Panic Attacks - Anxiety Attacks
A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense fear. Panic attacks are also called anxiety attacks. Sometimes there’s an obvious trigger for a panic attack, but usually they occur without warning.
People often don't know what they're experiencing when they have a panic attack, which makes it even more frightening. Therefore, on this page I will describe the symptoms and most common cause of panic attacks.
The Symptoms of Panic Attacks
A panic attack can include some or all of the following symptoms:
- Overwhelming fear
- Sense of impending doom
- Tightness in your chest, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath
- Difficulty swallowing, tightness in your throat
- Racing heart, heart palpitations, or skipped beats
- Tremors or shakes
- Muscle tension or muscle twitches
- Sweating
- Feeling like you’re going to pass out
- Feeling detached or unreal
- A fear of dying
- Feeling like you're losing control or going crazy
The Cause of Panic Attacks
A panic attack is like a volcano that has built up tension over time and then suddenly releases it. Once triggered, your body releases a surge of adrenaline that produces the symptoms of panic. The triggering event can be almost anything. The important point to understand about panic attacks is not what triggers them, but their long buildup phase.
The buildup phase of a panic attack is the most important phase, because that is where you can prevent them. The buildup phase occurs when you are under stress for a long time with no escape. You become like a wound up spring. Almost anything can set you off.
If you've had a panic attack, think back to the months before your first attack. They usually take six months to a year to gradually build up. Were you under high stress during that time? Did you do anything to relieve your tension?
Once you've had one panic attack, you're more likely to have another. Panic attacks are so uncomfortable that the fear of having another one can become another source of stress. Therefore they become self-fulfilling. (Reference: www.AnxietyDepressionHealth.org.)
How to Prevent Panic Attacks
Prevention of panic attacks occurs at the build up phase. Prevention involves changing your thinking and reducing your tension so that you have fewer layers of tension. That way you won't be like a volcano ready to erupt.
Prevention is not about stopping a panic attack just before it happens. The best you can do then is manage it. You can use relaxation techniques to minimize the effect of a panic attack. But if you want to prevent panic attacks from happening, you can use cognitive therapy and mind-body relaxation in the build up phase.
The consequence of panic attacks is that you feel trapped. It's difficult to make plans, because you don't know when you'll have another panic attack. You live in fear. Preventing panic attacks gives you your life back.
Learn More
In the book "I Want to Change My Life" you'll learn:
- Cognitive therapy techniques to prevent panic attacks
- Mind-body relaxation techniques to break panic attacks
Last Modified: January 27, 2010
In AnxietyDepressionHealth.org you will learn the following information. Learn about anxiety, panic, and panic attacks. There is information on anxiety disorders, in addition to panic disorder, also included are the symptoms of panic attacks. Learn about anxiety medications and drugs, including treatment for anxiety, and anti-anxiety medication. There is information on anxiety therapy. Learn about panic and anxiety symptoms, treatment, and information on anxiety and depression. There is information on anxiety help, an anxiety test, and the causes of panic and anxiety. Learn about anti-anxiety drugs and medications, including treatment for anxiety and information on overcoming anxiety. You'll learn about panic treatment, generalized anxiety. There is information on the connection of anxiety stress. Lear about overcoming panic and panic disorders. For a more information refer to the book, I Want to Change My Life by Dr. Steven M. Melemis.