A General Overview In Regard To Panic Attacks Information

By Ollie James Fisher

Panic attacks are an irrational fear that comes in the form of an increased heart rate, an increased breathing pattern and chills or becoming sweaty. There are several other symptoms and although most are seen during a panic attack, individuals may vary as to the severity of each symptom and the symptoms themselves.

Irrational fears are usually the cause of a panic attack. Although the triggers of individuals may be very different for each person, there are commonalities in their fear of the panic attack itself. Sufferers report that they feel like they are dying, having a heart attack or will have a heart attack due to the symptoms they feel within their bodies. The first time that a person suffers a panic attack they typically do not understand what is happening. Finding out about what a panic attack is can often be the biggest help for a sufferer. Most people who have suffered a panic attack will start to stress about the next one almost as much as the original fear causing them.

There are a variety of treatment options of panic attacks but a lot of sufferers don't seek help. Therapy, medications and relaxation techniques can help individuals to be rehabilitated. Behavioral therapy lessens attacks by challenging the fear of the panic attacks themselves. This is done by accustoming people the sensation of panic attacks, slowly. This technique has been named interceptive exposure. In a controlled environment, one example of this method, would be helping someone get used to the feeling of an elevated heart rate. The sufferer then learns that although they have this feeling it does not always bring on a panic attack and they can handle it. Behavioral therapy also includes real life exposure. This would involve being exposed to certain 'stress point' so they can become used to them.

There are many relaxation techniques that can help panic attacks sufferers. The individual needs to first relax their shoulders when they feel a panic attack coming on. Removing tension out of the neck is very important. You can get complete body relaxation by relaxing the muscles. Overcoming a panic attack is difficult but most methods involve some kind of breathing control.

Breathing can help get the heart rate under control during a panic attack. Breathing slowly and pretending to blow out candle sis one such method that can help control the heart rate. An important thing for the person to remind themselves is that they are not going crazy and they are not going to die. It is these fears that further escalate a panic attack.

Panic attacks are a form of a panic disorder caused by anxiety. But there are many kinds of panic disorders. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also an anxiety related panic disorder normally centered around the loss of a loved one or another traumatic event. OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is another way in which anxiety can produce a panic disorder. OCD involves having unwanted thoughts and mannerisms that a person performs in order to control them. They might become obsessed with urges that provoke them to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors or routines to ease their anxiety. - 30309

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