Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
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PANIC ATTACKS CAN BE DISABLING
Panic attacks are sudden attacks of fear. You might feel as though they appear out of the blue. Many people just have a one-off panic attack and do not experience any more. People who go on to develop panic disorder often take steps to prevent the likelihood of having another panic attack.
Have your panic attacks become worse due to COVID-19? I serve those from 18 to 65 years of age.
Mark’s Story-
During a stressful time in his life Mark experienced his first panic attack. He had been rushing to get some work done to meet a deadline at work. He got stuck in traffic on the way to work and was worried that he wouldn’t make it on time to give his boss an update.
At his workplace he suddenly began to feel lightheaded and felt that he couldn’t breathe properly. Mark felt a wave of fear come over him. He noticed himself getting hot and sweaty. He left the office and smoked a cigarette in the car park to calm himself down. The sensations he had only lasted a few minutes but to Mark it felt like forever.
Mark experienced another few panic attacks over the next week. Each time they would come completely ‘out of the blue’ and he would experience an overwhelming sensation of fear. He could feel his heart race, his breathing speed up and his throat getting tight. He worried that he wouldn’t be able to get enough air and might be having a heart attack or would pass out.
Mark only felt better when he got out in the open. Sometimes at home he would go to his room away from people. Mark started to avoid going to places where he had panicked before. He avoided crowds and anywhere busy. He felt trapped on highways. He took to doing his shopping at night when there were few people around.
People with panic disorder have sudden, repeated attacks of fear. They experience strong physical reactions, such as difficulty breathing, racing heartbeat, sweating, or shaking. They have thoughts that something terrible is happening or will happen. They often go to the local Emergency Room where the severe anxiety is diagnosed after expensive medical tests. Panic attacks can happen at any time.
People who have experienced a panic attack often dread the possibility of having another one. This leads them to take steps to prevent another one from happening. If Mark’s story resonates with you you should consider one of the best psychologists in Jacksonville, FL.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Panic Attack?
Panic attacks are a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. It involves feeling at least four of the following symptoms:
• Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
PANIC ATTACKS OFTEN LEAD TO SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL
• Trembling or shaking
• Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
• Feeling of choking
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
• Chills or heat sensations
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Feelings of unreality or being detached from oneself
• Fear of losing control or going crazy
• Fear of dying
As mentioned above, many people might just have a one-off panic attack and never experience any more. People who go on to develop panic disorder typically take steps to prevent the possibility of having another panic attack. This can lead to low self-esteem.
Understanding Why Panic Attacks Keep Happening
Panic attacks feel are characterized by very intense fear. Our brains fight or flight system is designed like this to force us to act when there is a danger. It is normal to want to avoid having more panic attacks so people avoid people, places or things they have associated with the attack. But, these common-sense ways of coping, which psychologists call ‘safety behaviors’, often have the consequence of making future panic attacks more likely. Importantly, people stop enjoying their life.
DR. M. CHRIS WOLF
How Can I Overcome My Panic Attacks?
You can overcome panic attacks which takes work with a psychologist in different stages. You don’t have to do these in order.
• Understand that your body is trying to do to protect you but at the wrong time in the wrong situation.
• Find out what is going on in your mind just as you begin to have a panic attack, and learn to change any unhelpful thinking
• Exposure to feared body sensations by learning how to deal with the feelings in a manner designed to eliminate them when not needed.
• IMPORTANT: It is wise to consult your primary care physician to rule out the unlikely event that the panic is caused by a disease process. Most people have done this. It is also critical that you avoid going down the road of powerful psychotropic drugs before you considered a non-drug approach to overcoming panic and anxiety.
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