Am I Having a Panic Attack?

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.

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.

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.