Statistics say that more than 45% of the world's population is subject to panic attacks. In most cases, one attack causes a whole chain of similar panic attacks, and this, in turn, makes life much more difficult.
Panic is not a complete disease, but a psychological disorder. It is characterized by sudden and causeless attacks of fear. The term "panic" is a definition in psychology that implies a condition that occurs without any apparent reason. Attacks can occur in crowded places, and, conversely, in a confined space. The duration of a panic attack is no more than an hour, while the frequency is about three per week.
Causes of a panic attack
Almost everyone can remember a special condition caused by the stress preceding a panic attack: the heart is beating wildly, a hot wave runs through the body, animal fear appears. In the event that the stress factor is not eliminated, but only intensified, for example, quarrels in the family continue or a problem at work is gaining momentum, the repetition of suchcondition is possible. If panic develops, the reasons may be different, but the most common are:
- Stressful situations during which all experiences were transferred to the subconscious.
- Constant conflicts at work, in the family.
- Psychological trauma.
- Nervous or physical fatigue, emotional or mental strain.
- The constant expectation of a stressful situation.
- Hormonal disorders.
- Alcohol, drug abuse.
- Mental disorders such as depression or phobias.
- Violation of the vegetative centers.
Physiological causes of panic
As for the physiological basis of a panic attack, panic (this is a sudden attack of fear) occurs due to the release of a huge dose of adrenaline into the bloodstream. The body reacts to such a desire to run away, hide or fight, resist the situation. As a rule, this is how panic manifests itself. The causes of panic can be associated with the following diseases:
- pheochromocytoma (a hormonally active tumor that is localized in the endocrine system and releases large amounts of adrenaline);
- phobia (a pathological condition characterized by panic fear of a certain phenomenon or object);
- diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other diseases of the endocrine system;
- somatoform dysfunction (the patient complains about a disorder in the work of a certain organ, but in fact there is no such problem);
- heart disease;
- violation of tissue respiration;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- neurocirculatory dystonia.
Some medications can also cause panic attacks.
Risk groups
Some groups of people are particularly susceptible to panic attacks. First of all, it concerns age. Most often, people aged 20 to 45 suffer from this disorder, and women are almost three times more likely than men. It is during this period that most of the most important decisions are made, for example, they choose a person for life or work for their soul or money.
In women, such conditions occur more often, due to their physiological characteristics, since changes in hormonal levels occur at certain periods of life. In addition, they are more suspicious and tend to take everything to heart. It is not for nothing that women are more likely to turn to a psychologist for help. As for men, many of them solve their problems through drinking alcohol.
Classification of panic attacks
In medicine, there are three types of panic, depending on the cause of the attack:
- Spontaneous - no reason, appears suddenly.
- Situational - an attack is provoked by special conditions that were originally psychotraumatic for a person, the reason may be the expectation of creating such conditions.
- Conditional - a panic attack is the result ofexposure to a specific stimulus, which is chemical or biological in nature. First of all, this concerns the intake of alcohol. However, this connection is not always traced.
Clinical picture
A panic attack has a pattern. During the performance of daily duties, a strong fear attacks a person for no reason, while feeling dizzy, a strong heartbeat, there is a feeling that the soil is slipping from under his feet. A person is very frightened, there is a fear of death, he can lose consciousness. In some cases, the victim calls an ambulance, because it seems to him that the heart will soon fail. At the same time, doctors cannot diagnose any disorders. A person can visit many specialists, but the answer is unlikely to be found. As a result of this, phobias can develop, which will again and again provoke panic attacks.
Panic symptoms
The main symptoms of panic, regardless of its cause, are:
- rapid heartbeat and pulse;
- excessive sweating;
- trembling, tremor;
- shortness of breath;
- feeling of suffocation;
- chest pain, discomfort;
- nausea;
- dizziness, which can lead to loss of consciousness;
- derealization;
- depersonalization;
- fear of going crazy, loss of control.
There are also atypical symptoms,e.g. muscle cramps, vomiting, excessive urination.
During a panic, the release of adrenaline is activated in the body, which gives the corresponding reaction of the nervous system, although there is no danger as such. Unfortunately, at the end of the attack, the patient's condition does not improve, because of this, a whole series of panic attacks occurs. That's why you need to know how panic develops, causes and symptoms.
Therapy: features of an integrated approach
Panic treatment is usually complex. There are several methods of therapy. So, drug treatment can simultaneously relieve its symptoms and prevent their occurrence. The duration of therapy is about 3 months. Remember that all appointments are made by a doctor. Corvalol, Glycised, Validol are used to eliminate symptoms, and Persen, Novo-Passit and other sedatives are used to prevent them. In some cases, the use of antidepressants, such as Paroxetine or Sertraline, is justified.
Homeopathy is effective only when the patient has no bad habits. And psychotherapy (hypnosis or cognitive behavioral therapy) is one of the most effective methods of treatment. The approach to each patient is individual, therefore, before starting treatment, the doctor carefully studies the cause of the panic.
First of all, you need to realize that there is no disease and there is no threat to life, because panic is a disorder associated with an unreasonable feeling of fear. Next, you need to get rid of the feelingfear, which is the cause of subsequent attacks. It is recommended to carefully study the symptoms and determine which of the signs appeared first, and which followed next. This will allow you to find out what are the ways to solve the original problem.
And do not forget about a he althy lifestyle, because very often it is the exhaustion of the nervous system and the whole organism as a whole that causes panic attacks.
