Dealing With Panic Attacks

You’re preparing for a very important exam. This exam will determine your future in the career of your choice. The outcome of this exam will make people judge you or congratulate you for the rest of your life. Just thirty minutes before the test starts, you feel your cold, clammy hands start shaking while an increasing feeling of apprehension and fear sends a shiver down your spine. Your vision blurs and your heart begins to beat faster and faster. You feel nauseous and you’re on the verge of vomiting what you’ve eaten for breakfast. You feel like you’re becoming more and more suffocated. Approximately 5% of the world’s population will be dealing with panic attacks in their lifetime.

Panic attack is an occurrence of intense and abrupt fear that lasts for a short time. It usually begins without warning with a duration that varies on time. It can last for a limited time of 15 seconds or it can be recurring, lasting for an extended period of time before finally dissipating. The effect of panic attacks on a person is relative. Some people, especially those who have experienced panic attack for the first time, may go to the hospital and seek medical attention. They usually think that they are suffering from a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Those who have experienced a panic attack say that it is included in the list of the scariest, roughest and most distressing episode of their life.

Specialists have isolated a number of causes for this condition which also helps them in dealing with panic attacks. Stressful situations are usually the common cause of panic attacks. Examples are taking an exam, breaking up with a significant other, facing the death of a loved one, being fired from work or being mugged on the street. There are also physiological causes of panic attacks. This include hypoglycemia, Wilson’s disease, pheochromocytoma, post traumatic stress disorder, mitral valve prolapsed and disturbances of the inner ear. Certain medications, such as Ritalin, several types of antibiotics or SSRI antidepressants, and withdrawal to alcohol or several drugs could also trigger panic attacks.

Certain chronic conditions are also believed to cause panic attacks in an individual. For instance, a person suffering from the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is more likely to experience panic attacks in their lifetime than normal people. Experts also believe that a person with a laid-back, passive personality has an increased possibility of experiencing panic attacks compared to a person with an assertive outlook in life. People with phobias and those with parents who have experienced panic attacks are also more likely to face a bout of panic attack in comparison to those without them.

A person with panic attack should be dealt with calmly and patiently. Sometimes, medications are used to calm them down and prevent them from action that may cause harm to their self and to others. Dealing with panic attacks is difficult but as long as you know what to do and what your goal is in helping them, it will be easy.