Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by frequent episodes of panic attack with inter episode anxiety symptoms. With passage of time patient might also develop fear of closed spaces or being alone.
PANIC attacks are episode of intense anxiety lasting associated with feeling of doom. It may last for variable period of few minutes to max 1 hour.
Causes
It’s not known what causes panic attacks or panic disorder, but these factors may play a role:
- Genetics
- Major stress
- Temperament that is more sensitive to stress or prone to negative emotions.
- Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function
Symptoms
Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you’re driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently.
Recurrent episode of panic attack leads to anticipatory anxiety i.e. patient starts thinking:
- What will happen if I have panic attacks next time?
- Who will help me?
- If nobody is there then what will happen to me?
- I am going to die?
- How will I cope?
- If I die what will happen to my family?
consequence to this thinking patient avoid going out alone, in closed spaces.
This leads to severe subjective distress and work and interpersonal impairment.
Over long run patient develop depression.
Panic attacks have many variations. Some patients may have few clusters of symptoms while others might have different. symptoms usually peak within minutes.
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
- Sense of impending doom or danger
- Sweating
- Chills
- Abdominal cramping
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
- Fear of loss of control or death
- Trembling or shaking
- Hot flashes
- Chest Pain
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Rapid, pounding heart rate
- Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
- Nausea
- Headache
- Feeling of unreality or detachment
Characteristic feature is loss of control, feeling of doom.
Patients seek Frequent medical care for health concerns and other medical conditions. Unfortunately, after all investigation patient is given answer that all is normal and u do not have any think.
Secondary problem of panic disorder
Patient after some time develop agoraphobia, depression. Sometimes uses alcohol to overcome anxiety. Suicidal thought are common.
Treatment
Medication:
Doctors also may prescribe different types of medications to help treat panic disorder. SSRI, benzodiazepine, beta blocker helps patient recover from illness.
Psychotherapy:
Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is considered an effective alternative or add on treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder. Psychotherapy can help you understand panic attacks and panic disorder and learn how to cope with them.
A form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioural therapy can help you learn, through your own experience, that panic symptoms are not dangerous
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