually challenge their minds suffer fewer cognitive disorders.

10. Do you engage in some form of daily aerobic exercise such as swimming, jogging or biking? Yes = plus 2. No = 0. FACT: Exercising at one's target heart rate strengthens the heart and boosts metabolism.

11. Do you eat a balanced diet, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and whole grains? Yes = plus 2. No = minus 3. FACT: Balanced dieters experience lower risk of both genetic and culturally related diseases.

12. Do you smoke a pack of cigarettes daily? Yes = minus 5 for men, minus 10 for women. No = 0. FACT: Smoking causes nearly half a million cancer and lung disease deaths every year.

13. Do you live with, work with, or spend time with people who smoke? Yes = minus 1 for men, minus 2 for women. No = 0. FACT: Although close association with smokers is thought to reduce a person's life expectancy by one year, recent research suggests this association may reduce life expectancy by two years.

14. Does your body weight "yo-yo" as you go on and off diet fads? Yes = minus 5. No = 0. FACT: Unorthodox dietary regimens stress the heart and immune system, increasing the risk of disease.

15. Do you own a pet? Yes = plus 2. No = 0. FACT: Peer-reviewed scientific journals substantially support longevity benefits of pet companionship. (Note: Avoid exotic pets, such as parrots, monkeys, reptiles, or rodents. These animals have been known to carry diseases that can be transmitted to humans.)

16. When writing, which hand do you use? Left-handed = minus 1. Right-handed = 0. Life is stressful for lefties living in a made-for right-hand world. FACT: Lefties live in a world where most objects are designed for right-handed people. Objects such as scissors, pencil sharpeners, door openers, and can openers are rarely designed for left-handed people.

17. How tall are you? For every inch of your height that exceeds 5'8" = subtract six months. FACT: Size does matter, but not in any way you may have thought. Shorter people live longer.

18. Do you belong to any religious group, and do you practice your faith? Yes = plus 2. No = 0. FACT: Attending to both physical and spiritual needs lowers morbidity and mortality.

19. Do you have two or more daughters? Yes = plus 3. No = 0. Daughters are elder caregivers. FACT: Daughters provide the bulk of eldercare. Even daughters-in-law provide more care than do sons.

20. Do you use stress management techniques such as meditation, quiet time or visiting a spa? Yes = plus 4. No = minus 3. FACT: Because there is no escape from stress in our modern society, stress management is the best response.

21. Do you walk to work? Yes = plus 2. Ride to work? Yes = plus 1. Drive to work? Yes = minus 3. FACT: Walking offers fitness benefits, as well as a sense of self-reliance and personal freedom (no gridlock!).

22. Have you had cosmetic surgery? Yes = plus 5. (But subtract 1 for each additional surgery during the same decade.) FACT: Cosmetic surgery reduces age phobia and age discrimination and evokes a positive response from a youth-obsessed world. Too many cosmetic surgeries (that is, more than one every 10 years), however, may actually accelerate the aging process.

23. Do you fear the uncertainties of growing old? Yes = minus 1. No fear = plus 0. FACT: Fear of aging increases your risk of emotional illnesses such as self hatred, denial and depression.