How will I feel?
The first time you experience having a panic attack it will probably be very frightening, as they tend to occur of the blue, and can feel very similar to having a heart attack. The main things you will feel initially is your heart starting to race, and you may have problems breathing because your chest will feel tight.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Medically it is not really known what causes them, however it could be genetic, or there could be a family history of stress and anxiety which contributes to your suffering. Other things can also be a contributing factor, eg major life changes like having a baby, witnessing or being being involved in a bad accident, death of a partner or child etc.
What Other Symptoms Will I Get?
There are many different symptoms and you might experience some or all of them at different times. Below is a list of some of the physical symptoms you may experience when having a panic attack:
- Racing and/or palpitating heart
- Feeling light headed/dizzy
- Your chest feels like it has iron bands around it
- Hot or cold flushes/sweating
- Tingling or pins and needles in your fingers
- Nausea
- Trembling
There are also a number of other warning signals, such as feeling constantly stressed, being unable to concentrate, anxious thoughts about things which could happen, and only seeing the negative side of things.
What is Happening to Me?
When your mind thinks you are in a dangerous situation, your body releases a hormone called adrenalin into the blood. This is the hormone which is known as the flight or fight hormone, and allows people to do such things as lifting cars off someone who is in an accident, makes you run faster in a race and basically make our bodies work, think and react faster than normal. In these particular situations the adrenalin is used up with no after effects.
However, during a panic attack it is only your mind perceiving there is danger, meaning there is no way for this adrenalin to be used, so it stays in your body and causes the symptoms
Is There Anything I Can Do to Stop a Panic Attack?
There are a few simple things to can do to help yourself take some time each day doing something you enjoy, try and avoid negative people who tend to depress you, get a good nights sleep, learn some deep breathing tactics, and get some sort of exercise each day, even if it is just walking. In fact, when you learn to recognize that an attack may be starting, if you can do some fairly vigorous exercise at that point, this can help use up the adrenalin which is flooding your body.
Do I Need to See a Psychiatrist?
Not necessarily, but you do need to talk to your doctor about your attacks, then depending on how often you are having them and what symptoms you are experiencing, he or she may ask you to go to a psychiatrist.
Will I have to be on medication for the rest of my life?
Again, not necessarily. There are different ways of curing panic attacks and it depends on what you and your doctor decide to do.
What Are the Alternative Methods of Treating Panic Attacks?
Medication it is possible that you will have to take medication, especially when you are first diagnosed with
having panic attacks. My main problem with this is that there are usually side effects, and the fact that it doesnt actually cure you: stop the medication and all the symptoms come back again.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy some very good results are being experienced with CBT. However, it can take several months of seeing a therapist, and this can get expensive.
Natural Methods. There are some very
good programs available on the internet which are also getting some excellent results, and as long as you are diligent in practicing the various strategies which are taught through these programs, it is possible to cure yourself from having a panic attack.
