When Anxiety Attacks Leads to Panic Disorder

Most people have probable experienced panic when they have forgotten to do something important. However, the alert heart beat slowed down quickly, the sweaty hands got dry in a short time and before they knew it they were breathing normally and regained their calm. But not all people can calm down so easily. In fact, there are people who do not realize that they worry about trifle things and their condition worsens instead of getting better. This latter category of people suffers from an anxiety disorder, most specifically panic disorder.

In Charles Goodwin’s view, MD and professor of psychiatry, panic disorder is a universal anxiety brought to extreme. Moreover it represents the impossibility of an individual to fight against this universal anxiety. Because of this inability people suffering from panic disorder respond abnormally to normal situations which they consider dangerous.

The symptoms experienced by a panic sufferer are very similar to those of a heart attack. This is why most of the people who have had panic attacks thought they are going to die. Another sensation experienced by the panic sufferers is that of going insane.

These mental conditions have also very serious physical manifestations which look like severe health problems. The patient may be experiencing acute pain in the chest, chocking, dizziness, nausea, feeling numb, shaking, alert beating of the heart and tingling sensations. Because of this panic disorder is a condition which should be addressed as soon as possible.

This condition can be triggered by anything, even by situations which may seem banal for a normal person, and can happen in any place and at any time. For fear of being struck by a panic attack in a crowded place or around people whom they do not know, most panic sufferers refuse to get out of their homes. This fear of leaving the home is called agoraphobia and it is another form of anxiety.

Even though this condition is mainly regarded as a genetic one, there are ways in which it can be diagnosed and treated. The first step in getting things right again for panic sufferers is to diagnose the condition. In order to do this they should undergo a complete evaluation including a physical one. There other health problems and substance abuse will be looked for and addressed if necessary.

Then panic disorder is treated by using both therapy and medication. The patients are counseled by psychiatrists and therapists who encourage them to overstep their fears. They are asked to evaluate normal situations and see which of their fears are realistic and which are not and are taught how to cope with their feelings. Also, they are prescribed antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, which will make their recuperation smoother.

This condition is quite hard to live with, as both the physical and the emotional sensation are severe. The good news is that, with appropriate medication and therapy, it can be treated and that people who suffered panic attacks can get their normal life back.