Panic symptoms

Panic Symptoms – How To Spot Panic Attacks Symptoms

panicsymptoms — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:27:14 +0000

Panic symptoms were all important thousands of years ago when mankind lived in primitive settlements, having anxiety was all important as it increased adrenalin levels and aided in basic survival. When anxiety stress is present, the human body reacts by increasing the speed of the heart beat and raises blood pressure which helps the survival response. Unfortunately, in modern society these responses are unwelcome.

Panic symptoms develop in two quite separate areas of the brain – the amygdala and the hippocampus. If stress is at reasonable levels then the body is said to be in a normal state and this state does not have adverse effects on the body in a modern society. The problem arises when panic symptoms become excessive which then leads to health issues.

The first stage of panic symptoms can be simple depression. This can develop in two main forms. The first is called agitated depression which is the most common form which has noticeable panic symptoms. The second is called akathitic depression which does not have any noticeable panic symptoms. These conditions usually start with a person having a phobia. An irrational view of everyday objects or events can lead to a raised level of irrational fear.

Some key indicators of agitated depression include irregular sleep patterns, breathing problems, dizziness, and a more definite sense of doom and a fear of death. The common treatment among modern medical science is to prescribe antidepressants but they can have negative effects and a natural or holistic way should be preferred wherever possible. Treatment greatly helps to find the root causes of the problem and eventually leads to finding a way of dealing with them.

Depression is certainly a complex condition, but it has been demonstrated that panic symptoms are a key factor in a lot of cases. It is therefore important to bear the connection between depression and panic symptoms in mind when deciding on treatment.

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Panic Symptoms – Natural Ways For An Anxiety Cure

panicsymptoms — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:25:36 +0000

One of the best ways to help with panic symptoms is to try natural holistic methods of alleviating the panic attack.

Panic attacks come on quite suddenly and are very intense periods of anxiety and fear which are combined with physical effects such as an acute shortness of breath, heart murmurs, hyperventilation, feeling “pins and needles”, sickness, and an in extreme cases an overriding fear of death. Quite when an attack reaches its highest intensity varies from person to person. This can be anywhere between a few minutes to several hours before panic symptoms subside. The frequency of an attack can also vary from occurring every few days to only occurring once a year.

What to do during an attack

It is best to try to take care of the panic symptoms whilst an attack is actually taking place. The best method for doing this is a natural holistic method. For instance, the person whilst having an attack should try to recall happy pleasant memories perhaps from childhood when times were a lot happier. A common way for people to be helped into remembering childhood experiences is by aromatherapy. The brain associates happy times with pleasant smells and it only takes a few sniffs of a familiar smell to help reduce a panic attack. This is one step towards ending the repeat cycle of attacks.

One of the most common odors which are comforting to people is the smell of baby powder which reminds them of carefree and comforting times. Added to this are other childhood smells which vary from person to person depending on where they were brought up. For instance, the smells of the seaside might help a person remember fond times playing on the beach or the smell of woodland would help with people who used to have vacations in the countryside. The exact smells which help with panic symptoms will vary from person to person.

Most people will be surprised by the fact that the last thing you should do during an attack is to sit down. The reason for this is that the body experiences much higher adrenaline levels during a panic attack. It therefore follows that if you are having an adrenaline rush then you should try to burn it off by exercising rather than let the levels build up. You should go for a moderately strenuous walk which will be of great help. Indeed, it has been found that exercise generally, that is daily exercise and not just exercising during an attack, helps people recover more quickly from panic symptoms than people who take little or no daily exercise.

One of the effects of a panic attack is to cause the person to hyperventilate. The way to try to stop this is to take deep and regular breaths. The person should keep their shoulders straight and breathe up from the diaphragm. They should then slowly expand and contract their stomach breathing in and out in a controlled manner.

One final word – you should avoid stimulants which can make an attack worse. These include coffee, cigarettes, tea and even cola and chocolate. Anything which has a stimulant effect and makes panic symptoms worse must be avoided.

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Panic Symptoms – What Are Panic Anxiety Attacks?

panicsymptoms — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:24:00 +0000

People who suffer frequent panic attacks are said to have a condition called panic disorder. It is estimated that 2% of the population will experience a panic attack during their lifetime. The external panic symptoms

of an attack can have quite negative social results. It is estimated that 1 in 3 sufferers of panic disorder also have some form of agoraphobia – that is to say they are afraid to go out.

What’s it like

People who are having a panic attack often fear that they are having a heart attack, have difficulty breathing and in extreme cases fear that they may be dying. This is despite the fact that the fear experienced during a panic attack is often out of all proportion to reality.

The length of time that that panic symptoms is suffered by someone can vary from person to person. Panic disorder may continue for just a few months or last for years. This largely depends on when treatment is sought and what treatment is given. There is quite a bit of evidence available which suggests that with many people the symptoms just disappear of their own accord later in life.

Most sufferers of panic symptoms will get better after treatment. There are many treatments available and eventually a person will encounter a trigger event whilst under treatment but not have an attack. This will break the panic pattern and will eventually allow a person to lead a normal life without the need for further treatment.

Methods of Treatment

The best treatments are natural holistic ones which do not involve the used of antidepressants such as imipramine and Nardil. The patient should try activities which lead to stress reduction such as yoga and tai-chi. Indeed, most moderate physical exercise can help in relieving the symptoms of panic attacks. Stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine should be avoided where possible. Psychotherapy is another possible treatment which could help to reduce symptoms. Finally, cognitive-behavioral techniques using relaxation therapy has also been found to help people overcome the effects of panic symptoms.

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