What are panic attacks and what causes them?

Question

Is there any way to prevent them? Where to go for help?

Answer 1

A panic attack is usually feelings of acute anxiety, catastrophizing (making things worse than they are), helpless terror, thoughts of/feeling like they're dying, fear, difficulty breathing, heightened physiological arousal (like for "fight or flight"), shortness of breath/dizziness, and a fear of losing control.

It can be treated with medication and therapy. Many people who experience panic attacks develop agoraphobia (fear of public spaces/crowds) because they're afraid of losing control and what people will think of them afterward, so they avoid places with people.

There's the possibility of it being partly learned - the one having panic attacks starts to associate the heightened physiological arousal with danger/fear, and so gets more upset when they feel themselves starting to stress. By becoming aware of these situations, and consciously thinking and learning that stress doesn't always mean danger, they can control or learn to prevent the attacks.

So if you're worried you might develop panic disorder for some reason, you could try consciously reminding yourself that the situation's not dangerous, nothing to get upset about, that type of thing (as long as it isn't a dangerous situation, that is).

See a therapist. Hopefully a general practicioner will redirect you to someone who can help and prescribe anti-anxiety drugs.


You can also experience similar symptoms from extreme caffeine overdoses (like drinking coffee for 3 days straight, pulling all-nighters, for finals; not just a couple of cups a day).

Answer 2

I had these up to a while ago, not sure what caused them but I had some helath worries so its safe to think that any time of increased stress can bring them on. Thier basically short periods of intense anxious feelings, many feel like they are dying or trapped, some even mistake symptoms for more serious conditions such as heart attacks for example.

People who experience them can fall into the trap known as Panic Disorder, this is where you become anxious baout having attacks and what people might think. This in itself can make you more anxious and fuel them so to speak.

To overcome them you can either use medication such as antidepressants, i've been put on an SSRI called fluoxetine - takes the edges off things while I sort my life out. I also undertook Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, you can see someone for this or you can read books - it really helps.

An anxiety attack relates to control issues, if you feel anxious let go, dont try and supress your feelings and dont escape, thiso nly enforces your fear. The attacks can not hurt you and they will subside usually after only a few minutes.

You will find once you are not scared of them they will just stop, or become gradually less frequent and severe. I've been through this until very recently so if your suffering feel free to ask me if you have more questions, I wish I'd had help when I was going through it so i'd like to think I can help someone else.

T.

Answer 3

A panic attack is a period of time with a sometimes debilitating fear that takes you over. Some times it just happens and sometimes there is a trigger.

Some people feel paranoia, chest pain, vertigo and hyperventilation. Most of this is because of adrenaline that enters the body is in the "Fight or Flight" reaction.

I have had them before(starting when i was 13, I am now 18.), and they are horrible. But to get help you can get a consular and a therapist

Answer 4

I have panic attacks, have since I was a young girl and they're no fun but controlable! I'm now 25 and was put on anti anxiety pills once 7 yrs ago and went off of them. If you have panic attacks you will know! You feel like you can't breathe, you feel like people are out to get you, you don't want to be around people, and you're nervouse! I talked to my doctor and decided to cope without medication but u need to talk to your doctor and decide what's right for you!

Answer 5

Go to your dr for help!
Panic attacks are caused by lots of different things including stress, fear and blood sugar levels.
The best way to figure out where yours are coming from would be to find the relationship between when, where and how you feel before they happen.

Answer 6

Panic attack is the psycho-physical symptoms of sever anxiety.
It is prevelant mostly in women. and have prevelant in anxiety disorder patients.
It can be triggered by some stress or sometime start spontaneously.
In panic attack person has severe anxiety, palpitations, sometime chest pain, sweating, trimmers in hand, feeling like he/she is going to die.
it lasts for around 15 mins and then resoves on its own.
it is serious disorders and must be treated with the help of psychiatrist.
go to this website and check out what can be done for panic disorder-
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tc/Panic-Attacks-and-Panic-Disorder-Topic-Overview

Answer 7

panic attacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia, constipation, craving sweets and carbs, memory loss, fibroids, IBS, bloating, gas, fatigue, headaches, PMS, painful periods, acne are some of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Go to this website and do a simple test to see if you have hormonal imbalance. They will also explain why hormonal imbalances causes anxiety/panic attacks and depression and also why u don't need antidepressants. Many people take antdepressants and they don't need them, they simply need to balance their hormones.

www.womentowomen.com
http://www.womentowomen.com/symptoms.asp?SID={02f2b1
bf-67c0-46b2-b7d6-0a237f598240}

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Answer 8

http://www.apa.org/topics/anxietyqanda.html
this is a good source of information about panic disorder.