| Understanding Panic Attacks | | | | feet to start sweating. The scent of the detergent |
| Cold sweat, heart palpitations, chest pains, breathing | | | | probably reminded you of a traumatic incident involving |
| difficulties and overwhelming fear-all of these | | | | this type of laundry soap. Other people who have |
| conditions can lead to a panic attacks anxiety disorder. | | | | serious panic attacks anxiety disorders even get |
| All of us have experienced a panic attack at some | | | | attacks when they see a car or when they hear a |
| point in our lives. This kind of attack is usually caused | | | | certain song. Different things can trigger symptoms of |
| by severe anxiety or fear and because symptoms | | | | an attack, such as traumatic childhood incidents, |
| are similar to those of heart attacks (such as chest | | | | accidents, life-threatening experiences or even physical |
| pains), most of these attacks are misdiagnosed and | | | | abuse. |
| left untreated. They then develop into severe, | | | | 4. The symptoms of an attack differ from person to |
| debilitating disorders like agoraphobia (the fear of open | | | | person. Cold sweats, palpitations, difficulty breathing, |
| spaces and crowds). | | | | nausea, trembling, clammy hands and feet-these are |
| Anxiety attacks can take people by surprise and can | | | | some of the symptoms of an attack caused by |
| be very frightening. But if you have them regularly, it is | | | | severe anxiety. But some people may experience all |
| best to get help before they develop into a panic | | | | of them, while others may just feel one or two severe |
| attacks anxiety disorder. The first important step that | | | | symptoms. There are a few who even get heart |
| you can take to prevent these attacks into becoming | | | | attacks because of the severity of their anxiety |
| disorders is to understand what they are. Below are | | | | attacks. |
| some key points and information that can help you | | | | 5. An attack can be prevented and stopped before it |
| understand how attacks happen and how they can be | | | | becomes worse. Many people have learned how to |
| stopped. | | | | cope with these attacks and have even learned to |
| 1. Most of these attacks are caused by anxiety, stress | | | | stop them from happening. The best way to stop |
| and fear. It is normal to be scared or to feel stress and | | | | these attacks from becoming more serious is to learn |
| anxiety. Sometimes, though, these emotions can be so | | | | and practice good relaxation methods. Techniques like |
| strong that they lead to severe panic attacks. There | | | | proper slow breathing, visualization of calm, serene |
| are also times that you might feel the symptoms of an | | | | images or even relaxing music can help soothe the |
| attack even if there is little or no reason to be scared | | | | mind and body and stop these attacks from becoming |
| or stressed. These symptoms (chest pains, dizziness, | | | | worse. |
| palpitations, cold sweats) may also be accompanied | | | | 6. Even a disorder stemming from these attacks can |
| by an overwhelming fear of going crazy, losing control | | | | be treated. People whose attacks have developed |
| or even dying. These can last from about ten minutes | | | | into serious disorders can seek help and treatment. |
| to as long as an hour. | | | | Disorders, like panic attacks anxiety disorders, can |
| 2. Anxiety Attacks can happen to anyone at any time. | | | | prevent sufferers from going out of their homes, |
| These attacks do not choose whether you are male | | | | meeting people or even enjoying everyday things. But |
| or female, rich or poor, a teenager or an old man. Even | | | | medication, seeing a good therapist and learning proper |
| children as young as ten years old may feel the | | | | relaxation techniques can help treat this disorder and |
| symptoms of these attacks. A panic attack can even | | | | prevent it from becoming worse. |
| happen while you are sleeping or even when you're | | | | Anxiety, stress and fear can lead to severe emotional |
| driving or sitting in class. Sometimes, people think that | | | | distress, which can in turn, lead to serious disorders. But |
| an attack is a simple case of nerves or common | | | | you can prevent this from happening by learning more |
| anxiety. But if these attacks occur often and increase | | | | about anxiety and stress, as well as how they can |
| in intensity, they can develop into more serious | | | | lead to many different symptoms of a serious attack. |
| disorders. | | | | With a clear, calm mind, sufficient knowledge and |
| 3. Many things can trigger symptoms of these attacks. | | | | learning proper relaxation techniques, you will not have |
| Something as seemingly mundane as the scent of | | | | to worry about stress, anxiety attacks or panic |
| laundry detergent can cause your heart to palpitate, | | | | attacks. |
| your breathing to become faster and your hands and | | | | |