Panic: racing heart, trembling, sweating, dizziness --all striking without warning-- leaving
the victim with a sense of terror. These are just a few of the many symptoms of a panic
attack. Approximately 5% of the American population suffer from Panic Disorder in this
country. Panic attacks leave the individual with a sense of loss of control and
hopelessness. Some mental health experts believe that the reported number of cases are
actually low, since many people experience panic attacks but never receive treatment.
Common symptoms of panic include:
A panic attack can last from several minutes up to thirty minutes or more and is extremely
upsetting and frightening. Many individuals experiencing a panic attack report feeling as if
they are “going to die, going crazy or are losing control.” In some cases, panic attacks last
longer than a few minutes or strike several times in a short period of time. Approximately
half of panic attacks occur during sleep.
Although the panic attack may seem to appear from “out of the blue”, it typically comes
following an extended period of stress, lasting generally over a period of months not
weeks. Research has shown that, in individuals prone to panic attacks, any kind of
emotional or physical disturbance can stimulate hyperventilation (shallow breathing)
without the individual even being aware of it. The key to controlling episodes of panic is
learning to breathe from the diaphragm and becoming skilled at shifting to this kind of
breathing whenever faced with panic symptoms.
Recovery from panic attacks requires the proper treatment. The best treatment is based
upon the individual’s unique life factors. While a treatment plan must be specifically
designed for each individual, there are a number of standard approaches. Mental health
professionals who specialize in treating panic most often use a combination of treatments.
There is no single correct approach. Treatment may include cognitive/behavioral therapy,
relaxation training, biofeedback (including EEG neurofeedback) and medication.
Cognitive/behavioral therapy explores the psychological and social stressors that may be
contributing to the panic and how to make the behavioral changes to address the problem.
This treatment often includes working with individuals on learning to restructure thought
patterns to address the panic as well as exposure to situations that trigger panic in order to
de-sensitize the responses to the triggers.
Relaxation techniques involve learning muscle relaxation, sensation focusing and
visualization to address panic symptoms. Biofeedback is used to teach individuals ways to
control bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and even brain
wave patterns in order to decrease anxiety and panic. EEG Neurofeedback has been found
to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for both generalized anxiety disorder and panic
attacks. Neurofeedback trains the brain to slow the brain wave patterns that contribute to
the "fight or flight" response in panic attacks. Medication prescribed by a primary care
physician or a psychiatrist is another method of treatment for both these conditions
the victim with a sense of terror. These are just a few of the many symptoms of a panic
attack. Approximately 5% of the American population suffer from Panic Disorder in this
country. Panic attacks leave the individual with a sense of loss of control and
hopelessness. Some mental health experts believe that the reported number of cases are
actually low, since many people experience panic attacks but never receive treatment.
Common symptoms of panic include:
- Racing or pounding heart
- Fear of going crazy
- Trembling
- Fear of losing control
- Sweating palms
- Feeling unable to breath
- Chest pains or heaviness in chest
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Fear of dying
- Tingling in hands, feet, legs or arms
- Feelings of terror
A panic attack can last from several minutes up to thirty minutes or more and is extremely
upsetting and frightening. Many individuals experiencing a panic attack report feeling as if
they are “going to die, going crazy or are losing control.” In some cases, panic attacks last
longer than a few minutes or strike several times in a short period of time. Approximately
half of panic attacks occur during sleep.
Although the panic attack may seem to appear from “out of the blue”, it typically comes
following an extended period of stress, lasting generally over a period of months not
weeks. Research has shown that, in individuals prone to panic attacks, any kind of
emotional or physical disturbance can stimulate hyperventilation (shallow breathing)
without the individual even being aware of it. The key to controlling episodes of panic is
learning to breathe from the diaphragm and becoming skilled at shifting to this kind of
breathing whenever faced with panic symptoms.
Recovery from panic attacks requires the proper treatment. The best treatment is based
upon the individual’s unique life factors. While a treatment plan must be specifically
designed for each individual, there are a number of standard approaches. Mental health
professionals who specialize in treating panic most often use a combination of treatments.
There is no single correct approach. Treatment may include cognitive/behavioral therapy,
relaxation training, biofeedback (including EEG neurofeedback) and medication.
Cognitive/behavioral therapy explores the psychological and social stressors that may be
contributing to the panic and how to make the behavioral changes to address the problem.
This treatment often includes working with individuals on learning to restructure thought
patterns to address the panic as well as exposure to situations that trigger panic in order to
de-sensitize the responses to the triggers.
Relaxation techniques involve learning muscle relaxation, sensation focusing and
visualization to address panic symptoms. Biofeedback is used to teach individuals ways to
control bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure and even brain
wave patterns in order to decrease anxiety and panic. EEG Neurofeedback has been found
to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for both generalized anxiety disorder and panic
attacks. Neurofeedback trains the brain to slow the brain wave patterns that contribute to
the "fight or flight" response in panic attacks. Medication prescribed by a primary care
physician or a psychiatrist is another method of treatment for both these conditions
| Note: This article is for informational purposes only. If you are in need of mental health services, please contact a provider in your community. © 2010 Family Recovery Resources All Rights Reserved |
Panic attacks leave the individual with a sense of loss of control and hopelessness. |
While seeming to appear from "out of the blue" panic attacks typically f ollow an extended period of stress. |
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