Panic Disorder : What You Need To Know About Panic Disorder

 

                 Panic Disorder

 

Normally in our life we sometimes get scared of something. But it doesn’t become a daily event and we don’t fear to that level that we think that we are having heart attack.

But there are some people who gets panic attack and it become very difficult for them to cope with this. Because they get this attack anytime and anywhere and that time they feel very vulnerable.

It is very common to everyone to experience the feelings of anxiety, panic and it’s normal. Actually it is a normal process of response to some stressful situations.

But it is different for those people who get anxiety, panic and stress regularly and any time without any valid reasons. These people are suffering from panic disorder.

So today’s discussion will be about panic disorder. And I hope that it will help you to gain some basic information about this disorder. You will know

• Meaning of Panic disorder
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and
• Treatment of Panic disorder

Without further delay let’s start our today’s post.

 

Meaning of Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is actually a behavioral and mental disorder. It is specifically an anxiety disorder which refers to the repeated, unexpected panic attacks. According to DSM-5, panic attack refers to as periodic, short bouts of panic that occur suddenly, can reach a peak within some few minutes and gradually pass.

During this attack time people feel they will die, go mad or have heart attack. It is found that most people get panic attack in life. But the people who suffer from it without any reason and repeatedly then it become panic disorder.

Panic disorder mainly starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. And it is found twice more in female than male. Panic disorder is often accompanied with agoraphobia in which people have fear to trouble in public places.

It is mainly develop when people worry too much about having again panic attacks and change behaviors like avoiding places to avoid panic attacks.

 

Causes of Panic Disorder

Like many other disorders, the actual causes of Panic disorder are not known yet. But researchers are trying to find out them. And they believe that some reason can be the cause of getting panic disorder.

Panic disorder can be linked to the imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. It can be genetically linked like if any family members are suffering from this then there is a chance to develop this disorder. It is also associated with some trauma or bereavement events of life.

Panic disorder is also related to major life transitions of life like going to college or university, getting married, working place or having first baby. Because, these events create sometimes stress for some people.

Depression, other mental illness can be also related. Alcohol and other drugs use can play a role in this also.

 

Symptoms of Panic Disorder

Anxiety is actually a feeling of unease which can range from mild to severe and can include feelings of fear. So when anyone starts to fear of something and getting started panic attacks he/she starts to avoid it.

If anyone gets more than 4 panic attacks then it can be said that he/she may be suffering from panic disorder. When anyone gets panic attack it begins suddenly with intense fear often without warning and mainly lasts 10-20 minutes. The symptoms and experience vary person to person.

But some common panic attacks symptoms are

• shortness of breath
• choking sensations
• nausea or vomiting
• dizziness
• lightheadedness
• fast heartbeat, palpitations
• trembling or shaking
• lots of sweating
• chest pains, tightness
• fear of dying, losing control
• fear of terror
• hot flashes, crying, numbness

These symptoms can occur without reason. And fear of panic attack can result in another attack also. One thing should be remembered that these symptoms can occur because of some other reasons also so we should diagnose it properly.

 

Diagnosis of Panic Disorder

When a person experience a panic attacks for the first time, he/she may feel that he/she is having a heart attack. So it can be that he/she may go to see a doctor for this.

Doctor will prescribe him/her some test to see which the reasons behind these symptoms are. They may give blood test and also an ECO to check heart function.

Mental health professional will give you some mental examination. If you don’t have any other disorders then professional person will diagnose you by using DSM-5 criteria of panic disorder.

The criteria includes

   repeatedly occurring panic attacks without warning

   the attacks occur at least a month of continual concern about having many more attacks  

   the attacks occur at least a month of many dysfunctional behavior changes related to the attacks.

 

Treatment for Panic Disorder

When anyone gets diagnosed with panic disorder then he/she should get some treatment. And treatment helps to reduce the symptoms and try to make life good.

   Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) tries to teach a person how to change one’s thoughts and actions to help you to understand the reasons of attacks and manage your fear.

   Medication

Some drugs are used to treat panic disorder. Like antidepressants can make these attacks less frequent. SSRIs are used in this. Anti-anxiety also helps with anxiety but have a risk of addictions to it. So these drugs should be prescribed by only professional by knowing its risk.

One should maintain some factors to keep the attacks less severe. Like doing regular exercise, managing stress, eating a healthy diet, try to avoid caffeine, getting enough sleep etc.

So that is all for today. I hope that it will be easy for you to understand what panic disorder is and what you should do if you are having the symptoms. I think this post will be useful for you. Bye. See you in the next post.

Sources

 Panic Disorder: Anxiety Disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2013.