People learned about the existence of attacks of sudden anxiety not so long ago. So, it is not surprising that many do not know the reasons why a panic attack may occur, as well as ways to deal with it.
And this despite the fact that 10% of the population, that is, one in ten, suffers from such attacks!
Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail what constitutes a mental attack, the symptoms and treatment of this disease. As they say, forewarned is forearmed.
What are mental (panic) attacks
So what is this until recently unknown disease?
A psychic attack is a sudden attack of intense fear. It occurs unexpectedly for a person, develops very quickly and reaches its peak within a few minutes. Moreover, such an attack can happen not only during the day, but also at night, even during sleep.
The strength of such a phenomenon does not depend on the circumstances surrounding a person.
The place of mental disorders in the modern world
Panic attacks can be not only one-off, but can also be a sign of serious mental disorders.
Psychic attacks have become a real problem in the US. Today, about 60 million people there (which is 20% of the population) suffer from various panic disorders, and about 3 million more people (1.7% of the population) have experienced a pronounced mental disorder at least once in their lives.
Most often, people aged 15-19 suffer from bouts of mental attacks, but still no one is safe from them.
Causes of psychic attacks
Loss of psychological balance can also provoke psychic attacks. The reasons why this happens may be the following:
- stress;
- chronic fatigue;
- presence of mental and somatic diseases;
- use of substances that stimulate the psyche;
- problems and hard life circumstances.
The first attack can occur during adolescence, during pregnancy, after the birth of a child or during menopause. This is due to significant changes in the hormonal levels in the body.
In addition, there may be internal prerequisites for the manifestation of the disease. These include: neuropsychiatric or somatic diseases, drug addiction, alcoholism.
It must be remembered that such a disease (psychic attacks) does not occur without certain prerequisites in the form of he alth problems. Early appearance of psychic attacksconsidered a sign of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Psychic attack symptoms
A panic attack is not the only confirmation of such a disorder as a mental attack. Symptoms can be varied. But there are certain criteria by which this pathology is diagnosed.
So, if a person is really having a psychic attack, the symptoms may be as follows:
- increased perspiration;
- increased heart rate and pulse;
- trembling, chills;
- shortness of breath and feeling short of breath;
- suffocation;
- abdominal pain that may be accompanied by nausea;
- discomfort or pain in the left side of the chest;
- pre-fainting, dizziness, unsteadiness;
- numbness of the limbs and a feeling of "goosebumps" on the skin;
- alternating hot and cold;
- having a feeling that everything that happens is unreal;
- fear of dying;
- fear of going crazy or doing something unexpected.
As you can see, there are many manifestations. An attack of mental attack combines at least four of the above symptoms. At the same time, panic, fear and anxiety do not leave the patient within 10 minutes.
After these symptoms, a psychic attack can go to the next stage, which manifests itself in the form of an agoraphobic syndrome - fear of going out, riding public transport. The longer the duration of this state, the greater the possibility of depression, during whichthere is a decrease in a person's social activity, fatigue increases, appetite worsens, sleep disorders and problems with sexual life appear.
How to relieve a psychic attack without help
It is necessary to remember one important detail: you can learn to control attacks of fear and anxiety on your own. Therefore, it is important not to get confused during the next attack, but to know exactly what to do during psychic attacks.
There are many methods and methods of control, but one of the most effective in practice is the method of breath control. Its principle is very simple - you need to slow down your breathing to 4-5 breaths per minute. Take a deep breath (as far as possible), then hold your breath for a couple of seconds and exhale deeply. It is best to do this with your eyes closed to feel the movement of the muscles and lungs.
After several such breaths and exhalations, the panic attack begins to recede and soon completely disappears.
Diagnosis of mental attacks
If there are at least four signs of a psychic attack (we talked about them above), you should immediately contact a therapist for a more detailed diagnosis.
The doctor will prescribe the necessary tests for the patient and send him for an electrocardiogram.
If necessary, additional examinations by a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist may be needed.
After all examinations and test results are received in an individu althe necessary treatment for psychic attacks is selected in order. It can be done as a course of medication, psychotherapy or hypnosis.
Medication for panic attacks
In most cases, the treatment of mental attacks is carried out with the help of medications, as this is the most effective way to get rid of this type of disorder.
The most effective treatment is carried out with the help of groups of drugs such as:
- Tranquilizers.
- Antidepressants.
- Neuroleptics.
The required group of drugs or any one remedy (for example, one of the antidepressants) is selected separately in each case, depending on the nature of the course and the accompanying symptoms of a mental attack.
At the same time, the drug treatment itself includes two stages:
- Psychic attack elimination.
- Prevention of the occurrence of a recurrent attack and its secondary symptoms (depression, etc.) in the future.
Psychic attack is eliminated with the help of tranquilizers ("Lorazepam", "Diazepam", "Clonazepam", "Relanium", "Alprazolam", "Lorafen", etc.), which are administered intravenously or taken orally. The attack completely disappears 15-20 minutes after the administration of the drug.
This method of treatment has a significant disadvantage: tranquilizers are to some extent narcotic drugs, and can also cause the body to become addicted to their active substances. As a result, after some timetaking drugs in standard dosages ceases to bring any effect or even causes a strong dependence. Abnormal intake of tranquilizers can cause new psychic attacks.
In addition, it is important to know that tranquilizers cannot cure a disease, but only temporarily eliminate symptoms, so they are used only as an auxiliary, but not the main drug for the treatment of mental disorders.
The main treatment for panic attacks is through the use of antidepressants, which not only help to get rid of depression, but also eliminate excessive anxiety and unreasonable fears, treat mental attacks. The main drugs that are most often prescribed for treatment: Anafranil, Zoloft, Cipralex and others.
Neuroleptics, as well as tranquilizers, act as auxiliary drugs during the treatment of mental attacks. They have a mild effect on the body, but at the same time, they perfectly relieve the autonomic symptoms of mental attacks. These can be drugs such as Propazine, Etaperazine, Sonapax.
The second stage of treatment is to consolidate the results. At this stage, stabilizing therapy is used, which includes taking tricyclic antidepressants (TAD), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonergic drugs (SSRIs).
TAD group has anti-panic effect, butbegins to act only 2-3 weeks after the first dose, which is a significant disadvantage. In addition, TAD antidepressants can cause side effects such as dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, etc.
Selective serotonergic drugs (SSRIs) have fewer side effects compared to the previous option. The main side effects of such drugs are irritability, nervousness, and worsening of sleep in the first 2 weeks after the start of treatment. On the plus side, SSRI antidepressants can only be taken once a day.
In parallel with the treatment of a psychic attack, its secondary syndromes, such as hypochondria, depression, agoraphobia, are also eliminated.
How to treat a psychic attack and what doses, the doctor determines on an individual basis. As a rule, the smallest dose is prescribed, after which it is traced whether the disease is on the decline or continues to develop. All this is carried out under the supervision of a therapist or another doctor responsible for the treatment. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate with tranquilizers and antidepressants!
With the right approach to treatment and the implementation of all recommendations in 90% of cases, there is a stable remission to panic attacks.
To more successfully get rid of the disease, a set of measures is used.
Treating panic attacks with psychotherapy
Along with drug treatment, a course of psychotherapy is also carried out, which continues for some time after the drug is discontinued, whichhelps to get through this process more easily.
Sessions of a psychotherapist can be roughly divided into two types: symptomatic and deep therapy.
In the first case, the psychic attack is seen as a symptom. The specialist helps to understand how a panic attack develops, how you can deal with it yourself. As a rule, symptomatic therapy lasts no more than three months.
Deep, on the other hand, involves identifying the causes that result in an attack. This happens as a result of long-term work, which can drag on for years. The psychotherapist learns the inner world of a person, his attitude towards himself, unsatisfied needs and unexpressed feelings. But in the end, the specialist manages to eliminate not only the symptoms of the problem, but also its original cause.
Psychologists teach patients not to look for flaws in themselves, but to concentrate on their positive qualities. Only an optimistic outlook on life and positive thinking can drive away the disease and ensure that it does not return.
Separate work is being done to raise the patient's self-esteem, as it plays an important role in the development of the individual and the perception of the world around him as a whole.
Combining medication and psychotherapy helps speed up the healing process, as well as teach the correct course of action during a possible future panic attack.
Treating panic attacks with hypnosis
Psychic treatmentattacks using hypnosis is practiced by psychiatrists. This method of dealing with the disorder has recently become increasingly popular due to its effectiveness. The essence of the treatment is simple: during hypnotic sleep, the patient is given appropriate settings, the main purpose of which is to get rid of psychic attacks. After a hypnosis session, patients feel peace, a sense of lightness, a surge of vigor and energy.
The disadvantage of hypnotic treatment is its short-term effect, as well as the fact that this method is not suitable for all patients.
Prevention of panic attacks
People who often suffer from mental disorders live in a state of constant tension and stress, as a result of which the body's resistance is reduced to critical levels. In such situations, any unforeseen circumstance (for example, a conflict at work) can be the "last straw" and cause a panic attack. However, there are some simple ways to help improve your mental state, reduce emotional stress and reduce the likelihood of a psychic attack.
- Contrast shower. A very simple yet effective way. Jets of cold water that briefly touch the skin can stimulate the production of mood-enhancing hormones. The method can be used both for prevention, general strengthening of the psychological state, and during an attack of increased anxiety and panic. How to take a contrast shower? It's very simple, butsome nuances. It is important to pour water over your head, only then you will get the desired effect. The procedure should begin with warm water. After a few seconds, it needs to be switched to cold, after a few seconds again to warm. At the same time, cold water should not be cool, but really cold, even icy. Do not be afraid to catch a cold - during such a procedure it is impossible, as the body's defense reactions are activated.
- Muscle relaxation. By learning to relax the muscles, you can simultaneously relieve the level of psychological stress. There are many ways of psychological relaxation. After reviewing them in more detail, you can easily choose the one that suits you perfectly.
- Full sleep. Lack of sleep is not the best way affects the human nervous system. In the event that it develops into a chronic form, the situation worsens significantly, and in parallel with this, the possibility of a psychic attack also increases.
- Active physical life. It is important to choose the right intensity of loads for yourself. At a time when normal charging is enough for one, others go to fitness, to the pool or to the gym. The main thing is that classes bring you pleasure, because only in this case they will also benefit psychological he alth.
- Regular meals. It's simple here: a hungry person's blood sugar level drops, and this increases the possibility of a panic attack.
- No stimulants. These include: coffee, energy drinks, cigarettes and alcohol. At the same time, the case with alcohol in thisplan is unique: one or two glasses help to reduce a panic attack. But the morning hangover only exacerbates the situation. In addition, if you take alcohol during each attack, there is a high risk of getting another disease - alcoholism.
Summing up all that has been said, we can conclude that mental disorders, no matter whether it is a panic attack or something else, is quite possible to avoid. To do this, simply learn to control your emotions and monitor your psychological he alth.
