Panic Disorder Treatment
What is the difference between panic attacks and panic disorder? When a person suffers a sudden intense period of anxiety, physical symptoms such as sweating, increased heart rate, stomach cramps and discomfort we call it a panic attack.
All of us experience fear at some point in our lives but we learn to deal with it.
When people experience a true panic attack associated with psychological factors such as the fear of impending death we call it panic disorder.
Panic disorder is also diagnosed when the sufferer has repeated attacks which are caused by unknow factors.
A true panic attack consists of physical symptoms and cognitive symptoms.
As well as a rapid heart beat and sweating sufferers can feel chest tightness, stomach cramping and feel like they are having a heart attack.
They also feel an overwhelming sense of doom, that they are trapped, that they will die.
Sometimes the symptoms mimic that of a heart attack with chest pain and left arm pain.
A panic attack can be a one off experience but if it becomes recurrent and the person is worried about having further attacks, the consequences of further attacks and that they are going to die, it becomes a more chronic condition called panic disorder.
A normal panic attack lasts about 10 minutes then subsides in up to 1 hour.
A normal panic attack is usually triggered by something specific like fear of flying, fear of spiders, fear of public arenas or fear of public transport.
Panic disorder is usually not triggered by specific situations.
Instead it may be everyday events or even nothing- just thoughts and fear of having an attack can cause an attack.
For example it can happen driving the car, eating or even relaxing at home.
Some people even experience a panic attack when waking up from sleep.
Whilst panic attacks and panic disorder are very unpleasant, no one will die from a panic attack.
It is advised to seek your doctors advice if you do experience chest pains just to rule out any life threatening conditions.
Once this has been cleared just focus on calming your thoughts, deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
Whether you are in the initial stages or are in advanced stages of these syndromes please seek help.
Panic disorder treatment may include behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy to control irrational thoughts.
It may include temporary medication to allow symptoms to be controlled whilst the person learns to control their breathing and their thoughts.
The longer it is left untreated the worse it gets.
So if you do have symptoms, seek help early.
Treatment is very effective and works quickly.
All of us experience fear at some point in our lives but we learn to deal with it.
When people experience a true panic attack associated with psychological factors such as the fear of impending death we call it panic disorder.
Panic disorder is also diagnosed when the sufferer has repeated attacks which are caused by unknow factors.
A true panic attack consists of physical symptoms and cognitive symptoms.
As well as a rapid heart beat and sweating sufferers can feel chest tightness, stomach cramping and feel like they are having a heart attack.
They also feel an overwhelming sense of doom, that they are trapped, that they will die.
Sometimes the symptoms mimic that of a heart attack with chest pain and left arm pain.
A panic attack can be a one off experience but if it becomes recurrent and the person is worried about having further attacks, the consequences of further attacks and that they are going to die, it becomes a more chronic condition called panic disorder.
A normal panic attack lasts about 10 minutes then subsides in up to 1 hour.
A normal panic attack is usually triggered by something specific like fear of flying, fear of spiders, fear of public arenas or fear of public transport.
Panic disorder is usually not triggered by specific situations.
Instead it may be everyday events or even nothing- just thoughts and fear of having an attack can cause an attack.
For example it can happen driving the car, eating or even relaxing at home.
Some people even experience a panic attack when waking up from sleep.
Whilst panic attacks and panic disorder are very unpleasant, no one will die from a panic attack.
It is advised to seek your doctors advice if you do experience chest pains just to rule out any life threatening conditions.
Once this has been cleared just focus on calming your thoughts, deep breathing and relaxation techniques.
Whether you are in the initial stages or are in advanced stages of these syndromes please seek help.
Panic disorder treatment may include behavioural therapy and cognitive therapy to control irrational thoughts.
It may include temporary medication to allow symptoms to be controlled whilst the person learns to control their breathing and their thoughts.
The longer it is left untreated the worse it gets.
So if you do have symptoms, seek help early.
Treatment is very effective and works quickly.