What Are Panic Attacks?

What are panic attacks? A panic attack (which can also be called an anxiety attack), is an episode when fear or panic takes over your mind and body. Approximately 1 in 5 people will suffer a panic attack at some stage in their lives so even if we don’t suffer from this frightening disorder ourselves, we more than likely know someone who does – even if we don’t realise it.

The first time a person has a panic attack he or she may think they are having a heart attack, and are possibly about to die. This is a very real feeling, and not one to be made light of. The heart may race and have palpitations, you can get a light headed feeling or feel faint, your chest feels tight, you may get hot or cold flushes and perhaps get sweaty, and you really feel you are out of control with what is happening to you. You may find you are hyperventilating and perhaps have tingling or pins and needles in your fingers. It is all very frightening.

Panic Attacks Can be Controlled – Click Here to Find Out How

A panic attack might strike without warning at any time – when you’re home alone eating breakfast, when you’re on the way to work, in a meeting or even while sitting relaxing. They generally come on very suddenly and make you feel intensely apprehensive or frightened for no particular reason. Although they don’t normally last long – usually no longer than 30-60 minutes – they can take much longer to get over. Despite the fact they don’t cause any real physical effects afterwards, you are left very tired, and wondering if this frightening feeling is going to come back at any minute.

One of the problems is that once you have had one panic attack, you are more likely to have others, and you are continually wondering if and when this feeling will come again. Unfortunately the stress this causes actually leads you to have other attacks. It can also be exacerbated by not being diagnosed as a panic attack, and you become more and more frustrated and fearful that something is terribly wrong with you.

While it’s not really medically known what panic attacks are, or what causes them, it is generally thought to be genetic – there might be a family history of anxiety that contributes to your situation. Major life changes can also be a contributing factor, things such as getting married, having a baby, death of a loved one etc can also trigger an attack.

People who get panic attacks frequently over a long period of time may have panic disorder. This is a real medical condition – it’s not something you just get over or ignore. It is important that you seek help, preferably from your doctor, but at the very least talk to a friend about what you are experiencing. Panic attacks are certainly treatable, probably initially with medication, although by choice this should be combined with other treatments which address the underlying causes of the attacks.

Panic disorders can completely turn your life upside down, paralyzing you with fear, and in extreme cases can lead to more serious medical problems, so it is important that you ask the question ”what are panic attacks?” in order to know what your treatment options are, and find a solution as quickly as possible.