Statistics say that more than 45% of the world's population is prone to panic attacks. In most cases, in this case, one attack causes a whole chain of such panic attacks, and this, in turn, significantly complicates life.
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 Panic Attack
Almost everyone can recall a special condition caused by stress preceding a panic attack: the heart is beating furiously, a hot wave runs through the body, and animal fear appears. In the event that the stress factor is not eliminated, but only intensifies, for example, family quarrels continue or the problem at work gains momentum, a repetition of this condition is possible. If panic develops, the causes 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 overwork, emotional or mental strain.
- Constantly waiting for a stressful situation.
- Disorders of the hormonal background.
- Alcohol, drug abuse.
- Mental disorders, such as depression or phobias.
- Violation of the work of vegetative centers.
The 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 blood. The body reacts to such a desire to run away, hide or fight, to resist the situation. As a rule, this is exactly 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 a large amount of adrenaline);
- phobia (a pathological condition that is characterized by a panic fear of a particular phenomenon or object);
- diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other diseases of the endocrine system;
- somatoform dysfunctions (the patient complains about the disruption of the work of a certain organ, but in fact there is no such problem);
- heart diseases;
- violation of tissue respiration;
- vegetovascular dystonia;
- cardiopsychoneurosis.
Some medications can lead to panic attacks.
Risk groups
Some groups of people are particularly prone to panic attacks. First of all, it concerns age. Most often, people aged 20 to 45 years suffer from this disorder, and women are almost three times more likely than men. It is during this period that most of the most crucial decisions are made, for example, choosing a person for life or work for the soul or money.
In women, such conditions occur more often, due to their physiological characteristics, since changes in the hormonal background occur during certain periods of life. In addition, they are more suspicious and inclined to take everything to heart. No wonder it is women who often turn to a psychologist for help. As for men, many of them solve their problems by drinking alcohol.
Classification of Panic Attacks
In medicine, three types of panic are distinguished, depending on the cause of the attack:
- Spontaneous - there is no reason, it appears suddenly.
- Situational - an attack is provoked by special conditions that were initially traumatic for a person, and the expectation of such conditions can become a cause.
- Conditionally situational - a panic attack is the result of a specific stimulus that is chemical or biological in nature. This primarily concerns the intake of alcohol. However, this relationship is not always traced.
Clinical picture
Panic attack has a certain pattern. During the performance of daily duties, a person is attacked without cause by strong fear, while dizziness, a strong heartbeat are felt, and there is a feeling that the soil is leaving under the feet. A person is very scared, a fear of death appears, he may lose consciousness. In some cases, the victim calls an ambulance, because it seems to him that the heart will soon fail. In this case, doctors can not diagnose any violations. A person can visit many specialists, but the answer is unlikely to be found. As a result of this, phobias can develop that will provoke panic attacks again and again.
Panic symptoms
The main symptoms of a panic, regardless of its cause, are:
- heart palpitations and heart rate;
- increased sweating;
- tremors, tremors;
- dyspnea;
- feeling of suffocation;
- chest pain, discomfort;
- nausea;
- dizziness, which can lead to loss of consciousness;
- derealization;
- depersonalization;
- fear to go crazy, loss of control over oneself.
There are also atypical symptoms, such as muscle cramps, bouts of vomiting, and excessive urination.
During a panic, an adrenaline rush 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. This is 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 therapies. So, medication can simultaneously remove its symptoms and prevent their onset. The duration of therapy is about 3 months. Remember that all appointments are made by a doctor. Corvalol, Glycidis, Validol are used to eliminate symptoms, and Persen, Novo-Passiss and other sedatives are used to prevent symptoms. In some cases, the use of antidepressants, such as Paroxetine or Sertraline, is warranted.
Homeopathy is effective only when the patient has no bad habits. And psychotherapy (hypnosis or cognitive-behavioral therapy) is one of the most effective treatments. 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 or threat to life, because panic is a disorder associated with an unreasonable sense of fear. Next, you need to get rid of the feeling of fear, 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. This will make it possible to find out what solutions exist for the original problem.
And do not forget about a healthy lifestyle, since very often it is the depletion of the nervous system and the whole organism as a whole that causes panic attacks.