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What is a panic attack? A panic attack is a brief episode of intense anxiety, which causes the physical sensations of fear. These can include a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling and muscle tension. Panic attacks occur frequently and unexpectedly and are often not related to any external threat.

A panic attack can last from a few minutes to half an hour.

However, the physical and emotional effects of the attack may last for a few hours.

Panic attacks are common

Up to 35 per cent of the population experience a panic attack at some time in their lives. A panic attack can also be called an anxiety attack. Without treatment, frequent and prolonged panic attacks can be severely disabling.

The person may choose to avoid a wide range of situations (such as leaving their home or being alone) for fear of experiencing an attack. For many people, the feelings of panic occur only occasionally during periods of stress or illness. A person who experiences recurring panic attacks is said to have panic disorder, which is a type of.

They generally have recurring and unexpected panic attacks and persistent fears of repeated attacks. Symptoms of a panic attack can include:

  • feelings of unreality
  • detachment from the environment. When the body is faced with immediate danger
  • the brain orders the autonomic nervous system to activate the ‘flight-or-fight’ response

The body is flooded with a range of chemicals, including adrenaline, that trigger physiological changes.

For example, heart rate and breathing are accelerated and blood is shifted to the muscles to prepare for physical combat or running away. A panic attack is said to occur when the ‘flight-or-fight’ response is triggered but there is no danger about to happen.

A person may experience the symptoms of a panic attack in harmless and apparently stress-free situations, such as watching television or while asleep. Some of the factors that can prime the body to inappropriately activate the ‘flight-or-fight’ response include: – this causes the body to produce higher than usual levels of stress chemicals such as adrenaline. – can suddenly flood the body with large amounts of stress chemicals.

– may cause physical changes

– such as walking into an overcrowded, hot or stuffy environment. Some symptoms that are common to panic attacks may also occur in some physical conditions. Some medications and drugs – such as tranquillisers, alcohol and caffeine – may also induce panic-like symptoms.

Always seek medical advice if you are not sure whether your symptoms, or another person’s symptoms, indicate a panic attack. In an emergency, dial 911 for an ambulance. It’s important to see your doctor for a check-up to make sure that any recurring physical panic-like symptoms are not due to illnesses, including: post-partum (after childbirth) hyperthyroidism.

Suggestions on how to cope with a panic attack include:

  • but not life threatening. Reassure yourself that you’ve felt these feelings before
  • nothing bad happened to you

Focus your attention on something outside your own body and symptoms

For example, distract yourself by counting backwards in threes from 100, recall the words from a favourite song or concentrate on the sights and sounds around you. Fleeing from the situation will only reinforce the perception that your panic attacks are unbearable.

If you sit and allow the symptoms to pass, you gain confidence in your ability to cope.

If the physical anxiety symptoms are caused by physical illnesses, such as diabetes or hyperthyroidism, proper treatment for these illnesses should stop the panic-like symptoms from recurring.

If the panic attacks are due to anxiety, treatment options can include:

  • lifestyle adjustments such as attention to diet exercise
  • sleep. – OCD
  • Anxiety Helpline Tel

Some people may develop panic disorders anxiety disorder Symptoms of a panic attack heightened vigilance for danger and physical symptoms anxious and irrational thinking a strong feeling of dread, danger or foreboding fear of going mad, losing control, or dying feeling lightheaded and dizzy tingling and chills, particularly in the arms and hands trembling or shaking, sweating hot flushes accelerated heart rate a feeling of constriction in the chest breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath nausea or abdominal distress tense muscles dry mouth The ‘flight-or-fight’ response Chronic (ongoing) stress Acute stress (such as experiencing a traumatic event) Habitual hyperventilation Intense physical exercise Excessive caffeine intake Illness A sudden change of environment Causes other than anxiety Always seek professional advice diabetes asthma inner ear complaints hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) cardiac (heart) complaints Self-help suggestions Medical treatment options medications psychotherapy, including cognitive behaviour therapy biofeedback therapy stress management techniques proper breathing techniques relaxation techniques learning problem-solving skills Where to get help Your GP (doctor) Psychologist Your local community health centre Anxiety Recovery Centre Michigan (616) 555-0200 or 1300 ANXIETY (269 438) Mental Health Foundation United States .

Key Points

  • Panic attacks are common
  • Without treatment, frequent and prolonged panic attacks can be severely disabling
  • Symptoms of a panic attack can include: feelings of unreality and detachment from the environment
  • – disturbs the balance of blood gases because there is not enough carbon dioxide in the blood
  • – for some people, this may cause extreme reactions