Am I having a Panic Attack?

We often hear the word panic and a red flashing light goes off in our head.  A sense of panic often creates the feeling of discomfort and edginess, precisely because it is supposed to. The body’s natural defense in response to danger is to alert you and make you react to a threat; the “fight or flight” component of our nervous system kicks into gear.  The problem with panic attacks is that often there is no real danger present, but your body believes there is an imminent threat and manifests all the physical symptoms that come with it.  

What does a panic attack feel like?

Panic attacks are terrifying.  You can feel an impending sense of doom, almost as if you are going to die.  In fact, many people experience chest pain so immense they rush to the hospital because it feels like a heart attack.  Other symptoms include a racing heart beat, trembling, shortness of breath, a sensation of choking, nausea and stomach pain, feeling dizzy or light headed.

So how do panic attacks happen?

As with everything, there may be a genetic component that predisposes certain people to being more prone to panic attacks.  Childhood traumas and stressful events also contribute to the possibility of developing panic attacks. Other causes could be personalities-some people are more sensitive to stress and have difficulty coping with negative emotions. Substances can also effect your likelihood of a panic attack, particularly caffeine, by increasing anxiety and decreasing the threshold for an attack.  Following one panic attack it’s not uncommon to fear the terrifying event from occurring again, thereby conditioning you to avoid certain triggers or situations similar to what elicited the panic attack.  This creates a cycle that often requires professional help to break.

How do I stop getting panic attacks?

Working with someone well trained in behavioral therapy is the mainstay of treating panic attacks.  Medications are useful as they can help prevent panic attacks from happening and can also abort panic attacks as the symptoms begin to mount.  Trained professionals can balance the chemicals in the brain to make you more resilient against stress and can equip you with coping skills to help you through the panic process to make them less terrifying and eventually, hopefully, nonexistent.  

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4451-panic-disorder

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/panic-attacks/symptoms-causes/syc-20376021

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/panic-disorder-in-adults-epidemiology-pathogenesis-clinical-manifestations-course-assessment-and-diagnosis?search=panic%20attack&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1