If you’ve never experienced a panic attack before, you have no idea how bad it can be. Many people who are prone to these kind of attacks will testify that it’s worse than getting a heart attack. The mere fact that such an attack frequently feels exactly like a heart attack doesn’t make it any better. Below we will briefly outline the nature and causes of panic symptoms.
As mentioned before, these can be very similar to a heart attack. The patient will experience a rapid heart rate or heart palpitations. There will sometimes be chest pains and often you will feel as if you can’t breathe. Sufferers will often also experience numbness in certain parts of the body, hot flushes and muscle pains.
Many experience increased sweating during a panic attack. Another symptom that is quite common, is that the person will feel an intense weakness in his legs and arms. Very often patients get the feeling that they are dying or going crazy. Feelings of nausea and dizziness are also not unusual.
Panic attacks and depression are often closely linked together. Those suffering from panic attacks are prone to depression and also the other way round. Many people go through feelings of complete despair. Thinking of death is prevalent and suicide plans often take shape under these circumstances.
There are many potential causes of anxiety attacks. The fact of the matter is that a large percentage of these attacks can never be traced back to a particular cause. Sometimes it is possible to put your finger on a cause, such as the patient taking in too much sugar or other stimulants, or drinking to too much coffee. Hormonal changes caused by menopause or PMDD also often result in panic attacks.
A particular situation can often trigger a panic attack. People who suffer from claustrophobia will therefore get an attack if they end up in a confined space. Others who suffer from agoraphobia can’t stand it to be in a wide open space. Some people suffer from what is called general anxiety disorder: they can get an attack when exposed to a multitude of different circumstances.
Medications to alleviate this type of attack include certain anti-depressants and also beta blockers, tranquilizers and the so-called benzodiazepines. Many people experience a pre-panic attack while anticipating the symptoms of their next panic attack, which of course only worsens their situation. Some medications are specifically aimed at alleviating these anticipatory anxiety symptoms. Others work on the anxiety attack itself.
When you realize that what you experience are panic symptoms, the important thing to understand is that it won’t kill you. What you experience is a malfunctioning of your body’s alarm system. It’s similar to a car alarm going off in an quiet car park with nobody near the car – there is no reason for you to feel this way, it has no basis in real life. Sit down, breathe deeply and regularly and wait for it to pass.
Looking for more info on the nature as well as the causes of panic symptoms? Get it now in our complete panic attack symptoms guide.
