Panic Attacks… What Are They?
A panic attack is overpowering senses of fear that can make the victim feel out of control causing hyperventilation, increased heart rate and dizziness – these are just a few of the more common panic attacks symptoms, there are many more that are often be experienced by the individual.
Regardless of how often a person suffers from a panic attack or how many different symptoms are experienced, medical experts continue to assure us that they are physically harmless and purely an activation of the body’s defence system.
A panic attack can occur randomly and so suddenly that it is often difficult for the individual to explain what is happening particularly as they are also suffering a frightening experience.
People who experience panic attacks often report the fear of not being able to escape a bad situation, they often feel trapped and unable to free themselves.
On average anxiety and panic attacks will last between 3 and 10 minutes though there have been cases recorded where they have prolonged for up to 30 minutes, equally so some people only experience symptoms for 15 – 20 seconds and find that overcoming panic is almost second nature.
When panic attacks, a common trigger is personal trauma such as bereavement or divorce or maybe even a work related issue that is causing undue stress – other triggers include alcohol abuse, drug abuse, caffeine and anxiety-based illnesses.
It was originally thought that panic attacks affect less than 5% of people worldwide, but a recent report states that up to 1 in 75 Americans do suffer at least one panic attack in their lifetime – statistically women are more likely to suffer from panic attacks symptoms and they are most common between the ages of 16 – 40.
Children are also prone to suffer from panic attacks and this can be the result of a major change in the child’s life, things such as separation from a parent or parents, the fear of returning to school after a long holiday or the loss of someone close such as a grandparent.
Treatment of child panic attacks tends to centre on cognitive-behavioural approaches changing the way a child thinks and acts in certain situations.
There are many methods, techniques and opinions on how to stop panic attacks and overcome panic attacks symptoms – Panic Away is a highly recommended course with many testimonials to verify this.
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