Panic attacks for no reason.?

Question

Does anyone out there have panic attacks for no reason at all. Like you will wake up in the morning and your hearts starts racing and you feel light headed. Has anyone had them last all day.

Answer 1

The ones that wake you up are the worst. Most people have panic attacks that are caused by an upcoming event that is stressful, called antisapatory (sp?) anxiety, but true panic disorder is when people get full blown unprovoked panic attacks. If you look online or find a good doctor there are many techniques availible for controlling these attacks. Breathing exercises are incredibly effective, and there are medications that can help in the short term. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

Trust me, panic attacks, or anxiety attacks DO happen for a reason. Sometimes it is not apparent what is causing them. But here's a simple way to explain what is happening. An anxiety attack is natures way of forcing the body to react to the stresses that are affecting it. Just the cumulative effect of your everyday life could be adding up to that level of stress, that the body requires a response to reduce that stress. The triggers could be something very small, that you would think that nothing is causing it. You do need to go and see a doctor so that you can correctly have this diagnosed and also to come with a plan of treatment. Sometimes mere exercise and a little juggling of your schedule might give your body the relief from stress that it needs. If you drink caffeine and/or smoke, try reducing or eliminating those, as they only contribute to the likelihood of an anxiety attack. I used to have anxiety attacks to the point that I would get dizzy and nearly pass out. An old and wise aunt told me that if I felt that I was going to pass out, to make sure I was in a safe place, such as pulled over to the side of the road if I was driving, and just let it take over. Don't fight it, just pass out. I tried it and as soon as the next anxiety attack started to get severe, to the point that I knew I was going to pass out, I did what she told me. Guess what? As soon as I did that, the anxiety cleared away and I felt normal. I haven't had an anxiety attack since, and that has been over 10 years. I did not require any medication. I tell you this only to let you know that anxiety is beatable. Results may vary. First, go to the doctor and see what you can do to get over the effects of your anxiety.

Answer 3

I am so happy, it was only a 35 minute drive ( 70 minutes total) but absolutely no sign of anxiety or panic i shopped till I dropped - brilliant! I will now go for the next stage DUAL CARRIAGE way, probably at the weekend, with my husband accompanying me first then the solo drive, if successful the final stage of driving on motorway

Beat Anxiety And Panic Attacks Naturally?

Answer 4

i have had a couple of panic attacks but i was wide awake. everyone has a panic attack or two, maybe even more. it happens because we get over anxious and concerned about something to the point where we loss control and panic about it. the best way to make it go away is to sit down and breathe deeply. close your eyes and think of something else. your nerves will settle and you will feel a lot better.

Answer 5

ive had like 15 panic attacks in my life and most of them happen when someone says something mean to me or something i dont agree with. its like they flipped a switch inside of me. but if u are experiencing symptoms that last all day, maybe its something else. talk to a psychiatrist about it.

Answer 6

yeah and they also get worse from alcohol panic attacks can be quite scary be learn to control them...

Answer 7

yeah i had this when i was pregnant,but it went away now ive got postnatal-depression, and it prob is far worse then what i had when i was pregnant............i got meds which help tremendously,but not cure it fully

Answer 8

more likely anxiety attacks..............its a mental illnes, do you suffer with depression also? 100% treatable

Answer 9

No reason is needed for a panic attack.

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or psychological distress, typically of abrupt onset. Symptoms may include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking or smothering. Repeated and apparently unprovoked panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder, but panic attacks are associated with other anxiety disorders as well. For example, people who suffer from phobias may experience panic attacks upon exposure to certain triggers.

The symptoms of a panic attack appear suddenly, without any apparent cause. They may include:

Sweating
Shortness of Breath (dyspnea)
Racing or pounding heartbeat or palpitations
Chest pain
Dizziness or Vertigo
Lightheadedness
Nausea / Stomach Pains
Hyperventilation
Choking or smothering sensations
Tingling or numbness in the hands, face, feet or mouth (Paresthesia)
Hot/Cold Flashes
Faintness
Trembling or shaking
Dream-like sensation or perceptual distortion (derealization)
Dissociation, or the perception that one is not connected to the body or is disconnected from space and time (depersonalization)
Terror, or a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it
Tunnel vision
Fear of losing control
Fear of death
Fear of going crazy
The loss of the ability to react logically to oncoming stimuli
Loss of cognitive ability in general
Heightened senses
Loud internal dialogue
Exhaustion

A panic attack typically lasts ten minutes according to the American Psychological Association. More severe panic attacks may form a series of episodes waxing and waning every few minutes, only to be ended by physical exhaustion and sleep.

The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is the sudden onset of fear with little or no provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response where the person's body prepares for major physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH which can in turn lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, and lightheadedness. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood.

Hyperventilation alone can bring about some of the symptoms of a panic attack. However, the person experiencing the panic attack often does not realize this and sees these symptoms as further evidence of how serious their condition is. An ensuing positive feedback loop of adrenaline release fuels worsening physical symptoms and psychological distress.

While the symptoms and the seriousness of panic disorder are very real, the feelings of panic or impending death that accompany many attacks are grossly exaggerated. Many physicians tell panic disorder sufferers that while their body is affected by the attack, they are not in any risk of fatality (except due to auxiliary reactions such as crashing a car, running into traffic, committing suicide, etc). If a sufferer can anticipate an attack and find a safe place to release, there is little immediate risk.

Panic disorder is real and potentially disabling, but it can be controlled. Because of the disturbing symptoms that accompany panic disorder, it may be mistaken for a life-threatening medical illness. This misconception often aggravates or triggers future attacks. People frequently go to hospital emergency rooms when they are having a panic attack, and extensive medical tests may be performed to rule out these other conditions, thus creating further anxiety.

Treatment for panic disorder includes medications and a type of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Normally the mental health professionals that can assist you in treatment of panic disorder are psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. To pursue a medical treatment for panic disorder, one should visit a medical doctor, typically a psychiatrist. Psychotherapy is typically provided by a clinical or counseling psychologist or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). More information on Mental health professionals

Medications can be used to break the psychological connection between a specific phobia and panic attacks. Medications can include:

antidepressants (SSRIs, MAOIs, etc.) taken every day
anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines) during or in anticipation of panic attacks.
Exposure to the phobia trigger multiple times without a resulting panic attack (due to medication) can often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing people to function around their phobia without the help of medications. However, minor phobias that develop as a result of the panic attack can often be eliminated without medication through monitored cognitive-behavioral therapy or simply by exposure. The decision to participate in this therapy personally or through a registered practitioner should always be made in conjunction with a medical professional.

Usually, a combination of psychotherapy and medications produces good results. Some improvement may be noticed in a fairly short period of time -- about 6 to 8 weeks. Often, it may take longer to find the right pair of medications and mental health professional. Thus appropriate treatment by an experienced professional can prevent panic attacks or at least substantially reduce their severity and frequency--bringing significant relief to 70 to 90 percent of people with panic disorder. [2] Relapses may occur, but they can often be effectively treated just like the initial episode.

In addition, people with panic disorder may need treatment for other emotional problems. Clinical depression has often been associated with panic disorder, as have alcoholism and drug addiction. About 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use drugs such as cocaine or marijuana to alleviate the anguish and distress caused by their condition. Research has also suggested that suicide attempts are more frequent in people with panic disorder, although this research remains controversial.

As with many disorders, having a support structure of family and friends who understand the condition can help increase the rate of recovery. During an attack, it is not uncommon for the sufferer to develop irrational, immediate fear, which can often be dispelled by a supporter who is familiar with the condition. For more serious or active treatment, there are support groups for anxiety sufferers which can help people understand and deal with the disorder.

Other forms of treatment include journalling, in which a patient records their day-to-day activities and emotions in a log to find and deal with their personal stresses. Breathing exercises, such as diaphragmatic breathing, can also be found helpful. In some cases, a therapist may use a procedure called interoceptive exposure, in which the symptoms of a panic attack are induced in order to promote coping skills and show the patient that no harm can come from a panic attack. Stress-relieving activities such as tai-chi, yoga, and physical exercise can also help ameliorate the causes of panic disorder. Many physicians will recommend stress-management, time-management, and emotion-balancing classes and seminars to help patients avoid anxiety in the future. Research has also shown that the herbal supplement 5-htp can be used to treat panic disorders by its ability to boost serotonin levels. This works by providing the body with the raw material to make serotonin, as opposed to SSRIs which work by recycling serotonin. It is an excellent choice if the sufferer would like to pursue a more natural approach first.