panic disorder symptoms : A Frightening Experience

2008-04-22 17:45:55

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



Everyone experiences moments of panic or fear in their lives, but do you have a social anxiety disorder?

What is panic disorder and do you have panic disorder symptoms? It is a disorder that produces unexpected repeated intense fear attacks. The attack may be only for a few minutes but sometimes even for hours. These social anxiety disorder symptoms can completely debilitate your life.

Incidence, causes and risk factors
Nobody knows exactly what causes panic disorder symptoms. It has been suggested that genetics could be a factor in panic disorder symptoms. Studies have even suggested that if one member of a set of identical twins experiences panic disorder symptoms a certain percentage of the time, so will the other twin develop the condition. But the disorder is often also found among members of the same family who aren’t in fact related by blood.

The incidence of panic disorder is twice as high in women than men. People with this disorder live in constant fear of the next attack, are afraid to be alone and far from medical help.

Panic disorder symptoms usually appear before a person has reached the age of 25. It can be found in children but is usually diagnosed much later. Often it is mistaken for heart attack symptoms or symptoms of some other condition before panic disorder is recognized.

Symptoms
A minimum of 4 of these symptoms take place suddenly all within 4 minutes (this is followed by a month’s period of constant fear of falling prey to another attack):
- dizziness or faintness
- shortness of breath
- trembling or shaking
- palpitations or pounding heart
- feeling of choking
- sweating, hot flushes, chills
- numbness or tingling
- nausea or upset stomach
- fear of dying
- chest pain or discomfort
- feelings of unreality
- fear of losing control
- feelings of detachment.

This is also accompanied by extreme behavioral changes and fear of “going crazy” or even of having a heart attack.

Signs and tests
A physical examination, blood tests as well as a psychiatric evaluation need to be performed. Your health care provider needs to confirm that there is no underlying medical disorder before making a panic disorder diagnosis.

Substance abuse related disorders are very similar to the symptoms of panic disorder. Sometimes the two are connected when panic disorder sufferers try to alleviate their fear with substance abuse.

Neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine disorders can also accompany panic attacks.

Treatment
Anxialectics, antidepressants as well as cognitive behavioral therapy are all effective in treating panic disorder. The central nervous system is acted upon in order to reduce the incidence of anxiety and other symptoms.

Certain classes of medication can cause dependence and addiction and should only be used temporarily.

SSRI’s (a class of antidepressants) are the most usual form of medication.

Behavioral therapies should be used with drug therapy:
- pleasant mental imagery
- relaxation techniques
- cognitive restructuring.

Psychological counseling is also useful.


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