Your heart is racing, you can barely breathe. You feel like you are dying and you are overwhelmed with fear and anxiety. After about ten minutes, it all goes away. You just had a panic attack. While the experience might have been extremely scary, science indicates that in most cases, you do not have anything to fear in the long term. Here are six facts you need to know about panic attacks:
- Symptoms of a full-blown panic attack include the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Increased heart beat
- Chest pain and discomfort
- Tremors
- Choking feeling
- Feeling of being detached from your surroundings, hot and cold flashes
- Sweating
- Nausea, dizziness, feeling faint and stomach pain
- Dying thoughts and thinking you are going crazy
- Panic attacks have no exact known cause. It may run in the family, or may be caused by environmental factors such as stress. Such attacks occur spontaneously and at any time.
- Short lived: a panic attack may last about 10 minutes and then everything will go back to normal as though nothing ever happened. Most people would experience this at least once in a lifetime but not more. It is therefore unnecessary to restrict your movements or daily engagements, for fear of suffering a recurrent panic attack just because may have suffered one in the past.
As mentioned earlier, a panic attack should last for a short while and go away. Persistent attacks may result in what is known as a panic disorder, as well as other more serious mental disorders.
- Check your diet: even though you may not know the exact cause of your panic attacks, you should stay away from caffeine, nicotine and alcohol to be on the safe side. These substances are stimulants and are known to trigger certain conditions related to panic attacks.
- Panic attacks or disorders are treatable conditions. Exercise induces the release of endorphins which have been shown to reduce the amount of stress hormones in the body. It is also advisable to see a therapist for cognitive behavioral therapy. Other forms of therapy may be employed by your doctor and sometimes, drugs are recommended.
Having a panic attack is usually very scary. You may even think you are having a heart attack. Remember that it is fairly normal if it does not happen repeatedly, but if it does, you might need to seek medical help.