Overcoming Anxiety Attack Symptoms

“Am I having panic attack symptoms?”

It was midnight. I had just fallen asleep. The phone rang. I heard the desperate voice of a close friend. ”I think I’m going to die,” she said…

1 realized that my friend was in a state of panic. I calmed her down. I listened for another 10 minutes as she related a long list of symptoms she was experiencing:

• terror – a feeling that something terrible is going to happen to her
• racing heart
• chest pains
• difficulty breathing
• sweating, trembling
• tingling or numbness in the hands and feet
• flushes or chills
• fear of losing control, going crazy
• fear of dying
• heaviness in the head, crawling sensation on top of head

This was surely another case of panic attack. And these are common symptoms associated with panic attacks. A panic attack usually arises out of the blue and is normally unrelated to any real danger. The symptoms usually only last a few seconds and disappear over an hour. That doesn’t make it any less harrowing though.

People who experience these symptoms often complain of great distress:

“I was going to work one morning when I suddenly had this sudden rush of chest pain and a choking sensation. My heart started to race rapidly and I had a horrible feeling like lightning going through my body. I was so red, so scared I thought I was having a heart attack. I went to several doctors and though they told me it was not a heart attack, I did not believe them.”

Many people only experience mild panic attack but when it occurs and begins to affect an individual’s life it is referred to as panic disorder. These recurring panic attacks may affect an individual’s ability to function, and their relationships.

One of my close friends told me this one day, about her fight with panic disorder, “The panic disorder ruined my marriage. It consumed every moment of my life. My husband could not deal with it anymore, and it was difficult for us to have a normal relationship. It had even affected our sex life”.

“I didn’t leave my home or travel on the bus. I always had this basic fear that another panic attack would occur. Despite reassurance from my doctor that I had a panic disorder I was still concerned about having a heart condition. As a result I saw about ten doctors in one year. I was spending all my money on doctors’ fees”.

A lot of individuals with panic disorder become preoccupied the distressing symptoms so they visit many doctors over a short period of time, often enlisting expensive and sometimes unnecessary investigations. Sometimes doctors also miss the diagnosis.

Panic disorder may progress to an advanced stage where individuals are afraid to be in places that may trigger an attack or in which they worry about new attacks. Common situations that are usually avoided by these individuals are shopping malls, the market, buses and elevators.

These individuals often avoid leaving their homes alone or if they travel outside of their homes they usually require the company of someone close.

Can it be treated?

The good news is yes it can. This condition is treatable and if you or anyone has what appears to be a panic disorder you should consult your family doctor. Before starting treatment, a person should undergo a complete medical evaluation to rule out other disorders that can mimic a panic disorder.

If a diagnosis of panic disorder is made discuss the treatment options with your doctor. Tranquillizers are used to manage these symptoms but we discourage their continued use as they are usually addictive. The newer antidepressants have proven to be more effective in the treatment of panic disorder, but again, they should not be seen as a long term solution.

Therapy is very effective but should be done by a trained therapist. A lot of focus in therapy is placed on countering negative thoughts for example, “what if I lose control on the bus,” or “what if I have another attack in the elevator”.

There are number of things you can do to manage these distressing symptoms for example, breathing exercises, relaxation and meditation techniques and regular exercise.

Avoid using drugs and alcohol to treat these symptoms – this is a mistake people often make. Those closest to the affected person usually recognize its symptoms first. Be supportive and understanding and encourage the person to seek professional help.

My friend who I mentioned earlier, overcame her disorder through therapy and meditation, and is now very happy and living a normal “panic free” life again.