Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder

Introduction

Panic disorder may be defined as a condition in which a person experiences repeating unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack may be defined as sudden feelings of discomfort or intense fear, which increases significantly within minutes after the first experience. Panic attacks commonly start during the late adolescent stage and early adulthood. Panic attacks in people with panic disorder may last for about 15 minutes. Under severe conditions, they may last for as long as one hour. The feelings of fear and discomfort in people with panic disorder are commonly disproportionate to the degree of danger the person is exposed to. The experiences of panic attacks vary from person to person. The symptoms also vary significantly. This paper discusses causes, symptoms, and self-help techniques for panic disorder.

Causes of Panic Disorder

There are no definite causes of panic attacks. However, according to Fentz et al. (2014), the disorder appears to run in some families (Fentz et al., 2014). Some significant life transitions, such as getting married and graduating from college, are also believed to be substantial causes of panic attacks and, subsequently, panic disorder. Other factors include getting a baby, death of a loved one, loss of a job, divorce, and severe stress can also lead to the disorder. Recalling a panic attack and the fear of repetition of the same experience may also cause another panic attack in people with panic disorder (Cramer & Borsboom, 2015). Some medical conditions are also believed to cause panic disorder. According to Lai and Wu (2016), medical conditions such as Mitral valve prolapse may cause significant feelings of fear and discomfort for a significantly long time (Lai & Wu, 2016). Mitral valve prolapse is a condition in which one or more heart valves fail to close correctly. Other medical conditions with similar symptoms include low blood sugar level, overproduction of thyroid hormone by the thyroid glands, excessive use of stimulants such as caffeine and cocaine, and medication withdrawal.

Symptoms of Panic Attack

When a person develops a panic disorder, they live with the fear of experiencing panic attacks because the feelings occur unexpectedly. The feelings of discomfort or fear among people with panic disorder commonly do not have significant causes (Fentz et al., 2014)s. One can hardly define why they have such feelings. Some of the common symptoms include sweating, breathing problems, and a racing heart. Almost everybody experiences a panic attack at least once in a lifetime (Fentz et al., 2014). The amount of time a first panic attack persists affects the amount of fear for another panic attack. If the feelings of anxiety and discomfort persist for at least one month, the person is more likely to experience persistent fear of developing similar feelings for a significantly long time (Fentz et al., 2014). Most people who develop panic disorder experience considerably frightening and overwhelming symptoms. Some of them lose hope in getting better based on the severity of the symptoms (Cramer & Borsboom, 2015). However, the disorder can be improved and managed with appropriate treatment. That means that the best way o deal with symptoms of a panic attack and their impacts is by seeking treatment from relevant mental care providers.

Some people explain symptoms of a panic attack as something too severe that can be related to the process of dying or going crazy. One of the significant factors that define such symptoms is that they do not show any warning (Park et al., 2018). They also occur without significant causative agents. Some people experience such feelings even when relaxing or sleeping. A panic attack may occur only once in a lifetime. If it repeatedly occurs over a significantly long time, it is referred to as panic disorder. The repetition of a panic attack may be due to various factors. Some people experience panic attacks as a result of multiple life experiences that make them too frightened and uncomfortable. Such may include speaking in public or crossing a bridge (Park et al., 2018). The chances of such events to cause a panic attack are much higher if the same experiences caused panic attacks before. According to Park et al. (2018), a panic attack happens when one finds themselves in situations that make them feel endangered but unable to escape (Park et al., 2018). For that reason, the body releases hormones that cause the flight or fight response.

People who have experienced panic disorder before may portray behaviors such as avoiding places and people that made them panic before. Some people develop panic disorder even after suffering a panic attack only once (Fentz et al., 2014). Such people are said to have panic disorder if they experience persistent emotional changes as a result. A person may have persistent memories of fear and discomfort. Such changes may significantly affect a person’s daily activities. A person’s self-esteem may dramatically fall, a factor that may affect a person’s motivation to perform various crucial life activities (Park et al., 2018). People with panic disorder may avoid particular environments due to the belief that such conditions may be challenging to escape. They may also avoid places where they feel one can hardly get help after experiencing a panic attack.

Self-Help Techniques for Panic Disorder

People with panic disorder need to have some self-help skills to help them deal with panic events, especially when they do not have any helper close to them. Sometimes a person may feel so powerless or out of control over panic feelings, but despite the fact, one should always understand that many self-help strategies can be used to reduce feelings of panic and their impacts (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). One of the significant ways of overcoming feelings of panic is by having adequate knowledge about fear and anxiety. The approach is based on the belief that people who have sufficient experience about particular health problems can easily develop appropriate strategies for reducing its impacts. For that reason, people with symptoms of panic disorder should make an effort to learning more about their condition (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). One should learn about the various body changes that occur when one becomes anxious and when panicking. When a person is knowledgeable about the biological events that take place during panic, they will understand that some of the feelings are normal for particular conditions (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). Therefore, one is less likely to think that they are getting crazy or in the process of dying. People who are susceptible to panic should avoid certain behaviors such as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and taking drinks that contain high levels of caffeine (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). Such factors are believed to increase the risk of a panic attack at least to some extent. One should also avoid some medications such as non-drowsy cold drugs, and diet pills are also believed to increase the risk.

People who are susceptible to panic attacks should learn how to control their breathing in ways that reduce the chances of panic. Fast breathing, for example, causes several sensations characteristic of panic attacks such as tightness of the chest and lightheadedness (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). One can avoid such events by practicing deep breathing. The ability to control breathing is necessary for calming feelings of anxiety. People with panic disorder can minimize the fear f panic attack by reducing the sensations associated with the disorder. Controlling breathing is one way to do so.

The stress responses involved in panic and anxiety can m=be minimized through relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, and yoga. Such practices promote a person’s relaxation response (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). Connecting face-to-face with friends and family is another significant self-help technique. According to Asmundson, Taylor, and AJ Smits (2014), feelings of panic are worsened when a person feels isolated (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). For that reason, one should try to interact with people close to them in a bid to minimize the negative impacts of panic disorder.  Exercise, regardless of degree, is believed to be a good reliever of feelings of panic and anxiety (Asmundson, Taylor, & Smits, 2014). The best form of exercise for that purpose is the one that involves movement of both hands and legs. Such activities include dancing, swimming, running, and walking.

Conclusion

The above is a brief description of the panic disorder, including its causes, symptoms, and some of the self-help techniques that people susceptible to feelings of panic can apply to minimize the adverse effects of the disorder. The essay shows that there are no definite causes of panic disorder. However, several factors are believed to cause prolonged feelings of panic. It means that the treatment approaches for panic disorder are only based on factors that are believed to cause the disorder.