Am I Having a Panic Attack?

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.

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.

Because the specific triggers for panic attacks often go undetermined, an individual who frequently suffers from them lives in constant fear of when the next one will occur. This persistent fear actually places an individual at an elevated risk for incurring another attack. The emotional feelings that a panic attack provokes in a person can often lead them to avoid certain social gatherings or settings. For example, if a person were to suffer a panic attack while driving in a car, he or she may encounter residual anxiety that prevents them from comfortably driving or riding in a car again. The lack of transportation can impact their lives in a variety of manners. The same principle can be applied to those who have panic attacks in grocery stores, workplaces, restaurants, or other frequented public locations.

Unfortunately, individuals who suffer from panic attacks are placed at an elevated risk for engaging in risky or destructive activities as they attempt to self medicate themselves. For example, if the attacks are severe and frequent enough, a person is at an elevated risk for engaging in alcohol or drug abuse. Similarly, these individuals also have a higher rate of attempted suicide than their unaffected counterparts. Due to the time and expense that are invested in emergency room visits, they may become financially dependent upon friends or family members. Because they may not feel emotionally or physically well, they are also less likely to engage in hobbies, sports, or other beneficial activities.

As aforementioned, in the most extreme cases, untreated panic attacks can cause a person to develop “situational avoidance”. Situational avoidance can potentially lead to the development of agoraphobia, which is substantially more difficult to treat. The fear of a panic attack becomes so debilitating that an individual would rather remain shuttered away in their home. Despite the seriousness of panic attack disorder, it is important for a person to bear in mind that even if they have suffered one or two panic attacks, they do not necessarily have panic attack disorder. The primary symptom of this disorder is a perpetual dread of when the next attack will occur. However, if this symptom applies to an individual, he or she should seek professional, medical treatment.