| Panic attacks symptoms - what are they? How can | | | | (increased heart rate), more adrenalin and other |
| you be sure that you're not having a panic attack? In | | | | chemicals so that we can best deal with the threat |
| this article, I'll show you how you can figure it out. | | | | (usually by running away). |
| Symptoms Are Not Enough | | | | In people who get panic attacks, the slightest thing can |
| Here is a list of the common symptoms of a panic | | | | trigger this system into running into full overdrive. For |
| attack. But as you will soon see, just a list is not | | | | example, just a single thought or seeing something on |
| enough to know if you have panic attacks. You need | | | | TV or the wrong type of food can lead the system |
| to know more about how the symptoms "come on". | | | | into a massive shock, as if your life depended on it. All |
| Some of the symptoms of a panic attack include: | | | | this can be happening while you are simply sitting on |
| profuse sweating, heart palpitations, chest and | | | | the couch at home. |
| abdominal pains, fear of impending death, chills, fever | | | | That is why you need to look at your symptoms and |
| like symptoms, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation and | | | | ask yourself - did they all suddenly happen? Or did it |
| more. | | | | take several hours? Do the symptoms last several |
| As you can see, many of these symptoms are also | | | | hours? Or do you feel really bad and worried at the |
| associated with other conditions. So how do you know | | | | same time and then they are gone within the hour? |
| if you are a panic attack sufferer? | | | | Treatment |
| Timing | | | | The best treatment for panic attacks is not drugs but |
| First of all, a panic attack comes along and then goes | | | | a form of therapy called CBT (cognitive behavioral |
| away. A typical panic attack lasts between 15 and 30 | | | | therapy). There are 2 ways to do CBT. |
| minutes long. The symptoms will then subside until the | | | | One is to have your doctor refer you to a therapist. |
| next attack occurs. | | | | He or she will break apart your thought processes that |
| If you are reading this and you no longer have the | | | | lead to a panic attack and try to help you modify your |
| symptoms then you might have had a panic attack. | | | | thinking in the very early stages, so that you never |
| But we need to know yet more about your problem | | | | have a panic attack. |
| first. | | | | There are also self-help programs. They also seek to |
| Quick Onset | | | | break the cycle in the early stages. But the major |
| With a panic attack, these symptoms come on very, | | | | advantage they have over traditional therapists is that |
| very quickly. Here's why: | | | | you also train yourself in specific techniques to prevent |
| The body contains something called the sympathetic | | | | panic attacks - remember that many traditional |
| nervous system. This is a part of us that controls our | | | | therapists do not have any specific panic attack |
| "fight or flight" response. When we see a threat, the | | | | training. |
| body gives us more sweat (to cool us), more blood | | | | |