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Coping With Anxiety Panic Attacks

Anxiety panic attacks are frightening whether you are the one experiencing the attack, a family member, or a friend. A person may suddenly be concerned that he or she is having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. That person may feel a loss of control, or that he or she is trapped, going crazy or even dying. Visual disturbances occur also.

*What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is an abrupt response by the sympathetic nervous system, attempting to defend itself. The human body is suddenly filled with hormones, especially epinephrine, which triggers a fight or flight response. Sudden, psychological arousal, associated with cognitive and somatic symptoms, intense anxiety related to fear and bowel, or stomach problems, may last 1-5 minutes, or even hours.

*Symptoms

There may be no outward symptoms or they may appear as physical, mental, emotional or perceptual symptoms.

Serious symptoms should not be ignored, ie. chest tightness, shortness of breath and chest pain. Go, or to take the person having the attack to emergency immediately, to rule out a pending heart attack.

Other symptoms may include trembling, palpitations, sweating, nausea and dizziness. One can feel dizzy or lightheaded, have a tingling or burning sensation, the feeling of choking or smothering, vertigo, nausea and hyperventilation.

*Where can one go for diagnosis and treatment?

A person may, or may not, need diagnosis or treatment, depending on the severity of the attack.

For recurrent and severe attacks, medical investigation is advisable. Conditions like hypoglycemia and hyperthyroidism should be ruled out. Caffeine or nicotine, ritalin, vitamin B deficiency, marijuana, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorders, are all possible causes. It can be an inherited condition.

*Common treatments

Even if no immediate treatment is required, investigation by a doctor is still a good idea.

Breathing slowly into a paper bag may resolve the attack, as the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide may need to be corrected.

Diaphragmatic or abdominal breathing techniques are highly recommended.

A proper medical assessment should be done. Your doctor may prescribe medications like diazepam and lorazepam, or antidepressants.

*What to expect if you are the person who is experiencing a panic attack?

1. Having a panic attack can be very frightening, so try to relax.

2. Breathe slowly and deeply. Hold a paper bag over your nose and mouth while you breathe in and out.

3. Stay in touch with reality.

4.

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