Friday, June 12, 2009

Types and Symptoms of Panic Disorder

By Toby Johns

There are so many different things that can promote a panic attack. You could start feeling sweaty, cold, or even sick to your stomach in the beginning. When these start to subside you could start to feel your heart beating fast, get a shortness of breath, or even have choking sensations along the way. Whatever the case may be, there are several different reasons why this occurs and it's our job to help you understand them all. Even if there are more serious events that leave you with thoughts of fear and terror along the way, it's important to understand as much about it as possible.

Chances are that you have experienced the symptoms of panic disorder at least one time or another in your life. You will know it because it will be like something that you have never before felt. Panic attacks are very bold and noticeable, but mainly just to the person who is experiencing them. You might fear that others notice that you are having an attack, but in most cases, it really is all in your head.

Keep in mind that panic attacks can have a very negative effect on your life. While this is true, there are variations of panic attacks even though they are all considered the same thing. It really just depends on the issue at hand and what is actually contributing to your attacks. One of the most popular issues deals with caffeine. If you drink soda, coffee or energy drinks, they can all contribute. Granted, we aren't saying eliminate it from your diet, but you should definitely tone it down a bit.

Another one of the common symptoms of panic disorder are those that occur while driving. If you suffer from fear of closed spaces, this can really become a problem. You might be fine one minute, and then the next you are literally freaking out. All of a sudden the car seems to be getting smaller and smaller. The only thing that you can think about is escaping the situation that you have entered into.

Having the symptoms of panic disorder while driving can be terrorizing. For one, you need to be paying attention to what you are doing. Secondly, you should realize that those scary, racing thoughts are not real. They are simply an illusion that will fade very shortly. If you must, pull over somewhere and get out of the car for a few minutes before hitting the road again and grab a drink of water. Most importantly, breathe.

If you are a woman experiencing panic attacks, you could have your own various reasons that men just don't understand. One of the first we wanted to talk about is menopause. When your body changes and it has a hormonal imbalance, you can get the ultimate feeling of loss. Maybe you've lost something precious or dealt with losing anything close to you. Whatever the case may be it leaves you feeling vulnerable, confused, and out of sorts.

Even pregnant women are extremely susceptible to having panic attacks. These often occur when it's time to deliver and you start wondering if the baby will be okay, if something is going to go wrong during the delivery, or if you're going to survive. Honestly, it's a miserable thought process and even though we call it labor, others call it panic attacks.

The only thing to do is to let your thoughts occur naturally, practice deep breathing, and just relax. It is much easier to think and say, and if you feel that you might have some difficulty achieving these things, then there is nothing wrong with seeking professional therapy. There are tons of treatment options for those that suffer from anxiety. There comes a point when the symptoms of panic disorder start to take over a person's life. One cannot live a happy, healthy life when they are constantly plagued by panic. You must learn to understand your panic attacks, and seek the most comfortable treatment so that you can live life freely again. - 16890

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