Panic attacks and panic fear
What to know about this topic
Panic attacks and panic fear
A panic attackis a feeling of fear and anxiety that suddenly overwhelms a person for no apparent reason and is accompanied by intense physical symptoms (dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat) or emotional symptoms. A panic attack can last from a few minutes to an hour, and sometimes longer (outwardly it often looks like a heart attack).
How does a panic attack manifest?
During a panic attack, a person feels that he is losing control over his body, and there is a fear of madness or death. Panic states contribute to the development of a disorder in which a person lives in constant fear of repetition of such episodes.
Symptoms of a panic attack:
- unreasonable anxiety and fear;
- rapid breathing;
- rapid heartbeat;
- sudden changes in body temperature and blood pressure;
- dizziness;
- insomnia;
- fast weight loss;
- negative thoughts;
- frequent mood swings;
- feeling of “cotton legs”;
- wet palms;
- feeling of numbness;
- lack of motivation, conflict.
- Causes of panic attacks:
- chronic stress;
- genetic predisposition;
- traumatic events;
- hormonal imbalance;
- physical factors (drinking alcohol, caffeine, certain medications);
- external circumstances (being in a crowd or in a confined space).
Are panic attacks dangerous?
Panic attacks do not pose a threat to a person’s life, but they affect his mental and physical health. Regular repetition of attacks has a significant impact on the psychological state. The person begins to avoid certain places or situations, fearing a recurrence of the attack. Such fears and living in fear can lead to the development of an anxiety disorder or agoraphobia.
Types of panic attacks:
- Spontaneous panic attack - occurs without an apparent reason or specific trigger (often associated with stress or hormonal fluctuations).
- Situational panic attack - occurs in response to a specific situation or trigger (often related to past experiences where a specific event caused intense fear).
- Conditional situational panic attack - provoked by factors that are not always obvious (consumption of alcohol, caffeine, certain medications).
- Nocturnal panic attack - occurs during sleep or immediately after waking up (often a consequence of chronic stress or subconscious fear).
Treatment of a panic attack
The treatment method is determined by a psychotherapist based on an initial examination, test data and the physiological characteristics of the patient’s body. There are two main methods of treatment:
- Cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.
- Drug therapy (for severe symptoms, when there is a high risk of suicidal thoughts).
Doctor's opinion
“The most important thing is to realize that a panic attack is not life-threatening, and its symptoms are temporary. Indeed, such a condition can significantly frighten a person, but there are effective ways to cope with it on your own. If this fails, you should consult a doctor who will help you choose an individual treatment method,” - Kristina Zhivago, Candidate of Medical Sciences, psychiatrist of the highest category, child psychiatrist.