Stop Panic Attacks and Get On With Your Life
It can strike out of nowhere. That horrible sensation of impending doom is quickly filling your body with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Your heart is racing and it’s hard to breathe. Your chest is hurting and you wonder if you’re having a heart attack. You’re dizzy and feel faint. You want to leave the place you’re at as quickly as possible and you don’t know why. The answer is simple: you’re having a panic attack. Before the next one strikes, it’s time to learn what panic attacks are and how you can stop panic attacks from occurring.
A panic attack is a sudden overwhelming episode of anxiety. It may be triggered by an event or situation which causes a person to be overly stressed. Often times an attack can come for no reason and may even occur while a person is asleep. Medical problems and even some types of medication may trigger panic attacks. Depression can also cause an attack, especially in people over the age of 40. It is important to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you may be experiencing, as panic attacks may mimic the symptoms of more serious ailments, such as a heart attack. Treatment should be sought to stop panic attacks before they rule your life or lead to other medical issues.
Just the fear of having another unexpected attack can cause a person to be afraid of going anywhere. When a person’s behavior is affected by the attacks to the point where they avoid going places altogether, it can lead to panic disorder. Very often the onset of panic attacks start between the ages of 15 – 25, or they may begin after experiencing a traumatic event such as the death of someone close, an acute illness or even the birth of a baby. People who suffer with phobias are at a higher risk for having panic attacks, since many panic attacks are brought about when a person is in a situation that makes them uncomfortable. Finding what triggers the attacks in an individual can help with the treatment to stop panic attacks.
In order to make a diagnosis of panic attacks a person should set up an appointment with a physician to go over the symptoms they are having. A doctor will do an examination to eliminate any underlying medical problems and may even make a referral to a mental health specialist. Depending on the severity of the panic attacks, medication and/or psychotherapy may be used to stop them. Antidepressants are often prescribed or beta blockers may be used. Sometimes cognitive behavior therapy alone can reduce the episodes. The course of treatment will depend on the individual.
Can You Stop Panic Attacks Before They Start?
People who experience panic attacks experience them at different levels of intensity. Some people simply hyperventilate, feel overwhelmed and scared. Other people feel intense pain and even believe they are dying. For the majority of people, a panic attack will only occur once in their lives or on very rare occasions and will only last about 3 minutes. However, for those people who experience regular panic attacks, they most likely have panic disorder. When you have panic disorder you might find yourself wondering regularly if there is a way to stop panic attacks. The need for relief almost becomes a race-against-the-clock type of situation.
While there are ways to stop panic attacks, it’s not as easy as making the decision that you aren’t going to have one. To be sure, this is a battle. Often the panic attack is a response to a trigger, such as the fear of small spaces or crowded restaurants, etc. Unfortunately, for most people, there is no known cause for panic attacks. The continuous onset of panic attacks can cause individuals to lead more secluded lives which may even lead to other disorders, such as agoraphobia. Because this can really affect quality of life, it is even more important to stop panic attacks before they cause even further changes in behavior.
For some, to stop panic attacks will require that they seek professional help. A licensed therapist can teach skills to help manage the attacks and get them under control. Methods taught by a therapist, which typically include relaxation techniques and redirection, work to stop an existing panic attack rather than stopping them from occurring at all.
If you are looking for a way to stop a panic attack from starting at all, you’re going to have to discover the cause of the attacks, determine whether they are psychological, medical, or unknown and then go from there. Many people find relief from prescription medications, which means visiting a physician or a psychiatrist. In most cases, medication is only recommended for extreme cases when all other methods are attempted and do not end with the desired results.
While no one really knows why the brain sends the body the signals that cause a panic attack, there is no doubt that panic attacks exist. If you can find the trigger for the attacks, then it may be possible to stop panic attacks before they start. If you can’t find the cause, it is certainly possible to learn the skills to manage them so that you can live a normal life.
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