When anxiety levels reach their maximum, the panic attack can arise and cause extreme discomfort. Shortness of breath, fear, palpitations and even feeling of death may be some of the symptoms presented by those in the midst of a panic attack.
Want to understand more about what is panic attack, its causes, its symptoms and what treatment options there are? So watch out for this post!
What is panic attack?
Generally described as an intense and sudden sensation of fear, the panic attack is an extreme manifestation of anxiety characterized by a large discharge of hormones and a series of symptoms throughout the body.
In most cases, seizures occur during social stress but they can also occur during sleep, at home, at work or any other everyday environment.
Is panic attack the same thing as panic syndrome?
Not exactly. The panic attack describes a unique event while panic syndrome includes the occurrence of repeated attacks, the constant fear of when the next attack will occur and the adoption of measures to avoid the places where the last attacks occurred.
What are the symptoms of panic attack?
- Shortness of breath and suffocation feeling;
- Dizziness, vertigo, and feeling faint;
- Excessive sweating, chills and reddening of the face;
- Increased heart rate and palpitations;
- Nausea, nausea, stomach pain or diarrhea;
- Feeling of strangeness in relation to the world and the environment;
- Chest pain;
- Fear of dying or feeling of impending death.
Despite the great discomfort, all these symptoms usually last only a few minutes and do not put the person’s life or health at risk.
Is panic attack a common problem?
Much more common than most people realize. Some sources claim that 10% of the population may have a panic attack alone over a year, with them being more common in young women.
What are the causes of panic attack?
The main cause of the panic attack is anxiety, and it is common for someone to have some underlying anxiety disorder that gets worse over time if no treatment is done.
What are the consequences of panic attack?
It is common that after suffering the panic attack, the individual no longer wants to perform the activity that triggered that attack or the environment in which it occurred, which is the disorder of panic.
So anyone who has had a panic attack while driving, may not want to drive anymore and who has had it at work, may wish to leave the job or even change their careers.
In this way, panic attacks trap the person into a routine restricted to comfort situations, preventing visits to unknown places, for example. This makes the person unable to make new friends, has difficulty maintaining the relationships that already exist and has difficulties in developing professionally.
Is it possible to treat panic attack?
Yes. At the time of the attack, it is important to try to control the breath, to distract the mind with conversations and songs and to practice relaxation techniques like meditation and massages, besides moving to a quiet, airy and safe environment.
The most important thing, however, is to try to find the origin of this feeling, moving away from the individual the fear and anxiety of these situations. For this, you can count on the help of antidepressant medications, therapy and even psychological guidance.
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