The Different Psychological And Physiological Panic Attack Symptoms
Panic attack symptoms are usually a good sign of another more serious panic disorder. Based on the latest tally, panic attacks account for no less than 3 million Americans diagnosed or affected by it each year. At least 20 million Americans are expected to suffer from such attacks at any point of their lives.
The symptoms of panic attack are strikingly different from other anxiety disorders. Symptoms are often unexpected and very sudden, typically unprovoked and very disabling. The peaking of symptoms is often very quick, around 10 minutes after the initial attack, but these often subside a few minutes to several hours after. In between attacks, patients usually experience a great sense of anxiety or dread in anticipation of the proceeding attack.
How Panic Attacks Develop
Panic attack symptoms typically create a vicious cycle of attacks. A person who previously experienced no panic attack with suddenly experience irrational fears, otherwise known as phobia, in relation to a specific situation. Then starts the avoidance behavior that seems to keep the person from being in a similar situation that has first provoked the attack. Eventually, this pattern of fear and avoidance may reach a point at which the person will try to avoid even the idea of doing things that were related to the previous attack to prevent triggering any future attacks, resulting in an individual being unable to live a normal life. Try as the person might to keep panic attacks from occurring, avoidance behavior only fortifies the vicious cycle that the condition creates.
Psychological and Physiological Symptoms Of Panic Attack
Panic attacks are basically based on irrational fear. Often, the anxiety, and apprehension are also blow out of proportion. Most people with panic attacks know this but they can’t do anything about their irrational fears for these are usually very overwhelming, any irrational thoughts often cloud those that are rational. Alongside fear, other psychological symptoms of panic attacks include:
Derealization feelings of unreality, often described as the person feeling out of touch of reality Depersonalizartion or feeling of being detached from oneself Sudden fear of dying Fear of going insane Blank mind Confusion Feeling the need to escape or find escape Sense that the time passes by slowly
The psychological symptoms mentioned above are typically accompanied by a number of the following physical symptoms:
Pounding or racing heart that is described as accelerated heart rate Chest pain or discomfort Upset stomach which may be described as abdominal cramping, nausea and abdominal distress Sweating Shaking Weakness Shortness of breath or sensations of being choked or smothered Tightness in the throat Feeling unsteady, dizzy, faint or lightheaded Paresthesias or tingling sensations Hot flashes or chills Headache
For an attack to qualify as a full-blown panic disorder need not have a complete set of symptoms. Several symptoms that are occurring simultaneously are often enough for a person to be diagnosed with panic attack.
An episode or attack is usually preceded by the sense of being drained or worn out. It may take a few minutes to hours before the person starts feeling normal. Once the panic attack symptoms subside, the person may start feeling an intense fear for the next attack.
If the panic attack symptoms occur at least 3 times in a month, the condition becomes chronic anxiety disorder.
At this point, it is advisable that the person consult his physician to ensure that treatments be identified if the severity of the condition warrants it. Effective treatments that are known to effectively improve patients with panic attack symptoms include exposure therapy, CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy, lifestyle medications, and medications.
No matter how severe your panic attack symptoms may be, there are still options of treatments that are available to you. Seek the professional advice of your physician to know whether your symptoms warrant treatment.
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