Are You Suffering From Panic Attacks?
Standing in line at the grocery store you start to feel your
heart race. Within moments your hands are sweating, your breathing
becomes short and rapid, you feel hot, dizzy and overwhelmed
with a sense of fear.
What is this sensation? Where is it coming form? If you have
experienced similar sensations in the past and especially
if you have begun changing your life and routine in the fear
of experiencing it again, you may be suffering from Panic
Attacks.
WHAT ARE PANIC ATTACKS?
Panic is a physical reaction that is a response to stress.
Often called the 'fight or flight' response, panic is a normal
response to danger and is actually your body's cue to get
out of harm's way. However, when panic sets in when there
is no source of danger it can be linked to two causes - stress
or possibly, a panic disorder.
The following symptoms are common during a panic attack:
- rapid heartbeat
- shortness of breath or inability to breath
- dizziness or nausea
- sweating, shaking or trembling
- a sense of fear or dread
- tingling sensation in the fingers or toes
- chest pain
- hot flashes or chills
- thinking you are going to die or go craz
WHAT CAUSES PANIC ATTACKS?
Stress in our lives is not usually caused by a physical danger;
in fact most stress is caused by completely normal daily activities
and is not harmful to us. Too much stress, however, is dangerous
to our body and in some cases it can cause panic attacks,
particularly if we have experienced an additional trauma or
burden such as the loss of a loved one or big change such
as a new job or move. While normal stress can cause anxiety,
when panic attacks become regular a panic disorder may be
the cause.
Panic disorder may or may not be directly related to over
stress. Some researchers are linking the panic attacks caused
by panic disorder to a physical cause. If this is the case
you need to seek professional help in dealing with the symptoms.
Sadly most individuals suffering from panic disorder do not
get properly diagnosed. Many begin to suffer the physical
and psychological effects of changing their lives, their jobs
and their recreational activities to accommodate their panic
attacks before finding a physician that can properly diagnose
their condition. The symptoms of panic attacks may also lead
a person to believe they have a dangerous physical condition
and seek treatment for various unrelated diseases and conditions.
CAN PANIC DISORDER BE TREATED?
If you think you have been experiencing panic attacks you
will need to be diagnosed by your physician or referred to
a psychiatrist. While the physical symptoms may not be connected
to a mental condition, often the fear of having panic attacks
in public leads to phobias that may need to be treated as
well.
A combination of medication and therapy may be used to combat
the panic attacks and help a person to overcome related phobias.
The good news is that panic disorder responds very well to
treatment and those who receive treatment can lead healthy,
normal lives.
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Author: Eric Choong
Please visit my website at: http://www.health-beauty-care.com
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