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Panic Disorders Versus Panic Attacks

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Why the Symptoms of a Panic Attack Vary From Those of a Panic Disorder
By Patricia Adams

While it is perfectly natural to experience some level of fear about an upcoming event, like a big test or presentation, the symptoms should not be confused with the symptoms of fear and anxiety in a specific situation. Unlike anxiety, it is a specific episode where you experience an intense level of panic and terror with some of the most common symptoms being the following:

  • A pounding or fast heartbeat
  • Feeling hot, sweating for no reason, or experiencing body chills in a warm room
  • Feeling faint, dizzy or weak
  • Experiencing a numbing or tingling of hands
  • Experiencing chest pain or feeling like you are being smothered. This symptom is why panic attacks are commonly lead people to believe they may be having a heart attack
  • Experiencing a sense of unreality
  • Experiencing a fear of imminent disaster or loss of control
  • Having a fear of dying

Unlike anxiety, can occur suddenly and without warning. If you have experienced the symptoms of a panic attack then you probably know that these attacks can happen at any time and usually do not need a cause. While most attacks may only last for a few minutes, some can last for up to 10 minutes and in extreme cases they can last as long as an hour which while uncommon.

The symptoms of a panic attack can be present in people of any age, including children, adults, the elderly, and most commonly being present in young adults. It is also believed that these attacks will affect up to 12% Australians at some point in their lives, and that the symptoms of a panic attack are twice as likely to be seen in women as in men. While it may be easy to assume that the symptoms you are experiencing are those of a panic attack, you need to keep in mind that the symptoms, while similar, can actually be those of an illness. An attack can be caused by the physiological effects of a drug addiction or by a non-psychological medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism. It is in these cases that the symptoms of a panic attack would not be classified in the same way.

If treatment for panic attacks is not received, these attacks can morph into what is commonly known as a panic disorder. Unlike panic attacks, a panic disorder commonly includes a strong sense of anxiety between attacks since the sufferer fears when their next attack may occur. Sufferers may also develop a form of phobia or even generalized agoraphobia if the root cause not addressed. Many develop phobias or fears of being placed back in the situation or location where the first attack occurred, and is commonly why those who suffer from some form of panic disorder will choose to avoid certain locations or events. If some form of treatment for panic disorder is not received, the sufferer could potentially never leave their home, for fear that another attack may be around the corner.

Since many may be embarrassed about their disorder, most may choose to utilize some form of panic attacks self help instead of enlisting the help of a trained professional. While this may help to reduce the occurrence of symptoms and the severity of the attacks, it will not help prevent the onset of more serious illnesses like panic disorder or agoraphobia. Panic attacks self help commonly include relaxation techniques, behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, assertiveness training, and relapse prevention. Self help methods never target the underlying causes for an attack which is why it is so important to seek professional treatment for panic attacks.

Panic attacks do not discriminate and symptoms can be found in those who many not think they are prone to anxiety. If you find that you experiencing anxiety symptoms much more than normal, don’t be afraid to seek help so you can find ways to prevent these attacks from having a negative impact on your way of life.

Patricia Adams of PanicAnxietyCure-Reviews.com, had suffered from panic attacks for over twenty years, but fortunately found help from it’s debilitating effects and cured herself permanently. She now dedicates her time in helping other panic and anxiety sufferers get the info that they need to gain ultimate freedom. Patricia now constantly reviews new products and natural cures in the market to make sure you get the best value products that work for you. Check out actual user reviews of the best panic and anxiety natural cures at PanicAnxietyCure-Reviews.com.

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Andrew Larder
Author loves the psychological component of combatting irrational panic attacks and fears that feel very real.

Panic Attacks While Driving

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How to Quickly Get Over Panic Attacks While Driving
By Rodney Allen Cole

What is a panic attack?

Have you ever – just out of the blue – felt almost completely overcome by terror, both physically and mentally? If so, you may have been experienced a panic attack. It has been described as a feeling of doom or unreality, fear that one may be experiencing a heart attack, mental breakdown, or about to die.

Other symptoms can include: heart begins racing uncontrollably, hands or feet tingle, body begins sweating, feeling of dizziness, nausea, chest pain, inability to breathe, and faintness.

A panic attack can be a single, isolated event or part of an ongoing disorder of repeated panic attacks. The events usually peak in about 10 minutes, though it may take much longer before symptoms fully subside.

What is the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder?

An isolated event is a panic attack but when these events begin to repeat themselves, it has become a panic disorder. 6 million of Americans are believed to suffer from panic disorder, women twice as often as men and it occurs primarily in adults and young adults. Left untreated, panic disorder can easily grow into a disabling illness, affecting every aspect of a person’s life.

Perhaps one of the most debilitating characteristics of a panic attack is the fear that develops of suffering a recurrence. As a result, the person may prefer to avoid places where panic attacks have occurred in the past. This could explain why many panic attack sufferers report a fear of driving. Having had at least one panic attack while driving, they are so afraid of a recurrence that they are unable to get behind the wheel.

Driving often elicits a feeling of vulnerability or of being trapped: we are dependent on not only ourselves for our safety, but other drivers, road conditions, the car itself, and other things which are out of our control. The awareness of these issues while driving leads to panic attack in some people. Having been in an accident, having to drive on relatively unsafe highways or streets, and having a loved one in an accident, can all contribute to a buildup of anxiety before ever leaving the relative safety of home.

What can I do if I start to feel a panic attack while driving?

Fortunately, most panic attacks have auras or signs and symptoms well before the full blown symptoms of the attack occur. These signals can be different for different people but usually consist of unusual perception of oneself in the environment, a vague feeling of impending doom, inability to concentrate on surroundings, things looking somewhat unfamiliar, and many others. You must find out what your body’s warning signals or auras are and then act on them right away.

If anything seems to unsettle you while driving, immediately pull off the road at the nearest safe location! This cannot be stressed enough. If you need to be somewhere, pull off and call those expecting you, so you can focus on preventing a panic attack.

Once off the road in a safe place (never pull off the highway onto the shoulder), you can begin to calm your body and mind.

Steps to take when off the road:

  1. Take deep breaths from the belly and let them out slowly. Note: if this makes the panic worse, you may have hyperventilation panic disorder. In this case breathing normally into a paper bag can help regulate co2 that is triggering bodily sensations that in turn trigger panic. It can be very effective for these types of panic attacks. If you find that it helps you, keep a paper sack in the car, or keep one handy at all times.

  2. Close your eyes and focus on releasing stress as you breathe. Focus your mind on trying to purposely slow your heart rate. Intensely focus on lowering heart rate and nothing else. You can close your eyes while you slowly breathe in and out.

  3. Tell yourself that it’s just anxiety and not something happening to your body that is dangerous to you. Some of the symptoms of panic attack feel like a heart attack and this leads people to tell themselves they are in danger. The mind naturally goes further into fight or flight erroneously. The slow deep breathing gives your body the opposite message: that the lion is not chasing you anymore and you can breathe slowly as if relaxed. This tricks the mind and body to think there is no threat (which there is not but trying to talk oneself out of that is futile without the breathing and other measures).

  4. Use acupressure points to stop an anxiety attack. One area that continually works to tell the nervous system to calm down is located at the back of the neck just under the occipital lobe of the skull. There is a device that can be used to put pressure on these still points so that the weight of the head is resting on two fingers at these points. This allows the person to lie down while applying pressure here as long as needed. It really works wonders and is applied by massage therapists in relaxation massages on a regular basis. These points are on either side of the spinal cord where they exit the foramen magnum (the hole in the skull where the spinal cord comes through.) You can lie down in your car with your head on one of the acupressure point devices for as long as you need.

    Here is a description of these acupressure points:

    • Heavenly Pillar (B10) Use one finger from each hand to press each side of the neck about one inch below the base of your skull. These are your trapezius muscles which run down both sides of the neck. Press firmly for as long as is comfortable for your arms.
    • You can also go right under the skull for the same benefit — whatever points work for you.
  5. Have a CD in your car that uses techniques to stop/prevent panic attacks, ready to play the moment you pull off the road. There are some excellent CDs that walk you through the process of breathing and visual imagery to prevent a panic attack from becoming full-blown. Having these in your auto may make you feel more secure, as they take the thinking out of the process and allow you to follow a guide. You may get relief just from knowing you are being walked through the relaxation instead of having to go it alone.

  6. Medication and new medicines on the horizon. Whatever you’re feeling about medication, if you feel you are too overwhelmed by panic, just having some with you can relieve your fears and help you cope using other methods. If, however, your panic attack does not abate and actually worsens, taking some doctor-prescribed medication just for this purpose may help you feel in control and stop the panic attack. There are new medications on the horizon for anxiety and panic that do not have the dependency issues associated with benzodiazepines, currently the most commonly prescribed medications for panic attacks. Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, work to stop or lessen panic attacks, but they have side effects and problems with long-term use. That there will shortly be panic attack medication with very few side-effects is another reason to hang in there and keep working on finding solutions that work for you.

  7. If you are in any degree of panic/anxiety, do not attempt to drive home. Call a supportive person to come get you if you cannot drive back. It is not worth the risk driving home again if you feel any anxiety whatsoever. It is not weakness if you need to call someone to come get you. It’s the smart thing to do. You can get your car later.

Whatever you do, know that you are not alone, that your fear is real, and that many people understand how debilitating panic attacks can be. If you need support and ideas, don’t hesitate to speak with a cognitive behavioral therapist who has had success in treating panic attacks/panic disorder. There are also support groups for this disorder that encourage one to keep confronting the fear and minimizing its effects on your life.

Rodney Allen Cole is a writer/contributor for Healthy Web Sites. For more information on handling panic attacks, we suggest you read the health benefits of belly breathing

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Andrew Larder
Author loves the psychological component of combatting irrational panic attacks and fears that feel very real.

Panic Treatment

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A Full Course of Panic Treatment Can Cure the Severest Panic Attack
By Beth I Kaminski

Panic attacks are the most incapacitating experience a man can ever have! A person suffering from panic attack may suddenly develop an accelerated heartbeat along with shortness of breath, sweating, shaking, chest pain, nausea, hot or cold flashes, dizziness in the head, tingling in the hand. Add to the symptoms a need to run away, a fear of dying or a fear of losing sanity! However, somebody suffering from panic-attack will not have all, but at least four of the symptoms. Yet, the picture is not pretty, is it?

That most people mistake a panic attack for a heart attack is not surprising at all, because the symptoms of panic attack more often than not mimic those of a heart attack. More over panic attack comes out of blue just like a heart attack and needs no stressor at all. It builds up within ten minutes and then subsides slowly within another twenty or thirty minutes leaving the patient absolutely normal, but shaky.

If you have two consecutive such attacks within a short span and are in constant fear of another attack in near future, you may be having a panic attack. A full-blown case of panic-attack will have at least four of the above symptoms and a fear of another attack always larking inside. For a correct diagnosis, visit a general physician first. Undergo thorough medical check up to make sure that you do not really have any physical ailment that causes the above symptoms.

Once that is done; go to see a psychoanalyst to have any other psychological problem ruled out. Visit a psychiatrist next. Remember, a psychoanalyst is not a doctor, but a psychiatrist is and can prescribe medicines. Others can only apply therapy, but cannot write any prescription. It is naturally better to start the panic treatment under an authorized medical practitioner who can give therapy and prescribe medicines at the same time.That done, it is time for you to call on a psychoanalyst, who will rule out every other mental illness. The panic treatment can start only after all the physical and psychological illnesses are ruled out. Start your treatment under a psychiatric who is either a MD or a DO. Remember, only a psychiatric is allowed by law to prescribe medicines.

Panic attacks are not fatal in the sense that they do not kill people physically. However, they can bring about a great deal of psychological damage if it is not treated early enough. Untreated panic disorder can give rise to social phobia as well as agoraphobia, which is the fear of having panic-attacks in certain places. Add to it alcohol and drug dependency and you can see how panic attack can be psychologically fatal. The patients lose self-esteem and become suicide prone.

Losing faith in self is the worst thing that can happen to a panic-attack patient because such a patient must be determined to be free from the attacks. Besides, he must try to understand:

1. What panic attack is, why the attack takes place and how it should be treated.

2. Panic-attack like heart attack is just a medical condition. It is neither a weakness nor a character flaw.

3. There is nothing to be humiliated about and that he should immediately see a doctor and start treatment.

4. Whether the panic attack is actually hampering his daily life. If it is, panic attack medications will be required in the initial stages at least. If it is not, he can cure his panic disorder through psychotherapy and self-help tricks.

5. Caffeine, alcohol and illicit drugs worsen the situation.

6. He must regularly practice aerobic exercises and stress management techniques like deep breathing and yoga to keep the bouts and frequency of the panic attacks under control.

Doctors generally use psychotherapy and medications to control panic-attacks. The two most popular psychotherapies that are used to combat panic attack are cognitive-behavioral-therapy or CBT and panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy. The cognitive part of the CBT teaches you to identify the thoughts that give rise to panic-attacks in time, so that you can take corrective steps and the behavioral part teaches you the steps that you should take control it. It also eradicates panic-attacks by gradually exposing you to the situation that first triggered that panic attack. Panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy helps to identify the malfunctioning defense mechanism, which gave the false warning and caused the panic attack in the first place. If you can do that, you can get rid of panic-attacks for good.

Panic-attack medications include specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and benzodiazepines. Before the SSRIs became available, tricyclic antidepressants were used to treat panic attack. Though both the groups are equally effective, the SSRIs are found to be safer and therefore more widely used. These medicines work slowly and have to be taken for a longer time. Benzodiazepines are short-term medications that are more used on as-necessary basis. Long-term use of benzodiazepines may cause drug dependency. However, let your psychiatric decide.

Beth Kaminski is a leading expert in how to treat anxiety attacks and has been publishing lots of information on the anxiety attack medications for years now.

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Andrew Larder
Author loves the psychological component of combatting irrational panic attacks and fears that feel very real.