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.

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.

It has been estimated that more than three million Americans suffer from panic attacks and panic attack disorder. While the onset of this disease generally occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood, there are many children who suffer from the disease as well. If the symptoms of this affliction are not recognized and treated, it can have numerous negative effects on a child. It could potentially affect how they interact with other children, their schoolwork, and their overall general development. In addition to increased levels of anxiety, they may begin to avoid certain places or social situations that might provoke the onset of an attack, similar to how adults would. Because of the fluctuating hormone levels of young children and those in early adolescence, they may also be placed at an increased risk of attempted suicide.

Unlike adults, the diagnosis of panic attack disorder in children can be particularly difficult to diagnose. It may require multiple visits to doctors and numerous medical tests, which may become expensive. Fortunately, when correctly diagnosed and treated, most children respond incredibly well to treatment. If a parent is concerned that panic attack disorder might be the root cause of their child’s problems, then they should request that an adolescent psychiatrist evaluate their child. The most common symptoms of panic attacks that are displayed by children include intense fearfulness, heart palpitations, an inability to breathe, and a sense of having an “out of body” experience.

There are several forms of treatment for children that are especially effective. Psychotherapy can teach a child to reduce stress or conflicts that can cause a panic attack. In cognitive behavioral therapy, a child is taught to identify and modify the negative thought patterns that occur during an attack. Often times, short-term medications are also given to a child. These medications alleviate the worst of the stress and the symptoms of panic attack disorder so that they can gain a firm grasp of the techniques they are taught during therapy. An encouraging fact is the one that most children “grow out of” their panic attacks over time. Regardless of the forms of treatment that are used, it is important to ensure that a child receives it in order to avoid the complications that can arise from panic attacks, like agoraphobia or substance abuse.

Q. Are panic attacks life threatening?

A. The symptoms associated with panic attacks, like accelerated heart beat, chest pains, and rapid breathing are mistaken for those of a heart attack or stroke. The feelings of panic that a person experiences can convince them that they are “dying” or are about to suffer mortal harm. In reality, these feelings are the body’s emotional response to the increased levels of adrenaline in a person’s body. While a panic attack is unpleasant at best, it rarely produces lasting, harmful effects.

Q. What are the symptoms of a panic attack?

A. Panic attacks are primarily characterized by sudden, inexplicable bouts of intense fear. When a person is experiencing stress in their lives, the symptoms can become intensified. Other common symptoms of panic attacks include chest pains, heart palpitations, difficulties breathing, and feelings of dizziness and lightheadedness. The gauntlet of symptoms is different for each individual, and these other symptoms can range from a fear of death to intestinal issues to chills or hot flashes.

Q. What does the research on panic attacks say?

A. The National Institute of Mental Health is one of the primary researchers in the field of panic attacks and its symptoms. Their current research is focused the role that genetics may play in the development of panic attacks. There are also a plethora of new drugs that being researched in clinical trials. Furthermore, ongoing studies are focusing on the role that life experience plays in the intensity of panic attacks.

Q. How does panic attacks affect a person’s life?

A. The manners in which panic attacks affect a person’s life vary for each individual. Because panic attacks can occur at anytime or anyplace, an individual may develop avoidance syndrome as they attempt to avoid places where attacks have occurred. In more severe cases, an individual might develop agoraphobia. Since an individual can encounter attacks at any moment, a patient often encounters raised levels of stress in their general lives.

Despite the frequency or severity of an individual’s attacks, it is important for this person to bear in mind that this condition is not their fault. The exact causes of panic attack disorder are undetermined, and the symptoms most often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood. With proper treatment and medication, an individual can lead a normal and productive life. Panic attack disorder does not have to define a person’s life.