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Manic Monday: What To Do When A Panic Attack Strikes

I have panic attacks from time to time and what is scary about having these is that I never know when one will hit. There are certain situations that will cause me to have panic attacks but it doesn’t happen every time that I am in that particular situation. For me it’s unpredictable and that can be very frustrating. I find that I am also more likely to have a panic attack when I haven’t been able to sleep. How do you know if you are having a panic attack? Here are some of the symptoms:

• Heart starts pounding really hard
• Sweating regardless of the weather outside
• Shaky, out of control feeling
• Gasping for breath
• Numbness in the hands and feet

One symptom I often experience when having a panic attack is a disoriented feeling. I feel as though what is going on around me isn’t really happening. It’s a weird feeling and hard to describe.

Women are twice as likely as men to have panic attacks but scientists aren’t sure why that is. It may be due to genetics and the fact that women are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. The hormonal changes in women can also be a reason for panic attacks - particularly during adolescence, pregnancy and menopause.

Dr. Lilian Gonsalves, vice chair of the department of psychiatry and psychology at the Cleveland Clinic, says some scientists think that hormonal fluctuation may upset the balance of chemicals in the brain that modulate fear and anxiety, triggering a panic attack.

While some women start having panic attacks during late adolescence, many others don’t have issues until they reach perimenopause. This is the period that can occur years before menopause where a woman’s hormones fluctuate wildly. Hot flashes and lack of sleep are two symptoms of perimenopause.

For those who suffer from frequent panic attacks, they are at a higher risk for depression, substance abuse and suicide. Some research also indicates that women who have repeated attacks are at higher risk of death. This is why it is so important to be treated promptly for repeated and/or frequent panic attacks.

There are different medications available to help those who suffer from panic attacks. Different medications work differently for each person. It may take a combination of medications, antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, to help some patients. Cognitive behavior therapy is also used to treat panic attacks. Typically a combination of the two is used for best results. CBT uses relaxation exercises to help people learn how to deal with panic attacks and what causes them.

Many people find that drugs help control the problem until they can find a behavioral therapy that works, after which drugs may no longer be necessary. It’s often advisable to avoid caffeine or alcohol, which can bring on symptoms in some people. Research has also shown that regular exercise and activities such as yoga may reduce the severity and number of attacks.

It may take six to eight weeks for antidepressants to take full effect but many patients may start noticing some relief after just two weeks. For those who don’t respond well to antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications (about 20%), doctors have likely missed an underlying medical condition that is causing the attacks.

Source: Newsweek

You can read more posts by Sandy Robinson at her other health blogs: Fighting Fatigue & IC Disease. Sandy also writes for the American Idolist site on WebbleYou.

Posted by Sandy Robinson | Chronic Health Blog | WebbleYou Blog Network | © 2008 |
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