What to do to the person who periodically experiences attacks of causeless fear - panic attacks? How to fight on your own, when it seems that there is no one to expect help from and you are alone with this disaster? Relatives do not understand, doctors shrug, say that he is healthy, and the feeling that he is about to die. Endless trips to doctors as a vicious circle, from which, it would seem, did not escape. In fact, there is a solution: you need to understand the problem, and most importantly, to understand that almost every person has some kind of vegetative-vascular disorder.
Panic attacks as a component of vegetovascular dystonia
Panic attacks are a companion for people with VSD. First, let's look at the terms. A panic attack is an attack of causeless fear for one's health, a feeling of impending death. Attacks can be so strong that a person will rush about the room, not finding a place for himself, he can be thrown into a shiver. High blood pressure, pulse so close to fainting. Lack of air, burning and pain behind the sternum. Symptoms may be very similar to myocardial infarction. There are pains in the region of the heart that can be distinguished from angina pectoris in that they are longer (several days, weeks). With a drug called Nitroglycerin, this pain does not stop, while taking a drug like Validol can relieve the condition.
VVD is not a disease, but a complex of symptoms indicating a violation in the activity of the central and peripheral departments of the autonomic system.
Vegetovascular dystonia is divided into several types:
- Hypertension is caused by high blood pressure, there may be discomfort in the heart, tachycardia. People with this type are subject to panic attacks.
- Hypotonic is characterized by low blood pressure, dizziness, weakness, and headaches.
- The mixed type includes the symptoms of the other two types and is most common.
The presence of vegetovascular disorders is not life-threatening, but they can aggravate the course of existing diseases, and, together with other unfavorable factors, contribute to the development of such ailments as bronchial asthma, arterial hypertension, ulcer (in the presence of irritable bowel syndrome - IBS), coronary heart disease.
Physical manifestations of psychological problems
In Russia, people are not used to going to doctors for every reason; few of us have a family doctor or personal psychologist. The financial situation does not allow one, the other - a frantic pace of life. Many people think that going to a psychologist is a waste of time. Constantly haunted by the question: if there is a panic attack, how to fight? You can’t always cope on your own, you should remember this.
The habit of solving all problems alone often leads to an aggravation of the situation and can lead to a sad outcome. There may be daily panic attacks. How to deal with them on your own when there is no strength? It is necessary to ask for help from relatives who will try to understand and support. When loved ones are powerless - do not waste time, you should immediately consult a specialist. There is nothing wrong with that. A visit to a therapist does not mean that a person is mentally ill, there are simply difficulties that each of us periodically experiences. For the most part, we are talking about depression, which can accompany many diseases and a condition such as VVD, with panic attacks.
Is it possible to cope with panic attacks on my own? The opinion of specialists in this regard
Panic attacks are accompanied by phobias: fear of suffocation, choking, dying, getting sick with an incurable disease. Moreover, the person will worry about parents, children, people dear to him.
Anything can become a trigger for starting a PA: psychological overwork, stress, factors such as an accident, being in a cramped bus, illness or death of a loved one. At one such moment, you can experience the first PA. Then they begin to repeat every day, usually in the evening. When a panic grips a person (no matter what he does) every day, for example, at exactly 6:00 p.m., on a subconscious level, he begins to wait, worry, worry, which further aggravates the situation.
During PA, the body experiences extreme stress, after which a person may feel completely exhausted.
On the other hand, knowing the exact time of the onset of the PA, you can mentally prepare yourself and take all necessary measures. The time has come: panic attacks. How to fight? Kurpatov, a well-known psychotherapist, offers to look at all this from a different perspective. His books are written in a simple, understandable language. People with PA should read “Remedy for VVD”.
Dr. Kurpatov says that the main thing for such people is to realize that they will not die from PA. He gives a peculiar, but very useful advice, which sounds something like this: "When it seems to you that you are about to die, lie down ... and die." Naturally, it will not work to die, and understanding this has a good psychotherapeutic effect.
Panic attacks: how to fight. Reviews VSDshnikov
Patients suffering from panic attacks are usually prescribed sedatives, tranquilizers, adrenergic blockers. And also prescribe massage, exercise therapy. It should be examined whether such methods will really defeat the PA.
Judging by the reviews of patients, exercise therapy and massage have a positive effect, but sedatives are not always. Often they want to sleep from them, and they do not stop attacks in any way.
Massage helps to relax, improves blood circulation. Why is sport so useful? The fact is that PA begins due to an uncontrolled release of adrenaline into the blood. Normally, this process should occur when a person is in an extreme situation, rather than sitting quietly in an armchair. If you know the time to start a panic attack, you can do physical activity. Running in the fresh air or exercising at home on the simulator will not hurt. This is a very effective method that will help stop the attack, because the adrenaline will be where to go.
Panic Attack Treatments
They will not be admitted to the hospital if they suffer from panic attacks. How to deal with seizures at home? There are several ways:
- drug treatment;
- self-massage and sports;
- good rest (try not to overwork physically and mentally);
- communication with people suffering from the same problem;
- self relaxation;
- contrast shower (very good for strengthening vessels);
- treatment of the underlying disease, if any.
You can also visit a health facility for some procedures, such as:
- hypnosis;
- acupuncture;
- professional massage.
Rest is very important, communication with people is useful. If possible, you need to go to the sea or to a sanatorium.
Medicines used in panic attacks
The next question that should be considered in the topic "Panic attacks, how to fight", drugs used in PA. Medication includes groups of the following drugs:
- sedatives (tinctures of valerian and motherwort, funds "Validol", "Corvalol", "Novo-Passit");
- tranquilizers (drugs "Relium", "Elenium", "Librium");
- adrenergic blockers (beta-blockers such as Atenolol, Anaprilin have the best effect).
Folk remedies for the treatment of panic attacks
Now it’s clear what panic attacks are, how to fight. Folk remedies that they can offer to help combat this ailment? Since during a panic it is impossible to lie or sit, and all attempts to distract are in vain, you can resort to such methods:
- Light exercise.
- Hold your feet in a bowl of hot water or pour hot and cold water on your knees alternately.
- Breathing exercises (the technique of inhaling and exhaling in a paper bag helps well).
- Write down everything you feel, it will help a lot in order to understand your fear, to accept it.
- Drink a decoction of mint, chamomile or green tea.
- You can try to make an infusion of the following herbs: take 4 parts of lemon balm, 3 parts of rue and 3 parts of thyme and mix thoroughly. 1 tbsp. l pour the collection into a glass and pour cold water. Let it brew for several hours, then drink during the day.
How to deal with a panic attack when there is not enough air
Consider the question: "Panic attacks, how to fight when there is not enough air?" Often during an attack there is a sensation of suffocation: it is impossible to take a full breath (as one would like to yawn) - hyperventilation syndrome with VVD. There is a fear of suffocation.
In this case, do the following:
- constantly remind yourself that it is unrealistic to suffocate - the air enters in the required amount;
- breathe in a paper bag (plastic bottle, scarf);
- drink peppermint tea;
- to rub the sinuses with the usual "Asterisk" - this will calm, greatly facilitate breathing.
Can I get rid of panic attacks forever
Panic attacks can be defeated forever. How to fight on your own is what you need to understand to achieve this goal. Do not be upset if it does not work out, this is not a matter of one day. Each, albeit small, victory will make a significant contribution to the fight against PA.
It is necessary to learn self-control, to understand that they do not die from PA, to believe in it. And to make sure, you need to carefully understand the problem with the help of literature, communicate with people who also suffer from panic attacks.