Panic Attack Help from
PanicAttackRecovery.com
In my opinion, the best way to help someone with panic attacks is
to provide comprehensive, easy to understand, information which
discusses anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia.
Many people who first experience a panic attack don’t know what
is happening to them. Moreover, people who experience a panic
attack or panic attacks find it reassuring to know is
happening. However, this knowledge (knowing what is
happening) can be a real help to the sufferer of panic attacks.
I know how scary it can be, first hand. When I described
my symptoms to my doctor, after having my first panic attack, he
didn’t provide any help or tell me anything other than he was
recommending I see a psychologist – no suggestion was given to me
that I was possibly suffering a panic attack – from my perspective
at the time, I hadn’t received any help at all.
While the doctor’s referral turned out to be a good recommendation
and real help followed, it was really hard going through this
period not knowing anything about what was happening to me.
Knowing something about the process would have put me somewhat at
ease – it would have been a help to me. I initially felt like
I was going crazy – you know the thought that I might be suffering
a panic attack never crossed my mind.
But unfortunately I was not sure where to turn to for help with my
panic attacks (of course at the time though I did not know that I
was suffering from panic attacks).
Now in fairness, most medical doctors, at least general
practitioners, are not trained in panic attacks, mental health
issues, at least in any real depth, and are not prepared to provide
any type of counseling, as their training is in only a biological
model.
Furthermore most healthcare systems require physicians to work
within many time constraints. Obviously this does not help
the panic attack sufferer. So dealing with panic attacks in
many senses is outside a general practitioner’s expertise, hence
the recommendation made by my doctor was a good one, help followed
because the psychologist I saw really did help me with my panic
attacks.
Fortunately, though, awareness of panic attacks is increasing, and
now, when patients experience a panic attack, more family doctors
will tell them so and can then direct them to the help they
need.
Once a physical exam is completed by a medical doctor and this exam
rules out any physical causes/issues, then a diagnosis of a panic
attack can be made. Medical doctors, psychologists or
psychiatrists can make a diagnosis of panic attacks or panic
disorder.
Now a doctor can make a diagnosis of a panic attack but more than
prescribing medications is necessary. A referral to a mental
health professional with experience in panic attacks is very
important. This is where the real help begins, in my
opinion.
But let’s look more at the process of what happens during a panic
attack. I think this will be a help to you.
Fight or Flight Anxiety is behind panic attacks
During a panic attack what is known as the “fight or flight
response” is activated, even though the individual is not any real
danger.
The “fight or flight response” activates the body’s mental and
physical survival responses which are to "fight" or "flee" from
perceived attack, harm or threat.
When this response is initiated chemicals such as adrenaline,
noradrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream which
causes a series of physiological effects. Our heart rate
increases, our pupils dilate, and our respiration increases.
Blood flow to the brain is reduced which means that our rational
thinking is compromised.
This in turn causes our thoughts to race and we are on a heightened
alert. We are hypersensitive to things that normally wouldn’t
bother us.
The whole process is a cyclical because our racing thoughts and
worries increase our physiological symptoms and in turn our
physiological symptoms increase our racing thoughts and
worries.
So this is the process of panic attacks.
While many people suffering from panic attacks feel that they are
either having a heart attack or going crazy, it can be help to know
that this is not the case; this help comes in the form or
reassurance that they are not going crazy but they have been having
panic attacks.
Of course if you’ve experienced a panic attack you are probably
concerned about experiencing another. Please be reassured that if
you’ve been diagnosed with panic attacks you are not losing your
mind or having a heart attack.
You now understand the physiology process of a panic attack, in
particular the fight or flight process and how anxiety and panic
attacks result from this process. I hope this is a help with
your panic attacks.
The great news, however, is that this information can be used to
your advantage, to help you gain control of your anxiety and panic
attacks. I’ll discuss exactly how this information can help
you with your panic attacks.
I believe that your recovery can begin today if join the
free edition of the Panic Attack Recovery Newsletter.
If you suffer from anxiety,
crippling panic attacks, and/or agoraphobia and have tried other
methods of ridding yourself of anxiety, panic attacks, or
agoraphobia, to little or no avail, then your breakthrough can
begin here, today.
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Warmly,
Matthew Wagner
PanicAttackRecovery.com
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