People learned about the existence of sudden anxiety attacks not so long ago. So, it is completely unsurprising that many do not know the reasons why a panic attack can occur , as well as ways to combat it.
And this despite the fact that 10% of the population is affected by such attacks, that is, every tenth!
Therefore, it is worth considering in more detail the issues of what constitutes a mental attack, symptoms and treatment of this disease. As they say, warned, then armed.
What are mental (panic) attacks
So what is a disease until recently unknown?
A mental 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 this phenomenon does not depend on the circumstances surrounding the person.
The place of mental disorders in the modern world
Panic attacks can be not only one-time in nature, but also be a sign of serious mental disorders.
Attacks of mental attacks have become a real problem for the United States. Today, there are about 60 million people (and this is 20% of the population) suffer from various panic disorders, and about 3 million people (1.7% of the population) at least once in their life have experienced a mental disorder in a pronounced form.
Most often, people aged 15-19 years suffer from attacks of mental attacks, but still no one is safe from them.
Causes of Psychic Attacks
Loss of psychological balance can trigger mental attacks. The reasons why this happens may be as follows:
- stress
- chronic fatigue;
- the presence of mental and somatic diseases;
- the use of substances that stimulate the psyche;
- problems and difficult life circumstances.
The first attack can occur in adolescence, during pregnancy, after the birth of a child or during menopause. This is due to significant changes in the hormonal background 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 (mental attacks) does not occur without certain prerequisites in the form of health problems. Earlier, the appearance of mental attacks was considered a sign of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Symptoms of a Psychic Attack
An attack of panic fear is not the only confirmation of a disorder such as a mental attack. Symptoms can be varied. But there are certain criteria by which this pathology is diagnosed.
So, if a person really has a mental attack, the symptoms may be as follows:
- increased sweating;
- palpitations and heart rate;
- trembling, chills;
- shortness of breath and feeling of lack of air;
- suffocation;
- abdominal pain, which may be accompanied by nausea;
- discomfort or pain in the left chest;
- fainting state, dizziness, shakiness;
- numbness of the limbs and a feeling of "goosebumps" on the skin;
- alternating alternation of heat and cold;
- the feeling that everything that happens is unrealistic;
- fear of dying;
- fear of losing your mind or committing an unexpected act.
As you can see, there are many manifestations. A psychic attack combines at least four of the symptoms listed above. At the same time, panic, fear and anxiety do not leave the patient within 10 minutes.
After these symptoms, a mental attack can go to the next stage, which manifests itself in the form of an agoraphobic syndrome - fear of going out into the street, traveling by public transport. The longer the duration of this condition, the greater the possibility of depression, during which a decrease in a person’s social activity is observed, fatigue increases, appetite worsens, sleep disorders and problems with sexual life appear.
How to relieve a psychic attack without outside help
It is necessary to remember one important detail: attacks of fear and anxiety can be learned to control independently. Therefore, it is important not to get confused during the next attack, but to know exactly what to do with mental attacks.
There are many methods and control methods, but one of the most effective in practice remains the method of breath control. Its principle is very simple - you need to slow 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 in order to feel the movement of muscles and lungs.
After several such inspirations and exhalations, the panic attack begins to recede and soon completely leaves.
Diagnosis of mental attacks
If there are at least four signs of a mental attack (we talked about them above), you must immediately consult a therapist for a more detailed diagnosis.
The doctor will prescribe the patient the necessary tests and send them for an electrocardiogram.
If necessary, additional examinations by a neurologist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist may be necessary.
After conducting all the examinations and obtaining the results of the analyzes, the necessary treatment of mental attacks is selected individually. It can be carried out in the form of taking a course of medications, 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 such groups of drugs as:
- Tranquilizers.
- Antidepressants.
- Antipsychotics.
The necessary group of drugs or any one remedy (for example, one of the antidepressants) in each case is selected separately, depending on the nature of the course and the accompanying symptoms of a mental attack.
At the same time, drug treatment itself includes two stages:
- Elimination of a mental attack.
- Prevention of the onset of a second attack and its secondary symptoms (depression, etc.) in the future.
Mental 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 goes away after 15-20 minutes after administration of the drug.
This treatment method has a significant minus: tranquilizers are to some extent narcotic drugs, and can also cause the body to become addictive to their active substances. As a result, after some time, taking drugs in standard dosages ceases to bring any effect or even causes a strong dependence. An abnormal intake of tranquilizers can cause new psychic attacks.
In addition, it is important to know that tranquilizers cannot cure the disease, but only temporarily eliminate the 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 carried out through the use of antidepressants, which not only help get rid of depression, but also eliminate unnecessary anxiety and unreasonable fears, and treat psychic attacks. The main drugs that are most often prescribed for treatment: Anafranil, Zoloft, Cipralex and others.
Antipsychotics, like tranquilizers, act as adjuvants during the treatment of mental attacks. They are distinguished by a mild effect on the body, but at the same time they perfectly eliminate the vegetative symptoms of mental attacks. It can be such drugs as Propazin, Etaperazin, Sonapaks.
The second stage of treatment is to consolidate the results. At this stage, stabilizing therapy is used, which includes taking tricyclic antidepressants (TADs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOs), and selective serotonergic drugs (SSRIs).
The TAD group has an anti-panic effect, but begins to act only 2-3 weeks after the first dose, which is a significant minus. In addition, antidepressants of the TAD group 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 sleep impairment in the first 2 weeks after starting to take it. A plus is the fact that SSRI antidepressants can be taken only once a day.
In parallel with the treatment of mental attack, its secondary syndromes, such as hypochondria, depression, agoraphobia, are also eliminated.
How to treat a mental attack and in what doses, the doctor determines individually. As a rule, the lowest 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 person responsible for the treatment of a doctor. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate with the help of tranquilizers and antidepressants!
With the right approach to treatment and the implementation of all recommendations in 90% of cases there is a persistent remission of panic attacks.
For a more successful disposal of the disease, a set of measures is used.
Treatment of Panic Attacks with Psychotherapy
Along with drug treatment, a course of psychotherapy is also carried out at the same time, which continues for some time after drug withdrawal, which makes it easier to survive this process.
Psychotherapist sessions can be divided into two types: symptomatic and deep therapy.
In the first case, a mental attack is considered 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.
The deep one provides for identifying the causes as a result of which an attack occurs. This occurs as a result of long work, which can drag on for years. The therapist learns the person’s inner world, his attitude to himself, unmet needs and unexpressed feelings. But in the end, the specialist is able 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 optimistic outlooks on life and positive thinking can drive away the disease and guarantee that it will not return.
A separate work is carried out on raising the patient’s self-esteem, since it plays an important role in the development of personality and perception of the world around as a whole.
The combination of medication and psychotherapeutic methods helps to speed up the healing process, as well as teach the correct course of action during a possible future panic attack.
Hypnosis Treatment for Panic Attacks
The treatment of mental attacks with 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 the appropriate settings, the main purpose of which is to get rid of mental attacks. After a hypnosis session, patients feel peace, a feeling 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.
Panic Attack Prevention
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 decreases to critical norms. In such situations, any unforeseen circumstance (for example, a conflict at work) can become the "last straw" and cause a panic attack. However, there are some simple ways that help improve the psychological state, reduce the level of emotional stress and reduce the likelihood of a mental attack.
- Cold and hot shower. A very simple and at the same time effective way. The jets of cold water, which briefly touch the skin, can stimulate the production of hormones that increase mood. 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? Everything is very simple, but there are some nuances. Pouring water is important with your head, only then you will get the desired effect. Begin the procedure with warm water. After a few seconds, you need to switch it to cold, after a few seconds again to warm. In this case, cold water should not be cool, but really cold, even icy. Do not be afraid to catch a cold - during this procedure it is impossible, since the body's defensive reactions are activated.
- Muscle relaxation. Learning to relax muscles, you can simultaneously remove the level of psychological stress. There are many ways of psychological relaxation. Having familiarized themselves with them in more detail, you can easily choose the one that is ideal for you.
- Full sleep. Lack of sleep does not affect the human nervous system in the best way. In the case when it develops into a chronic form, the situation worsens at times, and in parallel with this, the possibility of a psychic attack increases.
- Active physical life. It is important to choose the right intensity of loads for yourself. At a time when one is quite regular charging, others go to fitness, in the pool or gym. The main thing is that the classes bring you pleasure, because only in this case they will also benefit psychological health.
- Regular food. Everything is simple here: a hungry person lowers blood sugar, and this increases the likelihood of a panic attack.
- Lack of stimulants. These include: coffee, energy drinks, cigarettes, and alcohol. In this case, the case of alcohol in this regard is unique: one or two glasses help reduce the attack of a panic attack. But a morning hangover only exacerbates the situation. In addition, if you take alcohol during each attack, there is a big risk of getting another disease - alcoholism.
Summing up all that has been said, we can conclude that mental disorders, it does not matter whether this is a panic attack or something else, is quite possible to avoid. To do this, just learn to control your emotions and monitor psychological health.