Panic is an overpowering feeling of fear and anxiety that comes suddenly and is almost impossible to control.
It appears to be unfounded most of the time.
Just imagine the scenario; you are alone at home and see a shadow moving stealthily, at least it appears to be doing just that.
You take it to be that of a prowling thief.
You feel so frightened that you lose the capacity to raise an alarm or do anything else.
However, you soon get hold of yourself and feel that you have been extremely silly.
In such cases, you experienced panic, not panic attack.
Panic came all of a sudden, out of blue and terrified you like nothing else had ever done.
If it was horrible, panic attacks are more so.
In fact, there is no way you can describe a panic attack in one word.
A panic attack can come anytime, even during sleep.
Suppose you are all cozy and reading a book by your favorite author, when you feel that your heart is beating at a tremendous rate and you cannot breathe.
You start sweating and experience hot flashes.
The symptoms seemed to pick up its pace every second.
You do not understand what is happening! One minute you feel you are going to die and then you think that you are losing control over your mind.
Neither of that happened.
You became all right soon, how soon you do not know because your condition at that time did not permit you to do anything else, but to suffer.
You had yourself checked and the reports showed that you are as healthy as you can be! However, the experience you had lingered deep in your mind and made you wonder if you are going to face another such attack soon! And it did...
another attack did take place.
It was as devastating as before.
You again went to the emergency room.
After few such futile trips, somebody casually said, "oh! You must be having some of those panic attacks...
" Imagine! You are furious! Nothing to worry about indeed! He may be a doctor, but he has no idea how intense is your suffering because panic attacks fall in the realm of psychiatry and so a physician may not have a clear idea about it.
However, four or more of the following symptoms can accompany a panic attack: 1.
pounding heart 2.
sweating 3.
trembling 4.
sensation of shortness of breathe 5.
feeling of choking 6.
chest pain or discomfort 7.
nausea or abdominal distress 8.
feeling light headed or faint 9.
derealization or depersonalization 10.
fear of losing control 11.
paresthesias 12.
chills or hot flashes It is important to note that just as panic is substantially different from anxiety, so is panic attack different from anxiety attack, although these two terminologies are often used interchangeably.
May be it is because panic attacks falls under a bigger umbrella called 'anxiety attack' or because fear of another such attack gives rise to such an intense anxiety in the person, that he often starts avoiding certain situation, especially from where, he thinks that it would be difficult to escape.
Other wise, we have generalized anxiety disorder, which too falls under the 'anxiety attack' and is characterized by constant worry that is either unfounded or not at all proportionate to the cause.
Fortunately, anxiety attack is a treatable disorder.
See a psychiatrist with acronym MD or DO for undertaking anxiety treatments.
Only such a person can prescribe medicines if the necessity arises.
However, unless the case is very acute, the psychiatrist may not want to prescribe medicines at all and if it is, he may want to apply a two-pronged strategy of psychotherapy as well as medication.
However, anxiety treatment should begin as early as possible.
Otherwise, the patient may develop host of other complication like social phobia or agoraphobia.
Worst still, he may start taking drugs or alcohol in the mistaken belief of getting some relief.
The two important groups of panic medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and the benzodiazepines.
These medicines are approved by the Drug & Food Administrations to treat panic attacks.
The Sertraline and Paroxetine from the SSRI group are preferred for long-term treatment.
Clonazepam from the benzodiazepine group is very quick acting, but may cause drug dependence and so are better for short-term use.
Other than these mainstream medicines, there are some equally good alternate medicines.
However, no medicine can cure a person completely without the help of psychotherapy.
Mainly two types of psychotherapy are used in anxiety treatment.
They are cognitive behavior therapy and panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Each can cure panic attack on their own.
However, if the case is very severe, psychiatrist often prescribes medicines, at least initially.
You should leave the mode of treatment on those who know the best and try to follow their advice instead.