Panic Disorder
Everyone feels anxious or uneasy from
time to time. Your first day on a new job, planning for a long trip,
going to the dentist....your palms sweat, you feel shaky, your heart
pounds. Some anxiety helps to keep you focused on the job at hand.
However, when your anxiety is so
serious that it interferes with your work, leads you to avoid certain
situations or keeps you from enjoying life, you may be suffering from
a form of the most common type of mental disorder, an anxiety
disorder.
Anxiety disorders are not just a case
of "nerves." You can't overcome an anxiety disorder just through
willpower, nor can the symptoms be ignored or wished away. These
disorders cause you to feel anxious most of the time, making some
everyday situations so uncomfortable that you may avoid them entirely.
Or, you may experience occasional instances of anxiety that are so
terrifying and intense that you may be immobilized with fear.
Although these conditions can be very
frightening and disabling, they are also very treatable. It is
important to recognize the symptoms and seek help.
Specifically, Panic Disorders
can cause feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly
without warning. These attacks usually last about ten minutes, but in
some cases they may last up to an hour. Because they cannot be
predicted, many people develop intense anxiety between episodes,
worrying about when another attack will strike.
Symptoms May Include:
- pounding heart
- sweating
- feeling weak, faint or dizzy
- numbness or tingling feeling in
hands
- feeling flushed or chilled
- chest pain or smothering sensations
- sense of unreality
- fear of impending doom or loss of
control
- fear of a heart attack or a stroke
- fear of losing one's mind fear of
dying
Treatment
Studies have shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy, medications,
or possibly a combination of the two, helps most people with panic
disorders. Two types of medications that have been shown to be safe
and effective in the treatment of panic disorder are antidepressants
and benzodiazepines.
Significant improvement is usually seen
within 6-8 weeks.
It is crucial to comply with treatment,
and to work closely with the therapist in order to achieve success.
Behavioral therapy
focuses on changing specific actions and uses different techniques to
stop this behavior. One technique involves diaphragmatic breathing
which is a form of deep-breathing. Another technique called exposure
therapy gradually exposes the patient to the object or situation which
frightens him/her and helps the patient to develop coping skills.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
teaches the persons new skills in order to react differently to the
situations which trigger the anxiety or panic attacks. Patients also
learn to understand how their thinking patterns contribute to the
symptoms and how to change their thinking to reduce or stop these
symptoms.
Source: National Mental Health
Association
