Panic Disorder Symptoms

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Panic disorder symptoms are virtually the same as the symptoms of a panic attack. However, panic disorder will usually only be diagnosed if a person is having recurring panic attacks. One panic attack is not sufficient for a diagnosis of panic disorder in most cases, especially where the panic attack had a clear physical or situational trigger.

For example, some people suffer from a panic attack for the first time after being released from hospital after a serious illness or major surgery. This is especially likely if the person has previously been healthy with no hospital admissions. Being sent home to recover, away from the safe situation of the hospital, can be very scary. At the same time the person has been forced to confront their mortality and the fact that they can become sick and helpless. This can lead to a panic attack but in many cases, the person can easily see what has caused the attack and it will not be repeated.

Panic disorder is usually characterized by a number of panic attacks that may seem to happen out of the blue. There is also a general feeling of anxiety about the panic. This is understandable because panic attacks are very frightening, including physical symptoms such as palpitations, chest pains, shortness of breath and dizziness or nausea.

It is important to seek treatment if you have panic disorder symptoms. Many people are ashamed of or embarrassed by their panic attacks and do not want to tell anybody about them. They hope that they will stop of their own accord, or they feel that they should be able to manage them without help, so they keep on suffering. But some assistance is needed. There are self-help programs available online that have had great success in overcoming panic disorder symptoms for many people.

Panic disorder can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. It is not usually possible for a person to prevent or control panic attacks without help, unless they restrict their activity to the point of becoming a recluse. Even then, they may think that they have control over their fears but in fact their lives are ruled by their disorder because it is restricting their lives so severely.

In addition, panic disorder can affect the lives of the people around you. Children in particular are very much influenced by their parents’ fears. If you are afraid to go out of the house in case you have a panic attack, your children are likely to grow up believing that the world is an extremely dangerous place. This does not make for confident, happy kids.

It can also be hard for spouses and partners to understand the disorder and live with the fears and restrictions that an untreated sufferer is likely to impose on their lives. This is especially true if the sufferer is unwilling to accept help. Marriage or relationship breakdown is a very real risk in that situation.

If you think you may be suffering from panic attacks but have not yet had this confirmed medically, it is important to see a doctor to rule out other physical diseases. Many panic disorder symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a heart attack and your doctor will want to check that you do not have any cardio-vascular problems.


Panic Definition

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Panic definition: broadly, a sudden and overwhelming feeling of fear that causes agitation. In a panic situation, anxiety dominates and often replaces our normal thinking process so that we do not seem to be able to think rationally. Instead we are powered by extreme fight-or-flight responses that lead to actions or decisions that we would not make if we were able to ‘think straight’.

Panic definition can be very wide because the word panic has many meanings in general language. Panic is something that can happen to an individual (as in the case of panic attacks) or to a group of people.

The fear that leads to panic can have many causes. It may be physical fear, when we are in a situation of real physical danger such as being caught in a war or riot. It is this kind of situation that the fight-or-flight response was designed to handle, so panic may be the appropriate response in a case like that.

However, the definition of panic also applies in many other situations of extreme stress. One example is a panic run on a bank. Here, a group of investors suddenly becomes extremely afraid that their investment is not safe. They rush to withdraw their money from the bank. Since banks loan out most of their money, they do not hold enough cash to handle the situation of many investors all withdrawing their money at the same time. The result is that even if the bank was solid, it can crash simply as an effect of the panic.

As well as being dangerous to the security of investments, group panic can be physically dangerous. When there are many people crowded into a small space, panic can lead to injury and death. For example, when a fire alarm goes off in a crowded environment, people can be crushed and killed in the stampede for the doors, especially if there are not enough exits to handle the number of people in the building. This can happen even if there is not a fire. Consider again our definition of panic. It is the fear that causes panic. It can happen even if the danger is not real.

However, the danger of panic in an emergency can be reduced by good design of a space as well as by increasing the number of exits. A room that is divided by partitions or even pillars placed in front of the exit will be much safer, because the crowd is split up at a point where injury is most likely to occur.

Panic is not limited to human beings. It is a response that we share with many other mammals. Primitive people used this knowledge for successful hunting of herd animals such as cattle. They would round up a herd and deliberately cause a stampede by frightening the animals. Some would be injured and then they were easily caught. In extreme cases, animals could be incited by panic to jump off cliffs which would injure or kill them.

When people are looking for a panic definition they are often more interested in psychological panic or panic attacks. Please see our other articles for information on panic attacks.


Treatment For Panic Attacks

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Treatment for panic attacks should be tailored to suit the individual. In some cases, the attacks can be treated by simple methods like relaxation and breathing exercises. These methods can also lessen the chances of attacks recurring. In other cases medication will be required.

Slowing the breath can be an effective remedy against a mild panic attack. In many cases, the victim will get some relief by performing this action.
The causes of panic are psychological in nature but are triggered by physical events or surroundings. And in like manner, it can be treated by a physical action like this. When someone gets in to a state of panic, the heart rate speeds up and breathing is deeper. These “signals” from the body just help to reinforce the mind’s state of fear or dread. So why not send positive, reassuring signals instead? That is what the slower breathing does. It can be difficult to do in a stressful situation, but it can have a powerful effect in reversing the symptoms of panic. In any case, it will help a person to come out of an attack situation much quicker.

The faster breather can lead to hyperventilation in extreme cases, which may explain why panic attacks can lead to dizziness or even fainting. The reason for this is that the body senses that too much carbon dioxide is being expelled (even though this is not the case), which actually helps to heighten the sense of panic, and the body sets off the “low oxygen” alarm. So a nasty cycle is started which may end in fainting.

The best way to guard against this, is to always try to control your breathing, even in a situation of stress. This means breathing slowly and deeply.

First, exhale completely. One of the problems with rapid, short breathing is that a lot of air (stale air) remains in the lungs. As a result, there’s not enough room for fresh air. To assist with this, press on your stomach gently to help expel all of the air from your lungs.
Then, breathe in slowly. Not extremely slowly – just slower than normal. It may help if you count as you inhale, up to ten if you can (or six at least). Then have a short pause before exhaling and exhale as slowly as you were inhaling.

Being familiar with this exercise could be a useful aid if you have a panic attack at any time, so it makes sense to practice the routine until you can repeat it at will. Even aside from panic attacks, it’s a very good aerobic exercise to adopt.

Other recognized treatments for anxiety attacks include CBT (cognitive behavior therapy) and psychoanalysis. CBT is mostly about changing your thought patterns and dealing with your mental state. It can prove to be a very effective form of treatment. Both CBT and psychoanalysis are highly specialized treatment methods and may be required, depending on the severity of the case.

As for medication, the benzodiazepine family of drugs have been the most successful against panic symptoms. (They are also known as “anxiolytics” because of their success in reducing anxiety. They target specific areas of the brain affected by fear. An SSRI (serotonin inhibitor) may be required, especially if the person also suffers from depression. Each case is unique of course, and the correct medication can only be prescribed by a doctor.


How To Overcome Panic Attacks

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Yes, panic attacks can be overcome. But the first thing to do is to realize that they are nothing to be ashamed of. They are caused by reactions to stressful situations (even though they are extreme reactions).

It’s the natural reaction of our bodies to respond with fear and a rush of adrenalin to a situation like this. There is also an overwhelming desire to either attack or run away – ‘fight or flight’. The body’s natural tendency to defend itself is the cause of this reaction, but when the threat is imagined and the reaction is still strong, that’s a problem.

Fear and panic can be helpful – as when you are in a dangerous real-life situation. If you were faced with a man-eating tiger or, more realistically, a car or truck coming toward you at a hundred miles an hour, the fear and panic that you feel would actually be helpful, and could even save your life. In situations like these, we have heightened reactions and almost superhuman strength so that we can avoid the danger.

When you have an anxiety attack, the same reactions happen but in this case, they are not helpful. On the contrary, they prevent us from getting on with our daily activities and ultimately, from enjoying life. It may seem that they are even ruining your life – for instance you may worry unnecessarily about a future event for days, even weeks beforehand and just wish that it was over. Another problem with these extreme reactions is that they can cause you to feel somewhat abnormal. But in reality, you are just having exceptionally strong reactions to stress.

For those who suffer from them, panic attacks can be terrifying and the natural reaction is often to withdraw from the world and live a sort of shadowy existence where you just “play it safe” all the time and limit yourself to familiar situations where you know what to expect. But inevitably you will have to face the perceived threatening situation and the old fears will come to the surface again. It can be really difficult to break free of the cycle of fear and be calm in these situations.

The best approach is to work on the belief that you can overcome panic attacks. This has two parts: one, understanding that panic attacks can be overcome, and the best way to do this is to talk to former victims who are free now. The second part is to believe that YOU can do it. This is more difficult, and will probably require the help of a therapist or an online self-help program.

When you start getting the confidence that recovery is possible, you can be sure that the “vicious circle” is broken and you can look forward to “getting your life back”. At that point, it is important to step out and get involved in those situations that were previously a “panic trigger” for you. This may be a certain social environment, meeting with a particular group of people, or whatever situation was a great obstacle for you before.

If you are on medication for these attacks, do not stop taking it all of a sudden but phase the medication out gradually.
And if you do suffer an attack once again, try to realize that the attack happened not because of the situation, but because of your own reaction to it (the stress you were under).

So any exercises that are designed to reduce stress will help you overcome these panic attacks. Your therapist will be able to prescribe the best ones to use in your situation.


Herbs For Anxiety

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Using herbs for anxiety can be very helpful in reducing the stress and discomfort that is associated with anxiety disorders. Whether or not you suffer from extreme symptoms such as panic attacks, you may find that using the right herbal treatment can help you discover a more positive attitude to life.

Of course, if you suffer from any noticeable symptoms, it is important to have these checked out by a doctor. You may find that your anxiety is caused by medication that you are taking, or by a disease that might otherwise have gone undiagnosed. The symptoms of panic attacks are often very similar to heart attack symptoms. In many cases this means that somebody having a panic attack ends up in the emergency room unnecessarily, but sometimes it can be the other way around.

Herbs for anxiety can be prescribed by a specialist in herbal medicine, and many times this is the best way to go. However, you can also try some of the herbs listed below to see if they help you in managing your symptoms. Most of them are reported to have calming properties.

Kava

You may see kava recommended as one of the effective herbs for anxiety online. It has helped some people with symptoms of stress and anxiety but it has also been related to liver disease in some research studies.

In the USA, the FDA has issued warnings about kava. In some other countries it is banned. If it is available in your country and you decide to take it, do not exceed the recommended dose and do not take it for more than six months. You should not take it at all if you have any liver disease or condition.

Valerian

Valerian is a well known herb that has been used for centuries in Europe as a sedative and anti-anxiety aid. It is often recommended for people who have trouble sleeping. It also seems to help some people who suffer from migraine headaches.

However, valerian does not suit everybody. Some people appear to lack the ability to digest it, and in that case it can have the opposite effect, causing agitation, stomach pain or headaches. The only way to know if it will suit you is to try it.

Passionflower

Passionflower is another traditional natural remedy for anxiety and insomnia that has been found effective in research studies. It appears to have sedative properties that can calm a person and promote restful sleep without causing drowsiness during the day. Again, there may be side effects for some people, including stomach complaints or palpitations.

Most herbs for anxiety can be purchased either as nutritional supplements in the form of capsules or tablets, or as a herbal tea. Generally, it is easier to control the dosage if you choose nutritional supplements. Herbal teas can vary widely in how much active ingredient they contain.

Please be aware that herbal treatments can affect people in different ways. Most herbal supplements are not recommended for pregnant or nursing women. For safety reasons, herbs for anxiety should not be combined with other sedatives, tranquilizers or sleep medications. In addition, it is important to read the fine print on all supplements and, if you have any diseases or are taking any medication, talk with your doctor before taking any herbs for anxiety to check that there are no contraindications in your case.


Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

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Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms can be many and varied. Of course, the main symptom is a pervasive and general feeling of anxiety related to a wide range of aspects of life. If you are just anxious about one specific thing, such as an upcoming exam or problems with a relationship, you are probably not suffering from this disorder.

This is because generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is characterized by excessive worries about little things in everyday life, the kind of situations that you know don’t bother most people. In fact, it’s about being worried about almost everything for a long period of time. To be diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder symptoms must be ongoing for at least six months.

General anxiety is very common and you will often see it portrayed in books and movies. The early movies of Woody Allen were known for their depiction of characters played by Allen himself who would worry about almost every aspect of their lives. in a movie, this can be very funny, and it can often help sufferers to watch movies like this. You will see that you are not alone, and you will also probably laugh out loud, which is a good antidote to feelings of anxiety.

Most cases of GAD affect a sufferer’s life in a negative way. Even in mild cases, the person is often unwilling to face challenges such as accepting a promotion at work or even accepting a date, because they are totally focused on what might go wrong. They may be too anxious about traveling to take a much-needed vacation.

So what other generalized anxiety disorder symptoms are there, as well as feeling worried by life in general? A GAD sufferer will often be irritable, agitated and find it difficult to concentrate. GAD can also have physical symptoms that can be severe. These may include tiredness, twitching or restlessness, headaches and aching muscles (resulting from constant physical tension), and difficulty swallowing or eating.

Of course, symptoms like these are often worrying in themselves. In fact the symptoms of GAD can add to the problems of the underlying disorder. Often, people who suffer from excessive anxiety find it hard to maintain relationships. Many partners become impatient with the sufferer’s constant worrying, especially if the sufferer is unwilling to get help. This can lead to marriage breakdowns, loss of friends and increased social isolation.

Because of this, any type of anxiety disorder is likely to pull you in an increasing spiral of anxiety. First you are worried by specific things, then you become worried by the fact that you are anxious where other people would not be. So without treatment, anxiety disorder can grow and grow until it affects all aspects of life.

But do not let this negative side of GAD increase your anxiety about having it. Seek treatment or begin a recognized self-help program today. Treatment for GAD can be very successful. Many people find that their generalized anxiety disorder symptoms will diminish fast with treatment, helping them to lead happy, normal lives.


CBT For Anxiety

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Using cognitive behavioral therapy or CBT for anxiety can be one of the best ways to overcome an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can vary from person to person but they often include panic attacks, irrational fears, worrying excessively about normal life events or situations that other people might enjoy, and/or a general attitude that the world is a scary place.

Cognitive behavioral therapy involves changing our mental processes, that is, our thought patterns and judgments. This helps us to overcome those excessive fears and worries that can be so overwhelming for people who suffer from anxiety.

CBT for anxiety may begin by focusing on a sufferer’s thoughts and beliefs about the anxiety itself. People with anxiety disorders often add to their worries by believing that the disorder is their own fault and if they could just stop worrying, everything would be fine. You may have been told this by other well-meaning people in your life, too. In a sense it is true but it is not possible to force yourself to stop worrying, and if you believe that it should be within your control to do this, you will only add to your negative feelings about yourself, causing your anxiety to spiral.

So it is important to understand that anxiety has a purpose in our lives. A person who was never afraid or anxious would be unlikely to plan for the future or exercise caution in risky situations. That kind of person would have been unlikely to live long in a primitive society. Even today, a cautious attitude in some situations is not a bad thing. But to be cautious and fearful about every aspect of life is likely to mean that we are living with a lot of unnecessary stress.

CBT for anxiety takes a behavioral approach to reducing unhelpful fears and anxieties. There are three main areas in which a CBT program or therapist is likely to act:

1. Relaxation training. This is likely to include breathing techniques for dealing with hyperventilation to help you come out of a panic attack, and general relaxation techniques such as meditation or mindfulness.

2. Altering your thought patterns. People who suffer from anxiety disorders usually have negative thought patterns. You can learn to become aware of your thoughts so that you can overturn negative thoughts with a positive affirmation and in time, adopt positive ways of thinking that become automatic.

For example, imagine that your boss tells you that he wants you to attend a conference or a social event. Many people who suffer from anxiety would have a rush of negative thoughts and feelings about this. Instead of succumbing to panic, you can learn to look calmly at exactly what aspects of the event are making you fearful, and consider how you might manage these. You can then consider some of the positive aspects of the event, things that you would look forward to if you were not feeling so anxious, and focus your thoughts on those.

3. Altering your behavior. Most people who suffer from anxiety will restrict their lives to avoid certain situations. Therapists or self-help programs can help you to handle those situations again. Usually, that means setting goals and then taking very small steps toward achieving those goals. In this way, CBT for anxiety can help you to get your life back.


Causes Of Anxiety Attacks

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If you suffer from anxiety you are probably wondering what are the causes of anxiety attacks so that you can figure out how to prevent them.

There is fundamentally no difference between anxiety attacks and panic attacks. Some people prefer one name and others prefer the other. The word ‘anxiety’ is often used to describe a less overwhelming, longer-lasting feeling of worry, while ‘panic’ is something short-term and very intense. But when you have a real anxiety attack, it is not a low-level feeling. It is very intense.

The causes of anxiety attacks are very closely related to stress levels. An anxiety or panic attack is simply an inappropriately strong reaction to a stressful situation.

Panic attacks tend to run in families, although it is not known whether this is genetic or whether we pick up fearful attitudes toward the world by being around parents who feel the same way. Whichever view is correct, it is not your fault and not your parents’ fault either. And just because it runs in families doesn’t mean that it is inevitable. You can prevent attacks by getting help, by applying stress reduction techniques, and by avoiding some of the other contributory causes of anxiety attacks.

Contributory Causes of Anxiety Attacks

Life Stresses:

Stressful situations such as the loss of a loved one, moving home, a new job, etc can provoke panic attacks in people who have not had them before. While you may not be able to avoid these situations, it often helps just to know that the stress is a factor and you can work on reducing it.

Medications and Substances:

Some medications, including Ritalin, SSRI anti-depressants, and even some antibiotics can cause panic attacks in some people. Caffeine, alcohol and some recreational drugs can also cause attacks.

On the other hand, if you stop having some substances very suddenly, the change can provoke attacks. This is especially true of things that act as tranquilizers, such as alcohol and benzodiazepine. So cut down slowly, with advice from your doctor.

Avoidance:

If your attacks appear to be triggered by certain normal life situations (such as being in a crowd), and you withdraw from normal human activities to avoid those situations, you will actually increase your general ‘fear of life’ and this will make attacks more likely to occur.

This is a very important point because anybody suffering from panic attacks has a natural wish to avoid triggering situations. But all that happens if you do that, is that you will start to have attacks in situations that did not cause you anxiety before. Your world slowly becomes more and more restricted until attacks are happening for no clear reason, even if you stay home 24/7.

Another thing that happens if you start to avoid certain situations is that you will unconsciously come to believe that those situations will always cause panic attacks – and then that belief will actually cause an attack.

So for example, if the first time you have a panic attack is on a bus, and then you avoid buses because you are afraid that you will have another attack, you will be programming your mind to associate buses with panic attacks. Then you will probably start to have an attack every time you go anywhere near a bus. But if you truly understand that it was not the bus that was responsible for your first attack, but the stress that was affecting your whole life at that time, you can probably get right back on a bus and not have another attack.

Of course, it helps to have some assistance or training to work through these issues, so do not hesitate to look for a therapist or self-help program. A program can help you deal with the negative thinking and fearful attitude to life that is probably more important than any of the other causes of anxiety attacks.


If You Suffer From Panic Attacks

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If you suffer from panic attacks, you will know how debilitating it can be. You have a condition that can be a source of great distress to you. It’s very difficult to enjoy your life and concentrate on your daily activity (whether that is office work, homemaking, sporting activities or anything else) when you are never quite sure how you will “hold up”.

There are many people who suffer from panic attacks of various kinds. Most of the population know nothing of these afflictions. Just as when someone suffers from a phobia (which is an irrational fear), it doesn’t make sense to anyone who does not have it. For instance, let us say that somebody suffers from xenophobia (which is the fear of strangers). Anyone who knows them will find it hard to relate to this, especially those who are outgoing and look forward to meeting new people.

So it is with panic attacks – they look unreasonable to anyone who has never experienced them, but of course they are very real for anyone who gets them. The attack can have a devastating effect on the victim – even if someone who witnesses it tries to reassure them and calm them down, it usually has little effect. It seems that the attack must run its course. Eventually the victim will calm down, after they are removed from the situation that gave rise to the attacks. It can be a painfully slow process for him or her to get back to living in a normal, productive way.

Sometimes the attacks happen in a sudden way, and at other times it is the result of a series of events or circumstances that bring on the panic attack.

It can be a difficult burden to carry, mostly due to the fact that it’s not an instantly recognisable condition.  And it can be difficult to talk about – to admit that you suffer from these attacks is somehow seen as a weakness, a character flaw that should not be tolerated. But if you are a victim, you will know that it’s outside your control. Like a phobia, it is indeed irrational – you can’t explain why you have it, or why it has such a controlling effect. It’s also an energy drain – after an attack, the sufferers usually feel as if they have expended a great deal of energy.  And indeed they have, but it’s mental energy – and not physical. Panic attacks can leave you feeling exhausted.


Panic Away – My Updated Review

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Panic Away

While looking for an effective anxiety solution the ONLY product that had a lasting impact for me was Panic Away.
I discovered Panic Away after I painfully went through years of trial and error with various products ,worthless, but expensive plans and potions and a variety of other remedies. Some did give the results I was looking for Some did give relief or a distraction but I was never satisfied. I even considered therapy but I did not have the money nor was I convinced it would work. Before I found out about Panic Away I really had a tough time with anxiety, not only did it impede my social life but I had a lack of concentration, it was difficult to relax and my whole disposition had changed. As you probably know, Anxiety is a nasty condition!

What is Panic Away?

It’s a downloadable guide by Barry McDonagh which has helped thousands of people (including me) become more confident and reduce their anxiety so ones quality of life can be dramatically improved. Contrary to what the traditional medical community says, there is a solution for Anxiety – found in the Panic Away Book. Doctors will not tell you about Panic Away because it’s considered a holistic approach! It’s a shame that even psychiatric specialists cannot recommend Panic Away to their patients and many people fall victim to the latest pills or therapy that are continually being broadcast on radio and TV. I bet I spent at least $1,000 on useless Anxiety cures and remedies before a friend at work told me about Panic Away.

How Does Panic Away Work?

Each person who suffers from Anxiety has a different cause, for example, brain chemistry, bad habits, personality traits, genetics and a host of other distinct characteristics. As such, the remedy to cure the worry and doubt on your mind is different for each person – identifying the root of Anxiety is the first step. When I read the Panic Away book I was shocked to learn this and no specialist EVER mentioned this before. In addition, Panic Away goes into detail about foods that can reduce Anxiety and some that will make it much worse. There is one part on page 18 (which I’m not allowed to divulge because of copyright rules), which shows the key to stopping panic attacks for good, and provides a simple technique that can be used anytime, anyplace. Panic Away deals with this condition from the inside out which is refreshing and the direct opposite to most medical approaches.

Why Choose Panic Away?

The Panic Away system has helped thousands with this problem and quite simply, it’s pennies in comparison to any other “solutions”. It’s NOT one of those products that you must continually buy month after month. It is a guide which you can download in a few minutes and begin using today. It also comes with a 100% refund policy that states if for any reason you do not find Panic Away plans to be effective, then you can return it anytime. I’m very pleased with my results, after about 8 days I’d already become a lot more confident and even been promoted at work!, and I’d gone on to get rid of my anxiety and stop my panic attacks 4 weeks later!. To this day, I make sure that I still use the methods contained in the Panic Away guide as I NEVER want to experience a panic attack again!

Panic Away Special & Bonuses?

Please note that while I was at the Panic Away Site to do some research for my blog post, I did see they are having a special for anyone that wants to give it a try. I do not know how long this will last, so if you are curious to learn more about the Panic Away system or want to try it for yourself, simply go to the following link, Panic Away Official Site. By the way they have great customer service, anytime I had a question about the Panic Away System and anxiety in general, they always replied promptly with helpful answers.

Panic Away

Go Here To Download The Panic Away Book From The Official Site

I received an email last month about the Panic Away guide that I thought should be front and center. James says that he had had General Anxiety Disorder for 21 years and went the same route as I did with the stressing and constant worrying. When he started to use the techniques listed in the Panic Away guide he’d stopped his panic attacks and almost completely reduced his anxiety 2 weeks later and now 2 months on he’s a completely new person!

Clearly, Panic Away works and I hope all of you sufferers can find some relief soon! My advice is to give Panic Away a try and see for yourself:)

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