| Panic attack is a period of intensive fear that is | | | | often increases the incidence of future panic |
| often abrupt and is often a sign of mental and | | | | attacks. People often submit to the hospital |
| emotional distress. | | | | emergency rooms when they are having a panic |
| In some individuals they appear without apparent | | | | attack, and extensive medical tests are |
| cause and most often the distressed individual | | | | performed to rule out other conditions, which |
| reports loosing control of oneself. Often they are | | | | creates further anxiety. |
| provoked or triggered by a sense of trying to | | | | Treatment for panic attacks includes medications |
| escape from someone or from the place where | | | | and psychotherapy. Normally the mental health |
| the attack started. Although in normal cases, the | | | | practitioners assisting you in the treatment of |
| individual when subjected to a stimulus often | | | | panic disorder are psychiatrists, psychologists and |
| resorts to a fight syndrome as a form of | | | | social workers. To submit for a medical treatment |
| protection, in panic attacks, the individual employs | | | | for panic disorder however, one should visit a |
| the flight syndrome. Often episodes of panic | | | | psychiatrist. Psychotherapy may be provided by a |
| attack come with chest pain and shortness of | | | | clinical or counseling psychologist. Medications can |
| breath with a tunnel vision even after seeking | | | | also be used to break any psychological |
| medical advice or attention. | | | | connection between a specific phobia and panic |
| Panic attack is different from other anxiety | | | | attacks. |
| disorders because of its sudden intensity and its | | | | Common medications prescribed are |
| occurrence in individuals. Often panic attacks are | | | | antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs in anticipation |
| psychological conditions but may not be a sign of | | | | or during a panic attack. |
| a mental disorder. At least in normal individuals, a | | | | Some psychologists believe that usual exposure |
| panic attack may occur in a year particularly in | | | | to the phobia trigger with medical assistance can |
| persons with anxiety and phobias. As a result of a | | | | often break the phobia-panic pattern, allowing |
| triggering factor, they are often short-lived and | | | | people to gradually adjust to the stressor without |
| will subside once the triggering factor is eliminated. | | | | the help of medications. However, minor phobias |
| In some individuals exposed to a panic attack, one | | | | that develop as a result of a panic attack can be |
| attack may trigger another leading to a nervous | | | | prevented without medication through behavioral |
| breakdown. | | | | therapy or simply by assisted exposure. |
| Scientific studies point out to the imbalance of | | | | Under a combination of therapy and medications, |
| serotonin and norepinephrine as the culprits in the | | | | the best results are often seen. For some, a fair |
| incidence of panic attacks where the neurological | | | | improvement may be noticed in a short period of |
| function is subjected to a chemical imbalance. | | | | less than 8 weeks. Finding the right pair of |
| Often genetics play a role in the disorder and has | | | | medications and mental health professional takes |
| been found to run in families. | | | | more effort. Appropriate treatment by an |
| Common symptoms include trembling, palpitations, | | | | experienced professional can often prevent panic |
| and shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, | | | | attacks or at least reduce its severity and |
| dizziness, hyperventilation and tingling sensations. | | | | frequency. |
| Others develop a sense of being choked or | | | | Other panic attacks caused by an underlying |
| smothered. In repeated and unprovoked panic | | | | emotional problem like depression, alcoholism and |
| attacks a sign or manifestation of a panic disorder | | | | drug addiction are more frequent in people with |
| may ensue. However panic attacks are also | | | | panic disorder. The underlying problem needs to |
| associated with other common anxiety disorders | | | | be treated before the total panic disorder is |
| like in persons with phobias whose exposure to | | | | completely or at least partially eliminated. |
| their feared object or scenario trigger an attack. | | | | Most less severe and less recurrent attacks |
| Panic attacks are potentially disabling, but it can be | | | | submitted to the emergency rooms are advised |
| controlled. The various symptoms of a panic | | | | to breath in paper bags to help boost the carbon |
| attack are often mistaken as a cardiac attack or | | | | dioxide levels in the body. |
| a life-threatening medical illness. This misconception | | | | |