Do you know a sense of sudden anxiety? When suddenly, for no apparent reason, one's health suddenly worsens, one begins to feel dizzy, the heartbeat accelerates, and this whole state is accompanied by an insurmountable fear, sometimes turning into a panic. It can be a fear of passing out, losing balance, dying. If so, then you, like 5% of the world's population, know firsthand what panic attacks are. Symptoms of this disease have been established for a long time. In addition to the above, these include the appearance of internal tremors, tremors, suffocation. Sometimes the temperature rises sharply, waves of cold and heat alternately roll through the body, nausea occurs, pains in the heart appear.
All these symptoms are more or less common, they are characteristic of most suffering from a condition called "panic attacks." Symptoms, however, may be supplemented by individual manifestations. Someone has frequent urination, diarrhea. Others have numb arms and legs, others suffer from cramps. Sometimes especially weak people can fall into a short-term fainting state. The most unpleasant in this state is that it is impossible to get rid of it by an effort of will.
Symptoms of a panic attack, manifested for the first time, very scare the sick. People begin to visit doctors of various specialties, depending on which symptom was predominant during the attack. It can be cardiologists, gastroenterologists, surgeons ...
But few people manage to immediately diagnose a panic attack. The treatment is late, and the condition is getting worse. The condition of almost all suffering from PA is complicated not only by vegetative manifestations, but also by the expectation of a second attack. It turns out a vicious circle: anxiety in anticipation of an attack speeds up and intensifies these same attacks, and they are fixed in memory and increase the tension of waiting for an exacerbation.
Panic attacks, the symptoms of which are described above, are not fatal in themselves. However, their repetition in similar situations contributes to the development of a special style of behavior: restrictive. A person, trying to avoid traumatic situations, stops, for example, traveling in transport, leaving home, getting out of bed. Gradually, anxiety develops into agoraphobia, is complicated by reactive depression, turning a person almost into a disabled person.
Where is the way out?
The condition that experts call "sympathoadrenal crisis", "NDC - neurocirculatory dystonia", "vegetative crisis" - these are all different names for one disease - "panic attacks." Symptoms of this disease have been described for a long time. The disease belongs to the class of mental and behavioral disorders. It’s impossible to get rid of it completely, the vast majority of experts say.
However, there is a comprehensive treatment that for a long time weakens panic attacks, their symptoms nullifies them.
The best results are obtained from a competent psychotherapist (not to be confused with a psychiatrist!) In combination with taking medications.
The doctor will understand the causes of attacks, help to correct behavioral, personal and psychological characteristics. The medicine will help normalize physical condition.
In addition to the obligatory appeal to a psychotherapist, it is recommended to master emergency self-help techniques. One of them is necessary when rapid breathing and palpitations begin. You need to take a paper bag, lower your head into it and slowly, regularly breathe. If there is no package, you can fold your hands in a “boat” and breathe in them.
One of the manifestations of PA is a sharp release of adrenaline. It is the hormone of fear that provokes panic. So, you need to get rid of it as soon as possible. You can shout loudly, sing, turn on the music, start a conversation with someone.
But the most important thing is not to despair, keep yourself in control, to know that soon, in any case, the PA will end, there will be relief.
Take care of yourself and good health to you.