Understanding Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Many people have what they call "panic attacks", where a situation arises that causes them to become suddenly very anxious and frightened. Usually the situation is not something that would cause such a reaction under normal circumstances. Like many conditions, people often self diagnose themselves as having a panic attack when in fact they may not be. Understanding the signs and symptoms of a true panic attack can help the sufferer determine whether further medical attention is required.

A panic attack comes on without warning in a time or situation that is not overly threatening. A near miss of a minor car accident, momentarily losing track of a child, or almost falling down a flight of steps are events that should naturally trigger the fear response, but that response should also quickly fade. If the fear response does not fade and lasts for 10 minutes or longer, then the person may be having a true panic attack.

Some of the more common symptoms of a panic attack are what you would expect such as shortness of breath, a pounding heart, shaking, and a general sense of fear. However some symptoms are a bit more unusual such as tingling in the hands and feet, sweating, or feeling as if you are being smothered.

People who frequently have panic attacks may have or be developing a panic disorder. Someone with a panic disorder often reacts out of proportion to a stressful situation but the main problem with a panic disorder is more sinister. Someone who has a panic disorder actually begins to have panic attacks because they are afraid that they are going to have a panic attack. In this way the disorder feeds itself over time until the sufferer is in near constant fear of having a panic attack, which in turn leads to more frequent panic attacks.

Sometimes panic disorder can run in families, but often times the disorder can be acquired through life events. Alcohol and substance abuse can cause the onset of panic disorder as can major life events such as the death of a loved one. Just because no one else in the patients family has ever suffered from a panic attack or disorder is not reason enough to discount the patient actually having the condition.

If left untreated then normal daily life of the sufferer will decline. In addition to societal problems, panic disorder can cause safety issues for the sufferer. If an attack comes on while driving or operating machinery, the sufferer will be in great risk unless they can detach themselves from the car or machine immediately.

Someone who experiences panic and anxiety symptoms on a regular basis, particularly when triggered by non-threatening situations, should seek the advice of their physician. When properly treated through therapy and perhaps medication, panic disorder can be controlled or eliminated over time.