Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder
When you have a panic attack, you might think that you are about to die at any moment. The symptoms of panic disorder can vary and can depend on the situation, lifestyle, and health of the person who has them. You know that you are having a panic attack if you experience at least four of the following symptoms together: sweating, trembling or shaking, nausea or abdominal stress, chills or hot flushes, feeling of immense terror, feeling of choking, shortness of breath, chest pains, rapid heartbeat, shakiness, nervousness, and the list goes on.
Chances are that you have experienced the symptoms of panic disorder at least one time or another in your life. You will know it because it will be like something that you have never before felt. Panic attacks are very bold and noticeable, but mainly just to the person who is experiencing them. You might fear that others notice that you are having an attack, but in most cases, it really is all in your head.
What it comes down to is that panic attacks have a negative effect on your life. Your family members may feel as though you’re distant have something to hide, or just worry about everything. Unfortunately they are not as informed as they should be and often times it results in other issues towards you down the road. Did you know that caffeine is one of the main contributors to panic attacks? Just cutting out half of your normal intake can help control future situations.
Another one of the common symptoms of panic disorder are those that occur while driving. If you suffer from fear of closed spaces, this can really become a problem. You might be fine one minute, and then the next you are literally freaking out. All of a sudden the car seems to be getting smaller and smaller. The only thing that you can think about is escaping the situation that you have entered into.
This is probably one of the worst kinds of panic attacks out there. Why? Well, even though a normal panic attack is considered harmless, you might experience road rage or put everyone else around you in danger. This could end up in an accident, which will bring on a host of other problems down the road. Just remember that this is an illusion and you’ve driven home from work a million times without any issues. The best thing to do though is find a place to park and calm down.
Unfortunately, women are susceptible to having panic attacks thanks to menopause. While most of it comes from the hormonal changes in the body, a woman can feel as though she’s losing something precious. Maybe you can’t have children anymore, or you went through something like breast cancer and had to remove a part of who you are in the world. Whatever the case may be it can leave you feeling vulnerable, confused, and hopeless.
Another one of the symptoms of panic disorder that is very common are those that occur during pregnancy, especially in first time mothers. Worry over the delivery of the baby is a big fear factor in most pregnancies. Women want to know if their babies are going to be okay. They are afraid of things like still birth, dying, and complications from an epidural. Some women experience high-risk pregnancies and have loads of health complications along the way. All of these things create very unnecessary anxiety and stress that inevitably lead to panic attacks.
The only thing to do is to let your thoughts occur naturally, practice deep breathing, and just relax. It is much easier to think and say, and if you feel that you might have some difficulty achieving these things, then there is nothing wrong with seeking professional therapy. There are tons of treatment options for those that suffer from anxiety. There comes a point when the symptoms of panic disorder start to take over a person’s life. One cannot live a happy, healthy life when they are constantly plagued by panic. You must learn to understand your panic attacks, and seek the most comfortable treatment so that you can live life freely again.