A Broad Summary Pertaining To Panic Attacks Information

By Franko Marko

Panic attacks are a reaction to irrational fears and includes various symptoms like increased heart rate, dizziness and breathing problems. These few symptoms tend to be common to everyone having panic attacks although there are a number of others that could happen.

They come on suddenly without warning due to an irrational fear that the individual might have. Although the triggers of individuals may be very different for each person, there are commonalities in their fear of the panic attack itself. Many sufferers think they are having heart attacks when it is actually a panic attack while others worry they ma be dying. The first time someone has a panic attack they are understandably confused about what is going on. Finding out about what a panic attack is can often be the biggest help for a victim. The original fear often take s back seat to the worry of having another panic attack.

Despite the number of treatment options available some people don't seek help. Medication, therapy and relaxation techniques have all be shown as successful in managing and beating panic attacks. Behavioral therapy allows the person to feel some of the symptoms of a panic attack but helps the person to understand that the symptom itself is nothing to fear. This technique has been called interceptive exposure. An example would be encouraging someone to experience what an increased heart rate feels like in a controlled environment. The person then learns that although they have this feeling it does not always bring on a panic attack and they can handle it. Behavioral therapy also includes real life exposure. This would involve being exposed to certain 'stress point' so they can become accustomed to them.

There are many different relaxation techniques that have shown themselves useful for panic attacks. First of all it is helpful to relax their shoulders when they feel a panic attack building. Removing tension out of the neck is very important. You can achieve complete body relaxation by relaxing the muscles. Controlling your breathing is also very important to overcoming a panic attacks.

This is because panic attacks usually elevate your heart rate. The person can out slowly through their mouth as if blowing out birthday candles in order to slow the breathing. The key is to decrease fear and worry and it is clear that knowing more about panic attacks can help a person overcome them.

Panic attacks are a kind of panic disorder related to anxiety. There are a variety of panic disorders. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is also an anxiety related panic disorder normally centered around the loss of a loved one or another traumatic event. OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, is another way in which anxiety can produce a panic disorder. With OCD victims will try to deal with unwanted thoughts by controlling them with repetitive and compulsive mannerisms. This is why many OCD victims perform repeated and ritualistic behaviors. - 30437

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