What are the ways to treat panic attacks? What is its relationship to vitamin D deficiency?
Contents of the article
What are panic attacks?
What are the symptoms of panic attacks?
Physical symptoms of panic attacks
Symptoms of psychological attacks of fear
What are the symptoms after a panic attack?
What are the causes of punk attack?
How to treat panic attacks
Treating panic attacks without medications
Treating panic attacks at home
Treating panic attacks with medications
What is the difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks?
Do panic attacks occur during sleep?
Does vitamin D deficiency cause panic attacks?
What if your biggest fear swelled into a huge monster standing in front of you? How will you feel then? Your breaths are successive, as if they were racing against each other without stopping, and your heartbeat is participating in this race, and in the middle of this you feel as if you are lost and do not understand what is happening, or you wake up from your sleep and feel as if a huge black dog is running after you without stopping, or that you are falling from the top of the mountain, this is what It is known as a panic attack or panic attack, which occurs suddenly, and because of its symptomsThey may be similar to health problems such as heart attacks, as they may cause great anxiety in a person. Panic attacks can be treated with some simple steps, which we will tell you through the article and provide more information about them.
What are panic attacks?
A panic attack is a short episode of intense and overwhelming anxiety, so it is also known metaphorically as an anxiety attack, which causes an impulsive feeling of fear, even if the trigger is not clear, that is, it may occur even when there is no real danger or clear cause. Physical symptoms and frightening thoughts.
Panic attacks occur frequently, unexpectedly, and are often not linked to any external threat. A panic attack can last from a few minutes to half an hour, however, its physical and emotional effects may last for a few hours.
Panic attacks are not as rare as some think, as statistics indicate that approximately 35% of people worldwide suffer from a panic attack or panic attack at some time in their lives.
Repeated and prolonged panic attacks, if left untreated, can lead to the inability to lead a normal life. A person suffering from a panic attack may be afraid to leave his home or may prefer to be alone for fear of being attacked, which greatly affects his life.
Panic attacks are not life-threatening, but they can be frightening for the person having the attack and for those around them, especially if they happen frequently and unexpectedly.
What are the symptoms of panic attacks?
The symptoms of a panic attack may look like you're having a heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, or other medical emergency. The symptoms of a panic attack are not serious, but they can be very frightening, and may make the patient feel that something catastrophic is about to happen.
Physical symptoms of panic attacks
Panic attacks usually have physical symptoms, including:
jerk.
Feeling confused.
Shortness of breath (feeling like you are suffocating).
Stomach pain.
nausea.
goosebumps.
Physical aches.
Sudden high blood pressure.
Numbness or tingling in the extremities.
Rapid and irregular heartbeat.
Dry mouth.
Toothache.
Hot flashes (a sudden feeling of heat in the body).
Sweating and dizziness.
Chest pain.
Feeling extremely hot or cold.
Feeling that the legs are shaking and do not support the body.
Teeth grinding or grinding.
Crying.
In short, the patient can feel as if he is having a heart attack, or is going to collapse or even is about to die.
As mentioned, panic attacks come on suddenly, can occur with or without a specific trigger, and last between 5 to 30 minutes.
Symptoms of psychological attacks of fear
In addition to physical symptoms, a panic attack may be accompanied by the following psychological symptoms:
Feeling of loss of control.
Sudden fear of death.
Feeling separated from those around you.
After attacks, feelings of anxiety may continue throughout the day.
Feeling disconnected from mind and body.
These symptoms may cause great concern in people because they may mimic signs of major medical problems such as heart disease.
A panic attack may make the patient feel afraid to go out alone or to public places because of his anxiety about having another panic attack. If this fear becomes very severe, it may be called agoraphobia or agoraphobia.
What are the symptoms after a panic attack?
Panic attack symptoms can appear differently in each person, and although these symptoms generally last from 5 to 30 minutes, the duration of a panic attack varies greatly, and there is no specific time frame that a person can expect.
Even after the attack ends, the person may feel symptoms that continue for a period of time, which are known as post-panic attack symptoms, including:
Excessive fatigue.
Exhaustion.
Other bouts of anxiety.
Body pain.
Insomnia and intermittent sleep.
Feeling uncomfortable.
Chest pain.
Emotion.
Headache.
Trembling.
Appetite changes.
Muscle tension.
confusion.
Loss of ability to concentrate.
What are the causes of punk attack?
As with many mental health problems, the exact cause of panic disorder is not fully understood. But it is thought to be linked to a range of factors, including:
Experiencing trauma or witnessing traumatic events, either as a child or an adult.
Having a close family member with panic disorder or a constantly anxious person in your life.
Experiencing a stressful life event, such as the death of a family member or divorce.
An imbalance in neurotransmitters (chemical transmitters) in the brain.
Bad childhood.
Thyroid problems.
Chronic diseases (such as heart disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, or asthma).
Psychological problems such as depression.
Drugs and medications.
We also explained that a panic attack does not necessarily occur as a result of a clear cause. However, it may occur as a result of common triggers such as:
Stressful job.
Bad social conditions.
Phobias, such as agoraphobia (fear of crowded or open spaces), claustrophobia (fear of small spaces), and acrophobia (fear of heights).
Chronic pain.
How to treat panic attacks
The problem with a panic attack is that the person who is experiencing it may not be aware that he is experiencing a panic attack, and most likely he may feel that what he is experiencing is a health problem. Therefore, in the beginning, the panic attack must be distinguished and whether it occurs with a trigger or whether it occurs automatically.
It is also important for the patient to know how to treat panic attacks at home and control their symptoms, especially since they may occur during sleep and at other times when it is not possible to talk to a doctor.
Treating panic attacks without medications
Panic attacks can be dealt with through several treatments and techniques without medications. We learn about these methods below:
Counseling and psychotherapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This is usually the first treatment suggested for treating panic attacks. Through treatment, you can talk with a doctor or therapist to find out if there is a cause or trigger behind the seizures, and teach you how to deal with situations differently. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps you cope with your fears better.
Cognitive therapy: This therapy helps identify thoughts that may be causing an anxiety disorder and deal with them neutrally.
Exposure Therapy: This type of therapy involves controlled, doctor-supervised exposure to situations that trigger fear and anxiety, which helps you learn to confront those fears in a new way.
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is a technique that can help you connect your thoughts to the present moment. You can practice mindfulness by effectively observing thoughts and sensations without interacting with them, focusing on the place where you are sitting, its details, and your feelings, and activating your senses such as vision, smell, hearing, and touch by focusing on the details of the room and smelling the place to connect all senses to the present moment and reduce the symptoms of a panic attack.
Use relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques include guided imagery, aromatherapy, and muscle relaxation. If you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety or a panic attack, try doing things that you find relaxing. Close your eyes, take a bath, or use lavender oil, which has relaxing effects on the nerves.
Your doctor may suggest you attend individual sessions, group sessions, or a combination of the two.
Treating panic attacks at homYou should talk to your doctor to find out what you can do to prevent and treat the symptoms associated with a panic attack. However, knowing how to deal with a panic attack at home is very important, especially since, as we mentioned, it may occur suddenly and anywhere.
If you feel a panic attack coming on, try the following:
Breathing exercises: When you feel your breathing quickening, focus your attention on each inhalation and exhalation. Inhale slowly through your nose until you feel your stomach filling with air. Count down from four as you exhale and release through your mouth. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Repeat until your breathing slows down.
Knowing what you're going through and accepting it: If you've ever had an anxiety or panic attack, you know it can be very difficult. Remind yourself that the symptoms will pass and you will be fine.
Lifestyle Changes: The following lifestyle changes can help you prevent panic attacks and reduce the severity of symptoms when they occur.
- Avoid sources of stress in your life.
- Identify negative thoughts and stop them.
- Do moderate exercise regularly.
- Practice meditation or yoga.
- Follow a balanced diet.
- Join a support group for people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks.
- Quit smoking and alcohol.
- Reduce caffeine intake.
Treating panic attacks with medications
Sometimes a person's condition may require the use of medications, and the doctor may prescribe the following medications to treat panic attacks:
Antidepressants: These medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Beta blockers: These medications help manage some physical symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat.
Anti-anxiety medications: Include benzodiazepines, a sedative medication that can quickly reduce the severity of symptoms.
All of these medications can have side effects and should not be used in any way without consulting a doctor. Antidepressants are used long-term, and their effects may take some time to be felt. Benzodiazepines are intended for short-term use only, because there is a high risk of dependence.
What is the difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks?
Some people confuse panic attacks with anxiety as if they are the same thing, but the circumstances of each are different from the other. In fact, a panic attack is actually an attack of severe anxiety, but they are two terms used to describe two conditions.
It may be difficult to know whether what you are experiencing is an anxiety or panic attack, and it is possible to differentiate between them, as we will explain in the following points:
Cause or trigger: Anxiety is usually related to something stressful or a threat. While panic attacks are not always associated with a trigger, they often occur suddenly for no apparent reason.
Severity of symptoms: Anxiety can be mild, moderate, or severe. For example, anxiety attacks may occur and you continue to live your normal life, and they do not hinder you from this. Panic attacks, on the other hand, often involve severe and disturbing symptoms that may make it difficult to carry out daily activities.
Onset of symptoms: Anxiety symptoms appear cumulatively and increase over time, but panic attacks usually come suddenly.
Effect: Panic attacks usually raise fears in the soul that prompt the person to avoid certain places or fears, while anxiety does not affect it in the same way. It may cause fears, but they do not prevent the person from leaving the house, for example.
Panic and anxiety attacks may have many similar symptoms. It is worth noting that you can experience both anxiety and a panic attack at the same time. For example, you may feel anxious about a situation that may be stressful, such as an important presentation at work, and when the anxiety reaches its peak, it turns into a panic attack.
Do panic attacks occur during sleep?
Yes, panic attacks often occur during sleep. These are known as nocturnal panic attacks, or “night terrors,” and often have the same symptoms as a traditional daytime panic attack, although these nocturnal attacks usually last for a few days. Just minutes, it may take a long time for it to calm down to a degreeEnough to go back to sleep after exposure.This, coupled with worry about whether you will have another panic attack, can lead to insomnia and difficulty falling asleep.
Does vitamin D deficiency cause panic attacks?
Low levels of vitamin D are associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety. For this reason, vitamin D levels are usually tested if the patient suffers from anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders. If the patient already suffers from a vitamin D deficiency, treatment includes compensating for this deficiency. However, vitamin D is not believed to directly cause anxiety or lead to a panic attack, but its deficiency may cause symptoms to become more severe.
Therefore, it is recommended to be exposed to sunlight on a regular basis, to obtain sufficient amounts of vitamin D. Going outdoors during the day is also an important factor in combating depression, which is one of the factors that trigger panic attacks.
In conclusion, treating panic attacks is not impossible, and the person who suffers from them can learn how to deal with them and control their symptoms with the help of a psychiatrist. It is only important, in the event of exposure to any disturbing symptom, to go to the doctor to find out whether it indicates a panic attack or another health problem, as it may be similar. Symptoms include serious problems such as seizuresHeart disease, and only a doctor can diagnose the cause behind the symptoms and prescribe the appropriate treatment
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