I just found that my wife was suffering through panic attack and neither she nor I was even aware that the symptoms which were present actually related with panic attacks.
So, What is Panic Attack?
In my search of panic attack causes & treatment. I found following very informative articles from very reputed websites. I feel. these links will be very helpful for you as well, if you or someone very close to you is actually suffering through this disease.
Panic Attack: Wikipedia
HelpGuide.org: Panic Disorder Information
Anxiety Panic Guide: webmd.com
As per wikipedia “Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onsetand of variable duration from minutes to hours.Panic attacks usually begin abruptly, may reach a peak within 10 to 20 minutes, but may continue for hours in some cases.”
In my wife’s case, Panic attacks is actually lasting for even days. I am still in search for the exact medication for her and I will continue to share the details about her treatment. Though, It is a challenge to know about the root cause of these panic attacks.
Some common causes of Panic Attacks:
- Long-term, predisposing causes — heredity
- Biological causes — obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, Wilson’s disease, mitral valve prolapse, pheochromocytoma, and inner ear disturbances (labyrinthitis)
- Phobias — People will often experience panic attacks as a direct result of exposure to a phobic object or situation
- Short-term triggering causes — Significant personal loss, including an emotional attachment to a romantic partner, life transitions, significant life change
- Maintaining causes — Avoidance of panic-provoking situations or environments, anxious/negative self-talk (“what-if” thinking), mistaken beliefs (“these symptoms are harmful and/or dangerous”), withheld feelings, lack of assertiveness
- Lack of assertiveness
- Medications — Sometimes, panic attacks may be a listed side effect of medications such as methylphenidate
- Alcohol, medication or drug withdrawal
- Hyperventilation syndrome — Breathing from the chest may cause overbreathing, exhaling excessive carbon dioxide in relation to the amount of oxygen in one’s bloodstream
- Situationally bound panic attacks — Associating certain situations with panic attacks, due to experiencing one in that particular situation, can create a cognitive or behavioral predisposition to having panic attacks in certain situations (situationally bound panic attacks
- Pharmacological triggers — Certain chemical substances, mainly stimulants but also certain depressants, can either contribute pharmacologically to a constellation of provocations, and thus trigger a panic attack or even a panic disorder, or directly induce one.
- Chronic and/or serious illness
Treatment of Panic Attack:
Panic disorder can be effectively treated with a variety of interventions including psychological therapies and medication with the evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy has the longest duration of effect, followed by specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Breathing exercises:
David D. Burns recommends breathing exercises for those suffering from anxiety. One such breathing exercise is a 5-2-5 count. Using the stomach (or diaphragm) – and not the chest – you inhale (feel your stomach come out, as opposed to your chest expanding) for 5 seconds. As you reach the maximal point at inhalation, hold your breath for 2 seconds. Then slowly exhale, over 5 seconds. Repeat this cycle twice, and then breathe ‘normally’ for 5 cycles (1 cycle = 1 inhale + 1 exhale). The point is to focus on the breathing, and relax the heart-rate. Regular diaphragmatic breathing may also be achieved by extending the outbreath either by counting or even humming.
Psychotherapies:
Most specialists agree that a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies are the best treatment for panic disorder. Medication might also be appropriate in some cases”
So, In summary. What I understood till now that it is very normal to suffering through Panic attack and It has become very normal in today’s environment. The important aspect of Panic Attack is actually to become aware of the root cause of it and take the necessary actions to eliminate the panic attacks from your or someone you know and suffering through this very common disease.
In my search, I found one very interesting video of someone who gone through panic attacks on Live Television of a reputed news network.
The words “The Voice in Your Head” stuck in my mind, which has been shared by Dan Harris. I am convinced about these words as one of the major reason for anxiety and Panic Attack.
He has shared the book in the video which he has written “10% Happier”.
Click Below to get the inside look of the pages of his book.
