What is a Panic Attack?
Let’s face it; experiencing a certain amount of anxiety is virtually inevitable nowadays, and providing it doesn’t get out of control, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Of course, when anxiety does get out of control, this psychological problem manifests itself in a very physical way, such as in panic attacks.
You may be asking what a panic attack is exactly. The panic attack is an immediate and overwhelming attack of anxiety that comes on without any warning. One minute you may be fine and the next you are in a full blown attack. There may be disorientation, chest pains, very rapid breathing and dizziness. Many people feel as if they are having a heart attack. The symptoms closely resemble the symptoms of a heart attack so this is a natural thought.
Needless to say, the onset of such a condition can lead to a great deal of fear on the person experiencing it. (This is why it is called a panic attack) An individual who is dealing with severe and constant panic attacks can suffer a severe loss in the quality of life. Generally, this is because people dealing with panic attacks will be limited in the activities they take part in due to the specter of the condition always hanging over their head.
What causes some people to have panic attacks is not known. This is not a totally unexpected thing since they do start in the mind which is not totally understood. But there are also certain things that can add to the panic attack. The use of drugs and alcohol, keeping frustrations bottled up, depression and genetics can all be contributors to panic attacks.
If a panic attack starts, the main objective is to try and keep it to a minimum. Yes, saying it is certainly the easiest part but this does not change the fact that it is still the main objective as the panic attack starts. Slowing your breathing down has been found to be one of the main ways of lessening the attack as it is happening.
Of course, if simple breathing exercises were all that were needed to deal with the problem then it really would not be a problem at all. In other words, it is most definitely necessary to seek the help of a qualified mental health professional in order to receive the proper counseling needed to reverse the problems associated with the condition.
Therapy alone may not be enough to deal with all the problems related to anxiety. As such, it may be necessary to explore options with psychotropic drugs. These drugs will be carefully prescribed by a psychiatrist after a complete evaluation. Taking medication as prescribed can greatly aid in reducing the frequency and severity of panic attacks which can significantly help with getting a proverbial handle on the problem.
Regardless of the method you explore, it is possible to get a handle on issues related to panic attacks. While the condition is most definitely severe, it is not untreatable. As long as you can recognize the problem you will be able to seek help. Once you seek help you can take the steps to deal with it and, hopefully, be free of it.