| Fear...heart palpitations...terror, a sense | | | | family and friends, or even wake you from a |
| of impending doom...dizziness...fear of fear. | | | | sound sleep. There are many different reasons |
| The words used to describe panic disorder are | | | | that a panic attack may take place, but the |
| often frightening. But there is great hope: | | | | most common explanation by far is stress. |
| Treatment can benefit virtually everyone who | | | | |
| has this condition. It is extremely important | | | | We all experience stress from time to time, |
| for the person who has panic disorder to | | | | but as this stress builds up in the body, it |
| learn about the problem and the availability | | | | can sometimes get to be overwhelming. Many |
| of effective treatments and to seek help. | | | | people can deal with stress easily and not |
| | | | even have to worry about it, while for others |
| In panic disorder, brief episodes of intense | | | | their minds and bodies do not know what to do |
| fear are accompanied by multiple physical | | | | with themselves and this can end up resulting |
| symptoms (such as heart palpitations and | | | | in a panic attack. Although stress may be one |
| dizziness) that occur repeatedly and | | | | of the most major contributing factors to |
| unexpectedly in the absence of any external | | | | panic attacks, it is important to realize |
| threat. These "panic attacks," which are the | | | | that they are no longer being dismissed as |
| hallmark of panic disorder, are believed to | | | | minor incidences but rather are recognized as |
| occur when the brain's normal mechanism for | | | | being a potentially disabling but treatable |
| reacting to a threat - the so-called "fight | | | | condition. |
| or flight" response - becomes inappropriately | | | | |
| aroused. Most people with panic disorder also | | | | There are actually quite a few different |
| feel anxious about the possibility of having | | | | treatment methods that are available to help |
| another panic attack and avoid situations in | | | | with panic attacks. Medication is one of the |
| which they believe these attacks are likely | | | | most commonly used treatment methods for |
| to occur. Anxiety about another attack, and | | | | panic attacks, and antidepressant medications |
| the avoidance it causes, can lead to | | | | are most commonly prescribed. This includes |
| disability in panic disorder. | | | | Zoloft, Paxil, and Prozac as the top three |
| | | | antidepressants, although many others are |
| The disorder typically begins in young | | | | available as well. Cognitive behavior therapy |
| adulthood, but older people and children can | | | | has also proven to be very effective at |
| be affected. Women are affected twice as | | | | treating panic attacks. This is a type of |
| frequently as men. While people of all races | | | | therapy where you are taught how to better |
| and social classes can have panic disorder, | | | | understand and deal with your panic attacks. |
| there appear to be cultural differences in | | | | The psychiatrist will work with you and help |
| how individual symptoms are expressed. | | | | you to recognize the different things in life |
| | | | that tend to trigger your panic attacks, and |
| A panic attack is something that is very | | | | learn how to deal with them so that they are |
| important to understand. An alarming number | | | | not triggers in the future. |
| of people suffer from panic attacks on a | | | | |
| regular basis, and you may even be | | | | For instance if you are avoiding certain |
| experiencing panic attacks and not even know | | | | situations in life because of your panic |
| it. Panic attacks can be incredibly | | | | attacks, this cognitive behavior therapy will |
| frightening and may even make you feel as | | | | help you to overcome this avoidance, which |
| though you are dying. A panic attack can | | | | most likely is affecting your quality of |
| happen anywhere at any time, without giving | | | | life. Therapy should be a long term process |
| you any type of advance warning. A panic | | | | and if you take it seriously you are likely |
| attack may occur when you are alone, out with | | | | to see some great results. |