The Impact of Panic Attacks on Your Life
No one has ever come to any harm or died as the result of a panic or anxiety attack, and neither will you. The misunderstanding about links with heart attacks may have come about because of research which showed that a high number of people with panic disorder also have mitral valve prolapse.
Although that may sound like a fatal condition, it isn’t: it refers to a valve in the heart which, in simple terms, occasionally flaps the wrong way. It isn’t fatal in itself. Rather, it is suggested that those who had mitral valve prolapse and died may have done so through ‘normal’ causes such as leading unhealthy, sedentary lives or through alcoholism. In general, people with panic disorder have normal health, so you have nothing to worry about. (However, if you have a real concern about your health, do go and check it out with your doctor. That’s what they’re there for.)
The Effect of Panic Attacks on Your Health
Some people, for various reasons, have decided not to seek help and treatment for their panic attacks. What could happen as a result of this procrastination is that they develop other illnesses which are more ‘visible’ and which they do take along to their doctor for treatment. Of course, what happens afterwards is that other problems can emerge in place of the one which has been treated, or the same problem simply reappears later on. Because the doctor isn’t treating the cause of the problem, i.e. panic attacks (simply because he or she hasn’t been told about them), the real cure cannot take place. The sooner you openly acknowledge your panic attacks and start to take action, the better.
The Dangers of Self-Medication
In an attempt to treat panic attacks by themselves, some people resort to the use of alcohol or those illegal drugs which have a calming effect. Instead of seeking appropriate help, they resort to the bottle. Research confirms there is this link between panic disorder and problems with alcohol. We will look at this in more detail in chapter 10, but it is obvious that any relief it brings is only temporary and can lead to more problems than it appears to solve. Abuse of alcohol and drugs can not only affect your health, but if left unchecked can cause problems with relationships at home and work, can put your livelihood at risk and even your life. Self-medication in this way can have a devastating effect on your life. It isn’t the way forward.
How Panic Attacks Can Have A Positive Effect On Your Life
