A panic attack is an abrupt, intense episode of extreme fear that often causes severe physical reactions even when there isn’t any real threat or obvious cause. Extreme fear is the normal reaction to perceived danger. When panic attacks happen, you may believe that you are about to have a heart attack, having a nervous breakdown or dying. It’s not uncommon for sufferers to believe that they are going crazy. Many sufferers have at least one panic attack every year and have been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. The frequency of panic attacks can vary from once or twice per year to several times a day.
Most panic disorder symptoms involve an intense and sudden fear that leads to a feeling of impending doom. Typical panic attack symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, increased heart rate, chest pain, nausea, sweating, hot flashes or chills and an intense feeling of danger. Some sufferers even describe being almost as nervous as when they have a heart attack. They may say things like, “I feel like I’m going to die.” Some sufferers even worry that they are going to lose their grip on reality and go crazy.
If you’ve suffered panic attacks and you believe you are suffering from this disorder, you may be tempted to avoid getting treatment by using stimulants such as coffee, tea or soda, as well as medications containing ephedrine and nicotine. However, in most people who have this problem, the cause is related to psychological factors such as depression, social anxiety, stress and family history. For example, sufferers who experience panic attacks due to stress often improve their condition by practicing aerobic exercise. Caffeine and other stimulants can actually make the problem worse, by increasing blood sugar levels, which in turn increase the body’s need for insulin to convert glucose into energy.
When you start to experience panic attacks, it is a good idea to first consult a professional to see if there are any underlying medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. You may want to visit your doctor to make sure that you don’t have a serious health condition that could be causing your symptoms. However, once you find out what is causing your problem, you can work with your medical professional or therapist to learn more about how you can control your symptoms.
The fight-or-flight response is designed to provide an optimum level of bodily protection from a threat. It provides the body with a number of physiological functions such as increased heart rate, breathing, nervousness, rapid breathing, sweating and the release of Adrenalin. Unfortunately, people with panic attacks may experience symptoms that are similar to those of a heart attack, even if they are not having a heart attack. People with this problem also tend to experience shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, anxiety and shaking or trembling.
When you experience panic attacks, the fight-or-flight reaction takes over and causes your body to respond in a number of dangerous ways. Your heart rate will increase, blood pressure will increase, your digestive system will slow down and you will begin to sweat as well. If you ever wondered why you were so scared when you saw a group of people in front of a building that you thought was very dangerous, it is likely because you were experiencing all of these symptoms. This can happen with no warning and without any type of prior warning. Once your body begins to react in this manner, you are likely to become very afraid of being in certain situations and this can affect your performance in school and at work.
Panic attack symptoms are often mistaken for a heart attack because of how rapidly they occur and the intensity of the symptoms. In many cases, patients report experiencing chest pain, dizziness, sweating, difficulty breathing and the sensation that their heart is beating very fast. However, if you have any fear that these symptoms could be signs of a serious medical condition, such as heart disease or a broken bone, then you should call 911 immediately. The sooner that you can get an appointment with the correct person, the faster your condition can be stabilized. The most important thing to remember is that if you have experienced any type of panic attacks, you do not need to be scared of having them anymore. The most important thing is to learn to control your feelings and not let them control you.
Some people think that when they experience panic attacks that they are going crazy. However, the most common trigger of panic attacks is intense fear. People who suffer from panic attacks tend to have an extreme fear of the triggers of the attack itself and what might happen next. When you have an extreme fear of something, your body will react in ways that it is not used to and this can result in a serious condition. Learning to control your reactions to triggers and avoiding situations that cause you intense fear can help you overcome your panic attack.