Panic Attack Symptoms, Causes & Panic Attack Treatments

What are Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are the momentary surge of intense fear and anxiety that people feel sometime after they are exposed to a life-threatening event. This article will discuss the symptoms and causes of panic attacks as well as prevention tactics for individuals in social situations. Panic attack treatments can help most people control or even stop attacks.

Panic attacks are often the sudden onset of intense anxiety, fear, or discomfort that can last several minutes to hours. Thus, rapid heartbeats and increased production of the hormones cortisol and adrenaline defines panic attack. With panic attacks, it’s not uncommon for people to be unable to recall what they were doing before the attack occurred. Furthermore, the episode may also include chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or stomach distress.

People with epilepsy, other seizure disorders, and other neurological conditions can also have panic attacks. In some instances, panic attacks may be the result of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anyone can have a panic attack and there isn’t a typical way of having one.

You can have one while you’re sleeping or in a car, at work, or at home. Likewise, it’s important to know that the condition is not life-threatening. For one thing, there are many effective treatments available to get it under control. If you suspect that someone else may be experiencing panic attacks, the first step is to get them to seek medical help as soon as possible.

Causes of Panic Attack

Factors that may contribute to panic attacks:

• Genetics or family history
• Major life stress. Such as the death or serious illness of a loved one
• Temperament that is prone to negative emotions. For example sexual assault or a serious accident.
• Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function.
• Excessive use of nicotine or caffeine.
• Drinking alcohol and panic attacks has a very close relationship.
• Drug use.
• Taking certain medicines. Such as those used to treat asthma and heart problems.
• History of childhood physical or sexual abuse.

Learn More:

• Effective Medication for Panic Attacks & Panic Disorder
• Panic Attack vs Anxiety Attack. Difference Between an Anxiety Attack and Panic Attack
• Grounding Techniques for Panic Attacks
• Anxiety Meditation: Does it Really Help?
• Inpatient Mental Health Treatment
• Mental Health Treatment
• Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder
• Mood and Personality Disorder Treatment
• Psychiatric Disorders Treatment
• BPD Treatment

2.7%

An estimated 2.7% of U.S. adults had panic disorder in the past year.

Source: National Institute on Mental Health

4.7%

An estimated 4.7% of U.S. adults experience panic disorder at some time in their lives

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

Panic Attacks Symptoms

While there are different theories as to why people have panic attacks. Also, there’s not currently enough conclusive evidence to support any one explanation. There are no tests for panic attacks so we don’t know the cause of a panic attack. Moreover, there’s also some debate about whether clinical research should focus on what causes panic attacks or on ways to treat them.

• Symptoms of a panic attack include extreme anxiety and physical sensations of fear. For example, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, trembling, and muscle tension. 
• Triggers for panic attacks can include over breathing, long periods of stress, and activities that lead to intense physical reactions. For example, exercise, and excessive coffee drinking. Also, physical changes occur after an illness or a sudden change of environment. 
• In other cases, symptoms that are common to panic attacks may also occur in some physical conditions. Some medications and drugs – such as tranquilizers, alcohol, and caffeine – may also induce panic-like symptoms. 

You may be suffering from Panic Disorder if you:

• Experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks that do not involve a specific situation
• Worry a lot about having another panic attack
• Are behaving differently because of the panic attacks, such as avoiding places where you’ve previously panicked

10 Tips to Manage Panic Attack along with Panic Attack Treatment at Home

Here are ten simple and effective ways to deal with panic attack treatment without medications.

• Psychotherapy. A type of psychotherapy (panic attack treatment therapy) called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is useful. CBT focuses on thinking patterns and behaviors. For example, if you experience a panic attack while driving, what is the worst thing that would really happen? You might have to pull over to the side of the road, so you do not crash your car or have a heart attack. Once you learn that nothing truly disastrous is going to happen, the experience of panic becomes less terrifying.

• Medication is a temporary solution to control some of the symptoms of panic disorder. However, it doesn’t treat or resolve the problem. It can be useful in severe cases. But it should not be the only treatment for panic attacks.

Panic attack treatment medication is most effective when combined with other treatments. Such as therapy and lifestyle changes, that address the underlying causes of panic disorder.

Examples of Medications used:

Antidepressants. It may take several weeks before it takes effect. Therefore, it has to be taken continuously, and not just during a panic attack.

Benzodiazepines. Anti-anxiety drugs that act within 30 minutes to an hour. However, benzodiazepines are highly addictive and have serious withdrawal symptoms. So they should be used with caution.

A co-occurring panic attack disorder can occur when a secondary disorder or other mental illnesses contribute and become part of the entirety of a mental illness requiring treatment. For this more complex Panic attack treatment an experienced team that can treat the multiple diagnoses can be invaluable in achieving recovery success.