Panic Attacks: What You Do When Your Body Tries To Convince That You Are Going To Die Within Minutes?

By Samuel D'Souza | INNLIVE

The panic attack might just be one of the most terrifying psychological disorders within the DSM; at least, to the patient suffering from it. This disorder falls into the category of anxiety disorders and while many people are struggling with it, there still seems to be an air of mystery surrounding the issue, which is preventing many people from obtaining help and others from reaching out to friends and family who might be suffering under the weight of this life altering problem.
What Is a Panic Attack?
Panic attacks take on many different forms; for some, it is the feeling that they are having a heart attack due to symptoms such as a shortness of breath and a tightness in the chest. For others, these attacks might involve feelings of dizziness, accompanied by the fear that the person is about to pass out. It doesn’t matter what types of symptoms occur with these attacks, the two most important characteristics are:

Experiencing an unexpected attack and fearing that it will happen again. A heightened fear of the consequences of the attack.

Ultimately, when someone has a panic attack, they are suddenly filled with the belief that they are about to die, and this is accompanied by acute symptoms of panic. Some people become so terrified of having another attack that they start to avoid places in which the attacks previously occurred. A portion of the population will not leave their homes because of this intense fear.

Preparing For An Attack
Panic attacks are part of the family of anxiety disorders so they can worsen with stress. In some cases, people become so prone to these attacks that they don’t even realize they are about to have one. Severe cases may require treatment through a trained psychotherapist, but there are also other ways in which sufferers can attempt to decrease the frequency of the attacks.

Alcohol, overeating or not eating frequently enough may worsen the symptoms so make sure that you follow healthy eating patterns and avoid alcohol.

Stress may result in more frequent attacks so measure your anxiety levels on a regular basis to determine whether you need some “time out”. A few minutes walking in the park or simply stepping away from a chaotic phone line can do wonders for you.
Don’t wait until you start feeling stressed before you begin taking action; get to know your body’s signals that it is under too much pressure and take a short break.

You Don’t Fight The Panic, You Fight The Fear
Many people get panic attacks every now and again, but the people that attribute them to internal factors (feeling stressed etc) and not the environment (the office, going to the movies etc) are the ones that usually abstain from falling victim to them in the future. You need to realize that the panic itself is not the problem – it is your fear of having another attack that is causing the problem. Once you battle your fear and overcome it, you will find that the disorder itself can be beaten.