Panic attacks & panic disorder可望不可即
Tho suffering with panic attacks
experience short, recurring episodes of inten psychological feelings of fear, which are frequently accompanied by a range of physical symptoms such as palpitations, difficulty in breathing and naua – to name but a few.
The episodes are known as ‘panic attacks.’ In addition to experiencing
the very real physical symptoms, panic attack sufferers may also experience feelings of unreality, fear of dying, fear of losing control and fear of going mad.
While the attacks themlves reach a peak of intensity within conds, the actual attack may last for up to half an hour and often panicky feelings may linger on well after this time period. Some people report having attacks that last for hours. It is, however, unlikely that what they experience is one discrete attack. An explanation for this is probably that the sufferer is experiencing ‘waves’ of panic which come one after another. Panic attacks are very frightening things to suffer from, but are completely harmless. They can, however, if left
untreated, cau much suffering and lead to other phobic conditions.国际音标mp3下载
Often people find that their panic attacks have an identifiable trigger, in which ca sufferers are experiencing panic attacks but not panic disorder. They may, for example, suffer panic attacks
immediately upon exposure to, or in
anticipation of, specific objects – such as snakes, spiders, etc. In other cas, people may find that their panic is associated with certain situations, particularly tho where escape is difficult. For example, driving on a
bridge, sitting in the middle of a row in the theatre or standing in a queue. Commonly, such individuals develop
phobic avoidance patterns – avoiding any situation/object likely to trigger panicky feelings.
Phobic avoidance is often exacerbated by the fact that panic cannot usually be predicted and so people choo to avoid places/situations ‘just in ca’ they have a panic attack.
Many experience the unpleasant panicky symptoms without any real
identifiable trigger. They have not been in a dangerous situation or one of
potential threat and the attacks em to come ‘out of the blue.’ Indeed many
sufferers experience panic at times when they have been apparently relaxing – watching TV, sleeping, etc. Panic attack sufferers unfortunately then start to
worry that something must be wrong with them – either they believe they have some form of life threatening illness
which has gone undiagnod by their GP, or they are going crazy. Often, people mistake the very real physical symptoms of panic attacks for other medical
conditions such as cardiac failure, brain tumours, etc. For this reason many panic attack suffers consult their GPs and frequently visit A and E.
What are the symptoms of panic?
A panic attack is simply an exaggeration of the body’s normal ‘fight or flight’ reaction. In activating the adrenaline system of the body a range of physical and psychological symptoms result including:
Physical symptoms
• Rapid heartbeat • Palpitations
初二下册英语单词表• Increa in breathing – often
hyperventilation is prent • Pains in the chest • Sweating • Shaking
• Abdominal pains • Naua
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• Needing to u the toilet more
often
• Hot or cold flushes • Choking
• Shortness of breath – feelings of
suffocation
• Feeling dizzy, unsteady or faint
Psychological symptoms
• Feeling detached from the
outside world – ‘de-realisation’ • Feeling unreal and cut off from
your body – ‘de-personalisation’ • Feeling you will go mad
• Feeling you may lo control • Feeling you will die • Feeling terrified
ferryAt least four of the symptoms must have occurred during an attack to fulfil the criteria for a full panic attack
outlined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DXM-IV). It is, however, common for sufferers to
experience many more than four of the symptoms. Some people experience attacks involving less than four of the above symptoms, and the attacks are know as ‘Limited Symptoms Attacks.’
What is panic disorder?undertaker
Individuals who experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks re diagnod as suffering from ‘panic disorder’ or PD. PD is defined as a person having had four panic attacks within four weeks. The most apparent feature of PD sufferers is their inten apprehension about having another attack. This is known as ‘fear of fear,’ is prent most of the time and has the effect of
riously interfering with the individual’s life even when a panic attack is not in progress. As mentioned earlier, this ‘fear of fear’ is a powerful promoter of phobic avoidance. For example, a man who experiences a panic attack while driving may then fear getting behind the wheel again becau of his fearful memories of the previous attack.
The first panic attack and thereafter…
First panic attacks will usually occur unexpectedly when sufferers are
performing everyday tasks and/or feeling apparently relaxed. Some sufferers then go on to experience further attacks, but after having sought
reassurance/counlling about the condition, recover. However, a
proportion of sufferers instead go on to develop a chronic, disabling condition. No-one knows at prent why some
people are able to go on with their lives and not be affected; while others go on to develop panic disorder. However, what is certain is that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is the important feature in overcoming panic disorder/attacks.
Tho that do begin to live in ‘fear of fear’ – constantly worrying about when the next attack may occur – are likely to become dependent on other people for support. They may also identify certain places as being ‘safe’ – a prominent feature of agoraphobia.
How many people suffer with panic disorders?
The exact incidence of panic disorder is difficult to truly asss becau many people do not ek medical treatment. Tho that do go for medical help may well be misdiagnod, or subjected to a variety of physical examinations aimed at excluding physical illness. It is believed
playground的中文是什么意思that 1 in 3 people will experience panic attacks at some stage in their lives.
The average age range of tho suffering with the condition is between 17-30 years. Men em to develop panic attacks at the lower end of this age range while women develop them at the higher end. Prognosis
Panic disorder is a chronic condition which tends to remain and relap with only a minority of sufferers recovering completely over a considerable period of time. Early intervention is esntial and has been shown to considerably shorten the length of the panic illness. Furthermore, it prevents the development of other chronic conditions such as agoraphobia.
As panic attack sufferers start to feel more out of control and begin to restrict their activities, naturally their enjoyment of life decreas. Becau of this, it has been found that 60% of panic disorder sufferers also experience depression.
What are the caus of panic disorder?
According to one theory of panic disorder, the body’s normal ‘alarm system’ tends to be triggered unnecessarily. However, no-one is sure why this happens. Studies have shown that the following may increa your likelihood of developing panic disorder: Stress: Common stressful triggers include bereavement, divorce, moving hou, starting a new job, major surgery and a period of prolonged physical illness. Genetic factors: Up to 25% of first degree relatives of patients with panic disorder will also suffer – around five times the rate found in the general population. Personality traits: People who belong to the ‘Type A’ category of personality – that is tho that tend towards perfectionism, worry a lot, do things to plea others, are over critical, high achievers – are more likely to suffer with panic disorder.
Childhood influences: Children that experienced greater levels of anxiety on being parated from parents
(‘paration anxiety’) may well go on to develop panic disorder in adulthood. Mitral valve prolap: Many people with panic disorder are also diagnod with mitral valve prolapes, where the door between the two chambers of the heart doesn’t clo snugly becau the heart valves are large and floppy. This caus the heart to be inefficient and smaller than it should be for the size of the mitral valves. The result is that the sufferer has panic attacks, constant fatigue, rapid or irregular heartbeat, dizziness and dry eyes. Other studies have shown that mitral valve prolap sufferers have an excess of adrenaline and excessive nsitivity to adrenaline – linked to anxiety.
Oestrogen: Many women with panic disorder experience wor symptoms during their premenstrual period. Likewi, during pregnancy, there is a high remission of panic disorder. This suggests that oestrogen is involved in modulating panic disorder. When oestrogen levels are low, panic attacks increa and vice versa.
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Blood sugar: A drop in blood sugar can cau vere reaction in the nervous system. Diets of fast food and sugary foods play havoc with the body’s ability to regulate sugar.
Hyperventilation: When we are ‘stresd out,’ we commonly breathe more rapidly in order to supply our muscles with the oxygen they need. The result of this is that we eliminate more carbon dioxide than normal. This lowering of carbon
dioxide can itlf result in panicky feelings.
Medication: Tranquillirs have been shown to cau panic and agoraphobic-like feelings in individuals who have been taking the drugs on a long term basis, another reason why they are not indicated for u longer than 2-3 weeks. Treatment methods
The most effective treatment for panic attacks/disorder to date has been found to be a combination of both drug treatment and counlling methods. The sooner panic attacks are treated, the more unlikely it is that a sufferer will go on to developing phobias such as agoraphobia.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is a combination of cognitive therapy – this rves to modify or eliminate negative thought patterns which contribute to the sufferer’s symptoms – and behavioural therapy, which aims to help change destructive behaviour.
o ringCBT teaches sufferers to anticipate and prepare themlves for the situations and body nsations that may trigger panic attacks.
Most CBT lasts for approximately 6-8 ssions – one ssion per week. In order for CBT to be successful, the sufferer must be highly motivated and taught CBT skills by a trained therapist. It is not uncommon for therapists to give their client ‘homework’ to do in between ssions.
Drug therapy: Rearch has shown that some of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor antidepressants (SSRIs) are very effective in treating panic disorder. Benzodiazepines (tranquillizers) also effectively reduce anxiety but as they can be addictive (in as little as 14 days), they are not recommended for long-term u. Many people find tranquillizers are uful in ‘emergencies’ but not for u on a day to day basis. More information
For more information on a range of anxiety disorders, including panic attacks and panic disorder, contact Anxiety UK: Web: www.anxietyuk.uk
Email:******************.uk
mushroomHelpline************
Anxiety UK is the nation’s leading anxiety disorders charity. With more than 40 years experience, we provide access to therapy and support to a wide range of anxiety sufferers.
Anxiety UK strongly advis that people ek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis and suggest the best treatment available in your area.
