Panic attack and anxiety – what is worth knowing?

Panic attacks can come suddenly and be very intense, but they can also be sporadic and infrequent. For some people, panic attacks are a unique experience that occurs only a few times in their lives, while for others they can become a frequent challenge that they have to deal with on a regular basis. It is important to get support, regardless of how often panic attacks occur. If panic attacks are affecting your quality of life, consider consulting a
professional
who can help you understand and manage these difficulties.

What does a panic attack look like?

A panic attack is a sudden, intense wave of anxiety that can occur in surprising ways. Those who have experienced it firsthand describe a feeling of fear that virtually paralyzes their mind and body.

Physical sensations during a panic attack may include an accelerated heartbeat, a feeling of shortness of breath, dizziness and trembling. A person may feel intense pressure in the chest, which can lead to thoughts of heart attacks. An increase in sweating, feeling hot or cold, and a feeling of imbalance may come to the fore.

It is not uncommon for this to be accompanied by a feeling of detachment from reality, as if the mind has temporarily disconnected from the surrounding world. Catastrophic images run through your mind, thoughts of losing control or even losing your health. These are the brain’s self-protective mechanisms, trying to understand what is going on inside us.

It is worth noting that experiencing a panic attack is highly subjective. Although the presence of many physical symptoms may suggest something serious, in most cases a panic attack is not life-threatening. Despite this, the person experiencing it can feel extremely frightened and devastated, which has a strong impact on their daily functioning.

See:
Panic attacks – when to seek help?

Causes of panic attack

Panic attacks are the result of a complex combination of factors, such as genetics, life history and stress levels. It is often the case that people who have experienced trauma or have difficulty dealing with stress are more prone to these attacks. The thought pattern in which a person anticipates and fears further attacks also influences their occurrence.

Paroxysmal anxiety: a thought trap

Paroxysmal anxiety is a condition that accompanies panic attacks. In this case, the patient constantly worries about having a seizure again or losing control of the situation. These intrusive thoughts fuel anxiety, creating a vicious cycle that makes it difficult to overcome these difficulties.

See:
why is taking care of your health important?

Who may be experiencing a panic attack?

A panic attack does not choose – it can affect people from different backgrounds and walks of life. This is not a problem limited to a particular social or age group. Panic attacks can occur in anyone, regardless of gender, age or social status. However, certain groups of people seem to be more prone to experiencing panic attacks.

Young adults are often prone to panic attacks, in part due to changing life circumstances, pressures and stresses associated with choosing a career path or achieving independence. However, people of a later age are also not excluded from experiencing panic attacks.

People who have previously experienced difficult life situations or experienced traumatic events may also be more prone to panic attacks. The increased levels of stress that can accompany such experiences can challenge mental balance and contribute to the appearance of anxiety symptoms.

While it is not always possible to clearly identify who will experience panic attacks, there is some tendency that people with a history of anxiety or depression, as well as those who have family members suffering from anxiety disorders, may have a higher risk of experiencing them. However, it should not be forgotten that every person is unique and the situations that trigger panic attacks can vary. What is frightening to one person may be completely neutral to another. Therefore, whether you have experienced panic attacks before or not, it is important to be aware that there are effective strategies to help you cope with this difficulty.

How to deal with panic attacks?

Fortunately, there are many effective strategies that can help you overcome panic attacks and paroxysmal anxiety:

• 
  Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  : It is a method that helps patients identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that sustain anxiety. This allows a person to learn more healthy ways of coping.
• Relaxation techniques: Learning breathing techniques, meditation, and progressive relaxation can help reduce tension and stress, helping to reduce the frequency of attacks.
• Pharmacotherapy
  : In some cases, your doctor may decide to use anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications to relieve your symptoms.