What is a panic disorder?
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of fear causing you to panic. Everybody at least once in their life experiences feelings of anxiety and panic. There is nothing to worry about as it is a natural response to stressful situations.
However when it comes to someone with panic disorder, you might notice that they have different reactions. They might have feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time during the day. But they can sometimes be for no apparent reason.
Symptoms of panic disorders
Panic attacks usually begin suddenly, without any warning. They can strike you at any time. At any place such as when you’re driving a car, shopping , sound asleep or in the middle of an important work meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently.
Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides.Panic attacks include a lot of symptoms. Here are a few listed down below:
Sense of impending doom or danger
Fear of loss of control or death
Rapid, pounding heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
Chills
Hot flashes
Nausea
Abdominal cramping
Chest pain
Headache
Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
Numbness or tingling sensation
Feeling of unreality or detachment
One of the worst things about panic attacks is that they can intensify fear that you’ll have another one. You may fear having panic attacks so much that you try to avoid certain situations where they may randomly happen.
What causes panic disorder?
Panic disorder is not fully understood, just like many mental health conditions. However, it’s thought the condition is probably linked to a combination of physical and psychological factors.
It is very important that you are aware of some physical conditions and disorders that can have similar symptoms to those of anxiety. Here is a list so you do not get confused. For example:
- Thyrotoxicosis – This is where large amounts of thyroid hormones are released into the bloodstream. It causes a rapid heartbeat, sweating, tremors and anxiety
- Zollinger- Also known as Ellison syndrome. It causes overproduction of insulin and low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Anaemia
- Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia – This is when you have episodes of rapid and regular heartbeats. They tend to begin and end abruptly
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Adrenal tumours – These are growths that develop on the adrenal glands
- Carcinoid syndrome – Carcinoid syndrome is a set of symptoms caused by some carcinoid tumours that can develop in the cells of the endocrine system (glands that produce and secrete hormones)
What helps to manage panic attacks?
In this section you will learn many different ways to help you get over a panic attack. While having a panic attack yoy can be quiet frightened. However there are things you can do to help yourself get through it. It could help to write these tips down and keep them somewhere safe. Listed below are different ways you can hell yourself of someone having a panic attack
- Focus on your breathing. Concentrating on your breathing can help. You can do this by taking deep breaths slowly in and out while counting to five.
- Stamp on the spot. Some people find this helps control their breathing.
- Focus on your senses. For example, taste mint-flavoured sweets or gum, or touch or cuddle something soft.
- Try grounding techniques. Grounding techniques can help you feel more in control. They’re useful if you experience dissociation during panic attacks.
After having a panic attack it is vitally important that you think about self-care. Self care Is important, therefore It is to pay attention to what your body needs after having any type of panic attack. For example, you might need to rest somewhere quiet such as your bedroom just to stay calm. Eat or drink something that you know you like and isn’t too hard to make .
Make sure you talk to someone you trust. Consequently, if you feel able to, it could help to let someone know you’ve had a panic attack. It could be particularly helpful to mention how they might notice if you’re having another one, and how you’d like them to help you.