Am I Having a Panic Attack?

As with anxiety disorders, the underlying causes that can cause panic attacks are varied. Current clinical evidence is showing that the development of panic attack disorder may be caused in part by genetics and hereditary factors. On the other hand, there is also clinical evidence that could prove that panic attacks are a learned response by the human body, and panic attacks can be produced in an otherwise healthy person given the right circumstances. Life experience, like physical abuse or molestation, or certain lifestyle choices may also contribute to the frequency and severity of an individual’s attacks. These potential causes of panic attacks are currently being studied in depth at universities and other medical research facilities.

A panic disorder is considered to be a different diagnosis from that of panic attacks, but the two conditions are interrelated. Individuals who suffer from panic attacks and who meet other criteria may be diagnosed with a panic disorder. Panic disorder is believed to be caused by more genetic and hereditary factors than panic attacks that are not directly related to the disorder. Specific medical conditions, which include asthma and heart disease, can produce panic attacks that are not caused by a panic disorder. Similarly, the consumption of certain medications, like steroids, can also produce panic attacks as a symptom. Interestingly, individuals who are diagnosed with a panic disorder are placed at an increased risk of having a particular heart valve abnormality, which is referred to as mitral valve prolapse. Confirming the diagnosis of this condition is important, because it can alter the manner in which future medical procedures are formed.

Currently, there are also medical studies being conducted that are evaluating the effects that nutritional deficiencies, like zinc or magnesium, may have upon panic attacks. In addition, the consumption of certain food additives, like aspartame and food dyes, are thought to trigger the development of panic attacks in certain individuals. However, further research is needed in these areas before conclusions can be drawn. Clinical studies and trials have shown that individuals who internalize their feelings are at an increased risk for developing panic attacks. For these individuals, physical illness or another life crisis can serve as the catalyst for the development of panic attacks. The primary difficulty in diagnosing panic attacks is that the cause of the attacks varies so widely from person to person; however, as more research is being performed, the medical community is gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of this condition.

It has been estimated that as much as 47% of individuals with panic attack disorder self medicate with psychoactive drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both. Whether taken for recreational purposes or self medication purposes, the use of alcohol can be rather detrimental to a patient’s health. Beverages or medication that contain alcohol often exasperate the symptoms that a person feels during an attack, like an accelerated heart rate. Interestingly, in many clinical studies, the use of cannabis has been known to contribute to the development of a panic attack. In The Journal of Substance Abuse, a study was published in 2000 that examined the effects of alcohol abuse in those who suffered from panic attacks. The results yielded that those who used alcohol and drugs to medicate themselves experienced a significant increase in the frequency and severity of their attacks compared to those who used healthy controls.

The use of alcohol and drugs to self medicate may initially alleviate the symptoms of a panic attack. However, when used over extended periods of time, this form of self medication causes dependency and addiction. During alcohol or drug withdrawal syndrome, the symptoms of panic attack disorder worsen. This increase in the severity of the attacks is due to the fact that alcohol and drug usage distorts the brain’s chemistry and function. Withdrawal from certain prescription drugs, like benzodiazepines, can also produce similar withdrawal effects. Generally, these symptoms will lessen and disappear within the succeeding months. In contrast, it is possible for panic attack disorder to be a direct result of years of alcohol or drug abuse.

Adolescents who suffer from panic attack disorder are at an increased risk for potentially becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. Their dependency upon these substances also puts them at an elevated risk for later suicide attempts. Furthermore, dependency upon these substances can interfere additionally with an individual’s ability to lead a normal and productive lifestyle. In order to successfully avoid the use of these substances, it is imperative that an individual builds a support network underneath themselves, consisting of family and friends. Additional treatment may be needed for underlying emotional issues or depression. Besides therapy and medication, there is also a wide range of support groups that a person can choose to employ for their benefit.

When it comes to patients who suffer from panic attack disorder, therapy and prescription medications can be highly effective in treating the disorder. However, there are also effective self help techniques that a person can engage in as well.

• Learn about the disorder. – Educating one’s self about the different aspects of the condition can allow a person to learn how to deal with each of them as they arise. The multiple sensations and experiences that a person feels during an attack can be rather disorienting. Furthermore, as the individual begins to perform research, he or she will learn about the resources that are available for individuals with this condition.

• Avoid the use of nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine products. – Because they serve as stimulants, tobacco and caffeine products can antagonize the symptoms of a panic attack. They also serve to keep the central nervous system in a heightened state of alert, which may make an individual more susceptible to a panic attack. Caffeinated beverages include carbonated sodas and coffee. There are also certain medications, like diet pills and cold medication, which also contain stimulants. Alcohol is actually considered a depressant for the human body, but many individuals who suffer from panic attacks use alcohol to self medicate. This can allow alcohol to become a physical or psychological coping technique, which encourages dependency.

• Breathing techniques. – During a panic attack, hyperventilation often occurs. This form of irregular breathing can intensify the symptoms that a person feels during an attack, like light-headedness and the tightness of the chest. On the other hand, deep breathing techniques can force a person’s body to relax. This coping technique can allow an individual to relax their body in a variety of situations when they begin to feel stress.

• Practice relaxation techniques. – Certain forms of exercise, like yoga and meditation, can actually strengthen the body’s ability to relax, which is essential in combating the negative symptoms that a panic attack produces. In addition to promoting relaxation, these techniques can also increase a person’s overall well being if they are incorporated into a person’s daily routine.

The most common forms of medication that are used in the treatment of panic attack disorder are tranquilizers and benzodiazepines. The calming effect that they have upon the central nervous system has made them highly popular within the medical community. These medications may also be prescribed for sleeping pills or muscle relaxers. Of the two medications, benzodiazepines are the most common medication, and the most popular brands of benzodiazepines include Xanax, Valium, and Ativan. This class of drugs is rather fast acting, and they generally begin to take effect within thirty to sixty minutes of being ingested. Even though most panic attacks do not exceed thirty minutes in length, benzodiazepines can work quickly to alleviate the more severe symptoms.

For all of their beneficial properties, there are some drawbacks to the use of tranquilizers and benzodiazepines. In order to achieve their calming effects, these drugs temporarily reduce the amount of brain activity that is occurring at that moment. The higher the dose of the medication, the more pronounced its side effects would become. About half of the patients that use these drugs experience periods of sleepiness, fogginess, and a lack of coordination. These symptoms could potentially interfere with a person’s ability to do their homework, their work at their place of employment, or the performance of everyday activities, like driving. The most common symptoms displayed by a person who uses benzodiazepines include drowsiness, disorientation, blurred vision, and nausea.

Benzodiazepines are not designed to be used by individuals who are over sixty five, pregnant or nursing mothers, or individuals that have a history of substance abuse. There is also a small risk of dependency with the use of these drugs. In order to determine if the use of these medications are right for an individual or not, then he or she should examine the pros and cons of the medication with their primary care physician. It should also be borne in mind that most doctors prescribe the use of this medication in conjunction with different forms of therapy. The medicine is generally taken for a period of three months or less in order to alleviates the worst of a person’s panic attack symptoms. This period of time allows the individual to have the time to master the finer points of the techniques they will be taught in therapy.

Although the terms “anxiety attack” and “panic attack” are often used interchangeably, there are those who view their differences as a matter of semantics. However, in terms of a clinical setting, each disorder is characterized by different features. A panic attack is considered to be the primary feature of panic disorder, as defined by the DSM-IV-TR. The term anxiety attack is not recognized by the DSM, rather, it is viewed as the definitive symptom of several diseases that fall under the umbrella term “anxiety disorders”. Other differences between the two conditions exist in the intensity and the duration of the symptoms that a patient endures. Educating one’s self about the differences between the two conditions will allow them to make informed decisions regarding their treatment.

When a panic attack occurs, the onset is sudden and severe. During most attacks, the symptoms peak within ten minutes of its onset, but the entire episode may last up to thirty minutes. In some rare instances, the attacks may occur in rapid succession, but it can be difficult to determine because the duration of each attack varies amongst individuals. According to the DSM, a panic attack is characterized by at least four symptoms from a list of thirteen. The most common symptoms on this list include heart palpitations, sweating or chills, trembling or shaking, an inability to breathe, or chest pain or discomfort. Primarily, a panic attack is characterized by feelings of sudden and intense fear.

On the other hand, the symptoms of an anxiety attack generally tend to intensify over a period of time, and the intensity of these symptoms are directly correlated to the amount of worry an individual has. Physically, the symptoms of an anxiety attack are rather similar to those of panic attacks. The most common symptoms of an anxiety attack include an inability to sleep, muscle tension, irritability, heart palpitations, and restlessness. While the symptoms of these two conditions may look indistinguishable from one another, the symptoms of an anxiety attack are generally less intense. Another distinction between the two conditions is that anxiety symptoms are persistent, and they may last for weeks or months. To treat panic attacks, most doctors will prescribe a combination of therapy and medication. To treat an anxiety attack, only medication will be used. Finally, anxiety attacks generally do not produce other medical conditions like panic attacks can, like agoraphobia or avoidance syndrome.