Am I Having a Panic Attack?

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.

Complementary or supplementary medicine is highly popular in the United States, as well as abroad. It has been estimated that as much as 40% of the U.S. population uses this form of medicine, and it is often used to treat panic attack disorder and its symptoms. This form of therapy includes herbal supplements, concentrated vitamins, amino acids, and fish oils. Some of the most common herbal medicines used to treat this particular disorder include:

• St. John’s Wort – This is the most popular form of alternative medication. The chemicals it contains, hyperforin and hypericin, are thought to contain anti depressive effects. Its effectiveness lies in the fact it promotes the maintenance and well being of key neurotransmitters in the brain, like serotonin, dopamine, and GABBA. The maintenance of these neurotransmitters is necessary to control mood fluctuations.

• Valerian Root – This naturally occurring supplement has a direct sedative effect on the central nervous system of the body. It is also commonly used to treat headaches and those who have difficulty sleeping. According to the results of clinical trials, when taken for thirty days or more, Valerian Root is effective at decreasing feelings of nervousness or anxiety.

• Rhodiola Rosea – This lesser known natural supplement is quite popular in Russia for its adaptogenic properties. Currently, the FDA is testing it in clinical trials. In preclinical trials, it has been found to support and maintain the major neurotransmitters in the brain. Furthermore, there is anecdotal evidence that is beneficial in promoting and supporting cognitive functions, like memory and attention.

• Bacopa – Bacopa is an all natural agent that is effective at calming and suppressing the negative effects that anxiety and panic disorder can have on a person. Clinical studies have shown that bacopa can also significantly improve insomnia and mental fatigue. By reducing the amount of stress an individual is under, the frequency and severity of their panic attacks are reduced.

• Ginseng – The beneficial properties of ginseng have been known to man for decades. However, recent clinical tests have shown that this supplement may be beneficial in treating panic attack disorder. Ginseng may also increase the effectiveness of cognitive functions, like memory quality and memory improvement.

Although behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy are the most common forms of therapy for panic attack disorder, there are several different forms of lesser known therapies that can be equally effective. For example, literary therapy involves the use books, articles, and writing materials to promote the process of healing. Through their writings, an individual is able to identify patterns that could potentially be harmful to them or antagonize their panic attacks. Once these patterns have been identified, the individual and their therapist can focus upon addressing them. This particular form of therapy is adept at allowing a person to resolve issues that may be causing stress in their lives, which can affect the frequency and the severity of their panic attacks.

In a similar manner, the idea of talk therapy incorporates the idea of healing through communication. A therapist can teach an individual how to seek out and establish a support network when the stress of their condition becomes overwhelming. Talk therapy can also be beneficial in identifying harmful patterns in one’s life and to discuss ideas on how to deal with these patterns. Simply having an individual who has a different perspective on a particular situation can be highly beneficial. This prevents the same issues from continually disrupting a person’s life. This form of therapy has the additional benefit in the fact that it can also improve the manners in which a person relates to another.

If an individual has developed avoidance syndrome or agoraphobia as a result of their panic attack disorder, then a therapist may choose to use exposure therapy as a means of treating their panic attack disorder. In exposure therapy, an individual is gradually exposed to the people, places, or social situations that they avoid under carefully controlled conditions. Through repeated exposure to the negative stimulus, the feared object or situation gradually loses its fearful properties. This allows an individual to gain a greater sense of control over their reactions to panic attacks in different locations. Furthermore, this form of therapy can alleviate the amount and duration of the stress that an individual lives with. Copious amounts of stress are often thought to increase the frequency and severity of a person’s panic attacks.

Although there are a variety of treatment options for panic attack disorder, before an individual engages in one particular form, he or she should consult their physician. Communicating with a doctor about the frequency and severity of their attacks will allow the doctor and the patient to choose the most effective form of therapy. For example, the patient and doctor may wish to first try holistic alternatives. These alternative “medicines” often include supplemental vitamins and minerals or herbal medications. Certain herbs, like St. John’s Wort or Kava Kava, are known to have a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Specific vitamins, like Vitamin B’s, promote the development of a healthy immune system, which may allow an individual’s body to more ably deal with the physical effects of panic attacks.

Therapy is the second most common form of panic attack disorder treatment. For example, behavioral therapy is designed to loosen the connections between a troublesome situation and how an individual physically reacts to the stimulus. A common example would be the fact that when a person has a panic attack, their first instinct is generally to run from the site of the attack. Rather than immediately fleeing the site, behavioral therapy would teach an individual techniques to calm their mind and their emotions, rather than giving into impulsive behaviors. When an individual can think clearly, he or she can make more rational decisions about their courses of action.

Cognitive therapy, which is another common form of therapy treatment for panic attack disorder, differs from behavioral therapy in that it teaches a person how certain thinking patterns can enhance and antagonize the symptoms of their disorder. Because these emotions are distorted, they provide an individual with an irrational manner of thinking. Gaining control over the cognitive aspects of a panic attack can lead to an increased amount of confidence, a more positive outlook, and a less frequent occurrence of the panic attacks. Cognitive therapy and behavioral therapy are often merged together to form a hybrid of the two types, which is known as cognitive behavioral therapy. This hybrid form of therapy is often used in conjunction with short-term medications to achieve the most effective results for sufferers of panic attacks. The short-term medications alleviate the immediate symptoms of the attacks, which allows a person to have time to master the finer techniques used in the therapy.

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.