According to statistics published by the U.S. National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) approximately 6 million adult Americans suffer panic attacks, most of them experiencing their first episode in early adulthood. About one-third of panic disorder (frequent occurrence) sufferers will also develop “agoraphobia” meaning they will have significant restrictions in their ability to venture from their homes and to carry on with daily obligations. Some cases of panic disorder can be related to physical illnesses.
Panic Attack Symptoms
These escalated episodes of anxiety symptoms might be referred to as a “climax of anxiety” because of the sudden and powerful manifestation of them. The symptoms of panic include severe fear reactions, increases in breathing and heart rate, the need to go to the bathroom (increased urination and bowel movements), profuse sweating and muscle tension and an urge to escape. Some people who suffer panic attacks also experience unreality type symptoms, referred to as derealization and depersonalization which cause self and/or surroundings to feel unreal and foggy. Panic sufferers often fear they will lose control, suffer a heart attack, experience sudden death or lose their sanity.
Triggers for Panic
Another term for a phobia that can set off panic symptoms can also be referred to as a “trigger” that causes the episodes. These can be different for each person but some examples of triggers would be things like being in a crowd of people, feeling trapped in a dentist chair, being called upon to speak in front of an audience, seeing an animal or insect a person fears or even something as simple as standing in line at a department store check-out stand. All anxiety disorders can have panic attacks associated with them and chronic stress or trauma that leads to feeling overwhelmed may become triggers as well. The triggered anxiety mechanism, is called the "fight or flight response".
Self Education an Important Anxiety Therapy
One important aspect in gaining coping abilities and in possibly overcoming panic symptoms completely is for panic sufferers to learn about their anxiety condition. This type of self-education helps them to see anxiety as a natural emotion, designed as a safety feature to help them escape from or protect their selves from real dangers or to perform tasks that require additional inspiration and energy. Patients with chronic anxiety can begin to recognize their anxiety as something meant to help them, rather than hinder them and may lend toward an ability to work better with the emotion in positive ways rather than suffering negative effects from it.
Panic Treatments
Other therapies that include self-education as previously described include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Breathing and Muscle Relaxation Techniques, exercise and meditation. Diet improvements can also help by eliminating refined sugars (candy, pie, cake, cookies and soft drinks) which can cause blood-sugar (glucose) to also drop adversely or what is referred to as “hypoglycemia”. Replacing these unhealthy foods with healthy ones and eliminating stimulants that can contribute to anxiety can be helpful as well. Stimulants that can aggravate anxiety symptoms include caffeine, alcohol and tobacco products.
Prescription and Natural Anti-Anxiety Drugs and Remedies
Prescription as-needed anti-anxiety medications can also help such as Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin if a treating doctor determines a patient needs them. Daily regimen medications may also be prescribed that require daily dosing, including Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro and Zoloft. Natural over-the-counter anxiety-reducing remedies include Valerian extract, Panicyl, St. John’s Wort, Passion Flower, Bach's Rescue Remedy and SAMe. Any natural supplements should be taken at the manufacturer’s suggested dose and should be approved by a doctor as a precaution against any adverse risks they might pose if they are not compatible with other treatments a patient is undergoing.
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