Although there may seem to be a lot of information here and some of that information may seem irrelevant to you, one of the best ways to overcome panic attacks is to arm ourselves with as much information as possible against them.

Once we have the information on what and why, we can then also see that we can do something about them and move on to recover from them.

Don't let any of the following information scare you, not all of it will apply to you, nor will you have to have experienced all of the symptoms. Panic Attacks happen to anyone at anytime.

Answers to Some of the Most Common Questions about Panic Attacks

Panic Attacks can be a serious condition that around one out of every 75 people will experience, so it really is not an uncommon condition. They normally first occur during teens or early adulthood and the exact causes are unclear. There does, however, seem to be a connection with major life transitions that are potentially stressful .. for example - Graduating from college, Getting married, A first child and so on ... There are also situations which seem to bring on panic attacks for no apparent reason, but these are usually because some trigger has reawakened a past memory. In simple terms this may mean having to recognise what the trigger was and then replacing it or overcoming it with a stronger more positive trigger.

It could also be taken as a sign of some unfinished business that may need to be 'aired'. In this case you could start to help yourself by looking at a panic attack, not as something to worry about, rather as a signpost that is sending you a message. Your body is just doing what it should do, telling you that something needs to be looked at. In this way a panic attack can be looked at as something positive, and not as something to worry about. One thing is sure, the more you worry about having a panic attack, the more the likelihood of you having one. As they say, if you try not to think of a pink elephant, the first thing you'll think of .. is a pink elephant !! But, if what is in your mind is positive then don't worry about it. Try and turn it into a friend and not an enemy.

There is also some evidence for a genetic predisposition. If a family member has suffered from panic disorder, you have an increased risk of suffering from it yourself, especially during a time that is particularly stressful. This is not something to worry about, rather it is something to be aware of so that you can learn some techniques and so be ready to deal with any possible attacks in the future. A good thing to learn are some relaxation techniques that can overcome an attack by calming you instead. So you can already see that there are several things that can be done to overcome panic attacks.

What is a Panic Attack ?

A Panic Attack is a sudden urge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than the feeling of being 'stressed out' that most people experience. Symptoms of a panic attack include ...

Racing heartbeat

Difficulty in breathing, a feeling that you can't get enough air

Terror that is almost paralysing

dizziness, light-headedness and/or nausea

Trembling, sweating and shaking

Choking and chest pains

Hot flushes or sudden chills

Tingling in fingers and toes (Pins and needles)

Fear that you're going crazy, you are about to die or that something awful is going to happen to you

This can also be recognised as the classic 'flight of fight' response that humans NORMALLY experience when they are in a situation of danger or anxiety. This might help you to see that panic attacks can be seen as normal reactions but they are happening at the wrong time - they can even happen whilst you are asleep.

In addition to the above symptoms, a panic attack is marked by the following conditions ...

It occurs suddenly without any warning

The level of fear is completely out of proportion to the actual situation, in fact, often, it is totally unrelated.

It passes in a few minutes, the body cannot sustain the 'fight or flight' response for longer than that. However repeated attacks can recur for hours. You have to realise that they will pass

A panic attack is not dangerous, but it can be terrifying. This is largely because you feel 'crazy' and 'out of control'. Also because it often leads to other complications such a phobias, depression, substance abuse, medical complications even suicide. Its effects can range from mild word or social impairment, to a total inability to face the outside world. In fact, phobias don't come from the fears of the actual objects or events, more from the fear of having to face another attack. In these cases, people will avoid certain objects or situations because they fear that these things will trigger another attack.

How to Identify a Panic Disorder ?

Please remember that only a licensed therapist can actually diagnose a panic disorder. There are certain signs you may already be aware of though.

One study found that people sometimes see 10 or more doctors before being properly diagnosed and that only one out of four people with the disorder actually receives the treatment they need. This is why it's important that you are aware of what the symptoms are and to make sure you get the right help.

Many people experience occasional panic attacks. The key symptom of panic attacks is the persistent fear of future attacks, this fear can in reality sometimes be more frightening than the actual attack. If you suffer from repeated (four or more) panic attacks and especially if you've had an attack and are in continued fear of having another, it is important that you consider finding a health professional who specializes in panic or anxiety disorders.

What Causes Panic Attacks: Mind, Body or Both

Body: There may be a genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders, some sufferers report that a family member has of had a panic disorder or some other emotional disorder such as depression. Studies with twins have confirmed the possibility of genetic inheritance of the disorder.

Panic attacks can also be due to a biological malfunction, although a specific biological marker has yet to be identified. But, you should take note if you have recently started to take or have recently stopped taking any form of medication. If this is the case it needs to be investigated for many reasons, including a withdrawal or reaction to the medication prescribed. There are even some medical conditions that could very easily be taken for panic attacks for example epilepsy (petit mal). This form of epilepsy doesn't produce fits as such, rather can put you into a state of dread and fear, it is also a condition that can be effectively controlled with medication.

All ethnic group are vulnerable to panic disorder. For unknown reasons, women are twice as likely to develop the disorder. This might point to the fact that women are usually more aware of and open to their feelings than men. Men tend to work more on logic, as they will more likely have been taught not to show their feelings. This again is a pointer to one way of overcoming the attacks. When you know it is appropriate, just feel the fear and do it anyway. this is a very cognitive approach to overcoming the attacks. If you feel that this is the way for you then I would recommend a book called 'Feel the Fear and do it Anyway' by Susan Jeffers.

Mind: Stressful life events can trigger panic disorders. One association that has been noted is that of a recent loss or separation. Some researchers liken the 'life stressor' to a thermostat. That is ... When stress lowers your resistance, the underlying physical predisposition kicks in and triggers an attack. This is another reason why it's a good idea for you to have your relaxation exercises to hand, ready to use as a mental first aid kit.

Both: Physical and psychological causes of panic attacks work together. Although initially attacks may come out of the blue, eventually the sufferer may actually help to bring them on by responding to the physical symptoms of an attack.

For example if a person with panic disorder experiences a racing heartbeat which can be caused even by drinking coffee, exercising or taking a certain medication, they might interpret this as the onset of an attack and, because of their anxiety, actually bring on the attack. On the other hand, coffee, exercise and certain medications sometimes do actually cause the attack. One of the most frustrating things for a sufferer is never knowing how to isolate the different triggers of an attack. That's why the right therapy for panic disorders focuses on all aspects - physical, psychological and physiological. Find the triggers and control them, or, cancel them out by cutting out altogether whatever is causing them.

The music playing is 'Colours of The Wind'

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