does anyone know about panic attacks?

Answer 1

[edit] Anxiety Attack(Physiological Condition)
Anxiety Attack is a normal physiological reaction to stress. It helps one deal with tense situations in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focus on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. However, when anxiety becomes excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder. Panic attacks are sudden surges of overwhelming fear that comes without warning and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than having anxiety or the feeling of being 'stressed out' that most people experience. One out of every 75 people worldwide will experience a panic attack at one time in their lives. [1]


[edit] Anxiety Symptoms
Panic disorders are separate and intense periods of fear or feelings of doom developing over a very short time frame—10 minutes—and associated with at least 4 of the following:

Palpitations
Sweating
Trembling
Shortness of breath
Sense of choking
Chest pain
Nausea
Dizziness
A feeling of being detached from the world (derealization)
Fear of dying
Numbness or tingling
Chills or hot flushes

Generalized anxiety disorder - Excessive and unrealistic worry over a period of at least 6 months associated with 3 of the following:

Restlessness
Easy fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Sleep disturbances
Phobic disorders - Intense, persistent, and recurrent fear of certain objects (such as snakes, spiders, blood) or situations (such as heights, speaking in front of a group, public places). These exposures may trigger a panic attack.

Stress disorders - Anxiety (also known as post-traumatic stress disorder) caused by the exposure to either death or near-death circumstances such as fires, floods, earthquakes, shootings, automobile accidents, or wars, for example. The traumatic event is re-experienced in thoughts and dreams. Common behaviors include the following:

Avoiding activities, places, or people associated with the triggering event
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sleeping
Being hyper-vigilant (you closely watch your surroundings)
Feeling a general sense of doom and gloom with diminished emotions such as loving feelings or aspirations for the future
Symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, dizziness, fainting, and weakness generally should not be attributed to anxiety and require evaluation by a doctor

Answer 2

Panic attacks are completely miserable and there is help for them. The symptoms are shortness of breath, pounding heart, dizziness, sweating, and chest pains. These attacks can be avoided or stopped with a two step process. Its best to practice while you are calm so that you can do them during the onset of an attack.

1) Remind yourself that you are not dying, but having a panic attack.

2) Breath deeply into your belly. Place you hand over your belly button, then breath so that you can feel your hand move. Breath slowly in to the count of 4 then hold your breath for the count of 4 then slowly release your breath to the count of 4. Do this until you feel you body relax. (only takes about 5 or 6 breaths often)

If you notice yourself waking up in the middle of the night with a Panic Attack, you might want to look at your caffeine intake during the day and especially in the afternoon hours. Often because we have no trouble going to sleep we think that we can drink coffee and cokes whenever we want, but you may find that you wake up in the middle of the night in a sweat instead! Alcohol before bed can also cause this effect.

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Hi! I’m so sorry to hear about your panic attacks. I've got some tips on how to get rid of them....

First and foremost you need to learn how to breathe properly. This will control your panic. At the moment, when you feel anxious, you begin to breathe more rapidly (or yawn or sigh). This extra intake of oxygen makes you feel even more anxious – and you start breathing even more rapidly. This cycle continues until you hyperventilate and have a panic attack.

The good news is you can stop this cycle! As soon as you notice the signs of anxiety, check your breathing: breathe in slowly through your nose pushing your tummy out (to the count of 5 or so). Breathe out slowly and for a bit longer (to the count of 7 or so) through your mouth. Do not breathe rapidly or shallowly (in the chest area). This will soon restore the balance of oxygen and you will feel a lot better. (Don't overdo the deep breathing though - Books and psychologists can explain it a lot better than me!) Once you start practising, it’ll become second nature.

Also I would really, really advise a course of Cognitive Behavioural therapy. CBT is proven to be the most effective thing for panic attacks. It takes a bit of work, but if you put the effort in it’s super effective.

You can speak to your doctor about doing a course, or you can take a course for free online at: http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/elear... (A ‘prettier’ version of this type of programme can be bought at www.thewellnessshop.co.uk). If you don’t like computers, the best book is Dr Robert Burns, The Feeling Good Handbook which teaches CBT (it’ll also tell you breathing techniques). It is brilliant and used by many psychologists.

All I can say is CBT changed my life. I had to put in a lot of work, but my panic attacks have been virtually eliminated. I also did relaxation exercise tapes 2 or 3 times every day for a year.

Remember that you always have the power to stop your panic attack!

Good luck! I hope you start feeling better really soon.

p.s. if you feel you need medication, or if your doctor suggests meds, I would suggest you try a betablocker (e.g. propanolol) - this is a safe, non-addictive pill. However, it won't change your thinking patterns long term, so I would always suggest CBT in addition to any meds.

Answer 4

Yes I have had them every since I can remember.

One of the first things you need to do is get off of cafine or any other stiulants you may be on. This is very importnat because cafine and other stimulants are very bad for anxiety. I know you may be addicted (like I was) but you will love yourself for quitting once you get through it.

I hate to preach but you should also either drink limited or no alcohol. 1-2 drinks here and there is fine but you should not be doing a lot of drinking.

You may need to see a doctor as there is some very good medications there is Xanex, Clonazapin, Valium, Nervontin and many others. Try and give your doctor as many detials as you can about your situation and he or she should be able to help you find the right medication (if you need it?). Xanex did not work for me but Clonazapin has been working for me like a charm. I take it twice a day and feel fine. I have had only 2 attacks in the last year which is not bad considering I used to have them almost every day.

Just getting off of cafine may be enough to help you. There is resaerch that sugests that cafine may even cause anxiety attacks. It certainly won't help you.

I hope this helps.

Answer 5

Panic attacks are very real and a very frightening thing for someone to go through. I used to suffer from them. A friend sent me a CD titled "Fear Not" and after listening to it and knowing what to do, my panic attacks ceased. I highly recommend this CD.

Answer 6

I get panic attacks before I write poetry or think philosophically. It's what makes me creative, but I just hope I don't get them in social situations.

Answer 7

yes, i used to get them and i would sweat a lot and be hard to breathe and not think with good logic..i would be afraid of people and enclosed places..but now i take xanax at night and a light anti depressant in the a.m. and it helps me get over this disorder..but i have to be under the care of a good doctor to have him prescribe them to me..but no alcohol as this is not allowed with these meds..i also sometimes can't sleep and take Lunesta or Ambien Cr. but maybe you don't need all these meds..a young person should not need too much meds..diet and exercise? and a good meditation program.

Answer 8

yes i have them they aren t very pleasant your heart is racing you think your having a heart attack. if you feel you suffer from these ask your health care professional for help and seek the answer as to why maybe there are things goin on in your life you need to address

Answer 9

Panic is a choice you make. You are free to re-choose anytime. Physiologically there is no difference between fear and excitement. Choose excitement.

Answer 10

Yea they suck...Do somethign to calm yourself down..shower etc...You think your having a heart attack but reassure yourself your not