Unlike anxiety, panic strikes are sudden unexpected. It can also be so severe as to leave you completely disabled. If panic attacks are frequent, then they give rise to the development of phobias regarding situations in which attacks occur. Naturally, you try to avoid these situations whenever possible. Like, if you are panicking over the interviews, or make presentations, or car, or perhaps riding in an elevator then you try to avoid these situations.
Over time, it forms a pattern of avoidance and anxiety that the mere thought of such things trigger an attack. At this stage, the attack of panic or fear becomes panic disorder. To treat panic attacks, you need to know all the causes, symptoms and treatment are responsible.
To learn more about panic attacks read below.
Causes, symptoms and treatment of panic attacks
Causes
The main cause is heredity. Numerous studies have shown that people who have a family history of panic disorder are more likely to develop, but the panic attacks may also develop in people with no family history of disease.
Vitamin B deficiency can also cause panic attacks. Other causes are biological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, high blood pressure or low, etc..
Panic attacks are often the direct result of phobias.
The loss of a loved one and simply a change in your life can also cause panic attacks.
Withholding of feelings, lack of assertiveness and confidence negative in itself can also cause panic attacks.
Side effects of certain medications can also lead to panic attacks. However, panic attacks because of drugs, in some cases, last only as long as the drug is taken.
The drug also causes panic attacks. Similarly, the panic attack is a symptom of alcohol abuse.
Some situations may also give rise to panic attacks. This may be due to a first experiencing panic attacks in such a situation, which creates a predisposition cognitive attacks.
Sometimes serious and chronic disease can also cause panic attacks.
Symptoms
Symptoms may be four or more of the following, with a period of intense fear.
Due to panic attacks, it results in a feeling of suffocation followed by a tremor and agitation. It also results in shortness of breath, as if choking himself.
There is an increase in heart rate with chest pain and sweating.
Nausea, vertigo, dizziness and also accompany panic attacks.
Sometimes the person is incapable of grasping the reality that she feels a complete detachment from self.
There is also fear of going crazy or dying. The person is beset by the need to escape.
The mind is confused or white.
Treatment
Substances such as alcohol, drugs and caffeine should be avoided because they tend to aggravate panic attacks.
Yoga and breathing exercises are very good at reducing stress and thereby help to reduce panic attacks. Aerobic exercises are also beneficial in this regard.
Try to relax by relieving muscle tension.
Sometimes, beta-blocker medication is also used to treat panic attacks. Other drugs such as benzodiazepines may be used for short-term relief. Antidepressants can also be used, but since there are side effects, they must be taken under supervision.
Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy is particularly effective because it identifies the source of the problem and then addresses the thoughts and behavior of the person who suffers from panic attacks to heal the disease.