In the quest to overcome these attacks, it is also important to understand the dynamics of panic attacks. For example, the presence of a panic attack itself could be an indication of the medical condition Panic Anxiety Disorder. While not all symptoms indicate the presence of an attack, there are numerous signs and symptoms that are commonly associated with panic attacks. It is important to be aware that in some cases medical ailments could produce the same signs and symptoms of a panic attack. A life threatening situation could also produce similar symptoms; although, this type of situation could also certainly precede a panic attack as well.

Panic attacks typically last about ten or less. For the person experiencing the attack this can feel like an eternity. Generally, the attack will reach its maximum intensity level within about a minute or so of the attack beginning. Over a period of about half an hour the symptoms of the attack will begin to gradually diminish. It is important to keep in mind that in some cases it could take several hours for the symptoms to completely diminish.

In some cases, panic attacks can occur as a single incidence with no recurrence. In other cases, attacks may happen more frequently; even up to several times per month. Typically, the severity of the signs and symptoms of the panic attack will vary.

Symptoms associated with panic attacks include:

Feeling extremely stressed
Experiencing a sense of paralyzing fear
Hot flashes
Sudden chills
Choking sensation
Chest pains
Tingling in the fingers or toes
A fear that you are dying or going crazy
Difficulty breathing
Feeling as though you can’t get enough air
Racing heartbeat
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded
Experiencing a feeling of dread,
Nausea
Trembling, shaking or sweating
Feeling nervous

The mere presence of one or even two or three of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate a panic attack has occurred or even that an individual suffers from Panic Disorder. As previously discussed, there could be another reasonable explanation for the presence of the symptoms, such as an entirely different medical condition.

Not all individuals suffer from the same symptoms each time they experience a panic attack. During one attack one set of symptoms may be present while another, different, set of symptoms may appear during a subsequent attack. In addition, it is likely that the severity of the signs and symptoms of panic attacks may range from one attack to the next as well.

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Panic attacks are considered to be dangerous when left unchecked and repeated attacks may indicate panic disorder. A panic or anxiety attack is defined as an intense and overwhelming experience of anxiety.

These panic incidents can explode suddenly, without any indicators. There is no doubt that these experiences of unadulterated panic can leave a person with extreme discomfort and weakness. Even though most attacks last just a matter of minutes, the perception of time is often altered and just 10 minutes may seem like hours. Probably the most insidious byproducts of panic attacks is the constant fear of a repeat attack, which may explode again at any time and in any place.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack right now, here are some things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms:

• Correct Your Posture: When sitting hunched over, your heart, lungs, and other organs will be compressed and breathing will be constricted. Sit up straight to increase blood flow.
• Breathe Deeply: One symptom of anxiety attacks is fast and shallow breathing. By breathing deeply, into the abdomen, the senses will be calmed and the heart beat will slow down to a normal rate. Deep, abdominal breathing has also been shown to normalize blood pressure.
• Keep A Journal: Describe the events that led up to the attack in a journal. By describing something in detail you are drawing your mind out of the cycle of fear (repeating panic attacks). When the attack subsides, write down as much detail as you can about how you were able to break out of the panic. This journal will be a life saver should you have another panic or anxiety attack.
• Shake Up Your Environment: Panic attacks can be triggered by any number of associations. Crowded rooms, a certain song, driving in the car, even a scent. Shake up your environment radically. If you are in a bar with loud music, go home with a friend and put on some soft and comforting music.

Although most of our anxieties in day-to-day life can be traced to a particular cause, the anxiety associated with panic attacks often defy reason and seem to have no source whatsoever. By following established treatments, you can learn to recognize the signs of an impending attack and you can stop the attack cold its tracks.

You may be surprised to find out that there is no real medical explanation for panic attacks. Modern research suggests that they result from a combination of biological, social, and environmental components. Stressful life events, such as the loss of a loved one, are also known to contribute to panic attack predisposition. If you are experiencing panic disorder, you are not alone. It is estimated that over 3 million Americans suffer from panic and anxiety attacks. It is also important that you realize that this condition is curable and you can be free of panic and anxiety for good.

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I hope this helps you deal with your panic/anxiety attacks. View as much as you like and pass it on to someone who may need help.

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If you normally suffer from panic attacks during the day, there is a high probability that you will also experience anxiety attacks during your sleep. While the attack may last only ten to fifteen minutes, sleep panic attacks can become a great nuisance. Since sleep is the time when both your body and mind get their much needed rest, sleep panic attacks cause great annoyance to the course nature has prescribed for you.

Hence, it is imperative that you understand the gravity of the situation. Ensure that you don’t make the mistake of writing off your sleep panic attacks as nightmares because sleep panic attacks are a far more serious matter than an odd bad dream. That said, sleep panic attacks aren’t the end of the world as they can be controlled and are simply the result of your perpetual anxiety and excessive worrying.

Thus it is important that if you do experience a sleep panic attack, you immediately seek the help of a medical professional who will be able to chart out a strategy which will help you overcome your anxiety problem.

When you first go to your doctor, he/she will try and ascertain whether the nocturnal episodes you experience are actually sleep panic attacks or some other illness. He/she will do so because the symptoms exhibited during a sleep panic attack can also be caused by sleep apnea (a condition where not enough air goes into the lungs during sleep).

If the doctor concludes that you do actually suffer from sleep panic attacks, he/she will analyze your lifestyle, following which you may be asked to make certain changes. These changes are aimed to get you to adapt habits which are more conducive to sleeping. Hence, you would be asked to avoid the intake of nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol in the later part of your day. Similarly, you may also be recommended to stop any rigorous exercise routines before sleep time. While all this might mean minimal change for some, for others it might be a complete routine reversal. Remember though that all isn’t gloomy. After all most medical professionals will encourage you to have sex before sleeping because the endorphins produced in your mind during sex act as natural relaxers. Other natural relaxers that could be taken before sleep include a cup of herbal tea.

In addition to these lifestyle alterations, you will also need to undergo treatment for general anxiety. This would mean that you may need to undertake behavioral therapy; in particular Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy which aims to first modify thinking patterns such that behavior can be altered. While this method may take time to show results, research has shown that Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy can work wonders for people suffering from sleep panic attacks as well as other anxiety related issues.

Varying on a case-to-case basis, accompanying the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with various medications will help induce sleep. Remember though that these medications can be habit forming and may not be the best solution since one may become dependent on them for something which should come about naturally. Thus make sure you use sleep medication with caution.

Instead, try and lead a healthier lifestyle yourself. Regular exercise during the day can go a long way to ridding anxiety as it allows the various muscles in the body to relax. Similarly, various relaxation techniques can be used to counter anxiety and stress. Panic attacks, be it day or night, can be controlled if you so wish it.

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This approach though is flawed. Instead if you do suffer from panic attacks it is imperative you seek out treatment for it before you develop a panic disorder. Since panic attacks usually occur without warning, there is little planning you can do to avoid them. That said, you don’t need to be disheartened since there are various cures available which will allow you to effectively combat panic attacks.

Like the treatment for various anxiety disorders, the cures for panic attacks also take the form of behavioral therapies. Among these Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has shown to be the most effective cure for panic attacks since it zooms in on the behaviors and thinking patterns that are triggering the panic attacks. As part of the Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, the patient is made to look at the triggers in a realistic light. For instance, if a person experiences panic attacks while flying, he/she will be asked to objectively consider what could go wrong while flying in an attempt to show the patient that his/her fears are irrational.

Similarly, Exposure Therapy – which is the second type of behavioral therapy used to counter panic attacks – exposes the patient to his/her fears in a controlled environment, thus giving the patient the opportunity to deal with panic in a safe setting. With increased exposures to the panic attack triggers, it is hoped that the patient will build enough courage and resilience to see his/her fears in a more realistic light.

Both Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy may be accompanied by medication and should rarely be used on its own since medication doesn’t address the core problem triggering the panic attacks. The types of medications prescribed generally take the form of antidepressants and benzodiazepines, however both should be used with extreme caution. While antidepressants may need to be taken for several weeks before any signs of improvement surface, benzodiazepines are very fast-acting and can provide relief in less than thirty minutes time. Thus the appeal to take benzodiazepine is very strong during the onset of a panic attack. Be warned though that benzodiazepines have a very highly addictive nature and can cause serious withdrawal symptoms as well.

Hence, it is best to turn to medications only after all other options have failed. Meanwhile, research has shown that small lifestyle changes can go a long way to curing panic attacks. For starters, those prone to panic and anxiety should try their best to completely avoid caffeine and cigarettes since both these products have been known to provoke anxiety attacks. Furthermore, if you are susceptible to panic attacks, you should read up on various relaxation techniques. These techniques will go a long way to helping you cure panic attacks by allowing you to control your breathing and counter the physical symptoms which any panic attack usually brings.

Remember always that panic attacks can be controlled if you so see it fit. Don’t live your life in fear and instead take on the cures mentioned in this article. Also make sure you consult a medical expert who will help guide you through this. And before you know it, your panic attacks will become a thing of the past!

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Since there are numerous types of anxiety disorders, the treatment for each tends to vary from one patient to the next. However, in general there are three main approaches which medical professionals prescribe as part of an anxiety disorder treatment plan; medication, behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two.

Among the behavioral therapies used, two of the most common are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure Therapy. As its name implies, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy concentrates on a person’s cognitions, i.e. his/her thoughts, as well as his/her behaviors, and aims to help the patient identify and combat negative thinking patterns and the irrational thoughts that trigger and augment the anxiety. Meanwhile, exposure therapy puts the sufferer in the ‘hot seat’ by directly exposing the patient to his/her fears in a controlled and safe setting. With repeated and increased exposures to the fear, it is hoped that the patient will be able to gain control over his/her senses and realize that the panic being felt is irrational, as the thing causing fear will cause no (or minimal) harm. While both CBT and Exposure Therapy have been known to work miracles for most patients, it should be noted that behavioral therapies require time and patience as they can take anywhere between 6  to 20 weeks to show substantial improvements.

Hence, some patients might be more inclined towards opting for the pill-popping route. This though may not always be a wise move since anxiety disorder treatment medications can become habit forming and may also cause various side effects. Among the most common medications used to treat anxiety disorder patients are benzodiazepines and antidepressants. The exact dosage of the medications though is proportional to the type of anxiety disorder a person suffers from. For instance, those suffering from a mild phobia may only need to take medication before an event which triggers panic, such as before addressing a large congregation. Contrarily, people suffering from more severe anxiety disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may need to take medication for a regular and extended period of time. Research though shows that medications alone are not always successful, with the best possible results achieved when medication is accompanied by behavior therapy.

That said, there are numerous self-help techniques one can use as part of the anxiety disorder treatment plan. Foremost among these is regular exercise as various studies show that exercise is a great stress killer which allows both the body and the mind to relax and feel at ease. Along similar lines, are various relaxation techniques one can make use of, which when practiced regularly, help you to counter the emotional and physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

Alternatively, hypnosis may also be used alongside Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to induce stress relief, thus enhancing the anxiety disorder treatment. While a person is hypnotized, the hypnotherapist induces a state of deep relaxation and then uses different methods to help that person face his/her fears and then show that the fears are irrational and uncalled for.

Remember though that if you try one type of anxiety disorder treatment and it doesn’t work for some odd reason, you shouldn’t be disheartened. Improvements won’t come overnight. Hence, always keep in mind that you need to be patient as well as hopeful. If one option doesn’t work, there is a plethora of other anxiety disorder treatment options open to you which will help you to counter your anxiety disorder and win back your life.

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It is important that one recognizes and counters an anxiety disorder symptom as early as possible, since the more you allow the anxiety to dictate terms, the greater the damage it will do to you. Hence, it is imperative that one knows the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and seeks professional help if the symptoms are being exhibited regularly.

Since there are many types of anxiety disorders, the symptoms of each tend to vary and care needs to be taken in diagnosing a particular anxiety disorder. For instance, while a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may feel the uncontrollable inclination to wash his/her hands after very short intervals, another person may get panic attacks at the thought of sitting on an airplane. Nonetheless, allow this article to help you get a basic understanding about the symptoms of an anxiety disorder since most forms of anxiety disorders tend to share certain characteristics.  Regardless of the anxiety disorder, anxiety disorder symptoms can best be classified as emotional and physical, with the severity of both proportional to the severity of the disorder.

Forefront among the emotional symptoms is irrational and perpetual worrying coupled with anticipating the worst possible scenario to every situation. In most cases, anxiety disorder victims are willing to admit that their anxiety is uncalled for, yet they can’t help stop their constant fretting. This fretting in turn may cause hindrances in concentrating and instead leave one being very irritable and restless.

Meanwhile, these emotional symptoms tend to be accompanied by various physical symptoms. Among the most common physical giveaways of an anxiety disorder are frequent headaches, excessive sweating, racing heart, and dizziness. Other physical symptoms which an anxiety disorder victim may exhibit include shortness of breath, insomnia, muscle tension, diarrhea, frequent urination, tremors and/or twitches.

It is not necessary for all the symptoms mentioned above to be displayed by an anxiety disorder victim. Usually, people suffering from an anxiety disorder tend to exhibit a variety of physical and emotional symptoms based on the particular type of disorder they suffer from.

It should also be noted that while these physical and emotional symptoms may be the prelude to some other illnesses, the underlying symptom of perpetual worrying in most cases is an evident sign signaling the presence of an anxiety disorder. More so, if the anxiety is accompanied by depression since these two tend to usually go hand-in-hand.

It is critical that one does not take the issue of an anxiety disorder lightly since the occurrences of panic attacks may cause severe disturbance to normal functioning. Panic attacks, also known as anxiety attacks, are episodes of intense fear and panic where the victim feels he/she is completely losing control or going crazy. Since panic attacks generally occur without warning, their effects can be very damaging to a person both emotionally and physically; leaving a lasting impact on the victim’s memory.

While this might sound scary, it shows why it is important for you to seek help if you feel you are experiencing the anxiety disorder symptoms mentioned above. Remember that anxiety doesn’t need to be the force commanding the way you live your life. Treatment for anxiety disorders is now common and available in various forms. From self-help techniques to various behavioral therapies, you can be the master of your own life by keeping your anxiety within controllable limits.

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Appearing suddenly and without any real cause, the symptoms of panic attacks may be felt in the person’s body as it reacts to an uncontrollable fear including:

• a pounding or racing heart,
• chest pains,
• difficulty with their breathing,
• stomach upset or nausea,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• tingling or numbness in the hands,
• hot flushes or chills.

Panic attack symptoms may also be felt in the person’s mind by experiencing a feeling of terror, a dreamlike sensation, doing something embarrassing, the need to run away or escape, or the fear of losing control or even the fear of dying.

One of the most common symptoms of a panic disorder is the fear of having another panic attack. Most individuals that have had one panic attack are often likely to have others.  The fear of having another attack can cause the individual to avoid places or situations where the previous attack had occurred or where they believe another attack may occur.  They may go on to develop a phobia about these situations or places.  Whilst the term panic attack and anxiety attack are often used interchangeably, panic attacks differ from other types of anxiety in that they typically happen suddenly and so unexpectedly.  They may come on without prior warning or provocation and are more often than not disabling.  The panic attack itself can sometimes be a symptom of an anxiety disorder.  Once a person gets into a pattern of anxiety and avoidance, they are said to have a panic disorder.  A Panic disorder can become serious and have an impact on a person’s daily life unless the individual receives effective treatment.  Around 3 million, almost 2% of the adult American population suffer from panic attacks at some point in their lives, with the peak age at which a person may first experience a panic attack being between the ages of 15 and 19.

A panic attack will normally last for a few minutes to several minutes and can often be one of the most distressing situations that a person can experience.  Since their symptoms can mimic closely those of a heart attack, an individual typically fears the attack itself by believing that what they are experiencing will lead to death.  Panic attacks can even come on whilst a person is fast asleep.  Known as nocturnal panic attacks, they tend to occur far less often than panic attacks that happen during the day.

Between 40%-70% of those people who suffer from daytime panic attacks are also likely to suffer from nocturnal panic attacks.  These attacks typically cause a sufferer to wake suddenly from deep sleep in a state of sudden panic or anxiety, though with no apparent cause and will have all the other symptoms of a panic attack.  Even though night time panic attacks seldom last more than 10 minutes, it’s the time that it takes a person to fully relax after such an experience, which can be much longer.

Although its usual that individuals suffer in different ways when it comes to panic attacks, the symptoms for all individuals almost always fall into the same state of mind; that of an uncontrollable and involuntary fear.

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Most doctors and specialists have agreed that the best kind of panic disorder or panic attack help is provided through a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies. On most occasions a person can find the help they need simply by becoming informed and gaining an understanding of what panic attacks are or what a panic disorder is.  This cognitive restructuring helps to change the way that person is thinking;

• they are not going crazy.
• they are not having a heart attack.
• and they are not going to die from a panic attack.

Cognitive therapies help sufferers to replace their negative thoughts with more positive and realistic thoughts. By changing the associations they have attached to the very things that bring on the attacks helps remove or diminish the root cause. For example someone who fears death and gets bodily feelings that they attach to the thought that something is wrong with them, can bring on a panic attack. By changing these neurological associations the sufferer eventually is able to recognize these bodily feelings or sensations as not being life threatening. What you focus on becomes real to you. It has been shown that through a constant negative thought process a panic attack sufferer who is worried about specific health problems for example can actually bring on the physical sensations through a constant focus on them and the vicious circle continues.

Conversely behavioral therapies focus on exposure to the actual physical sensations that someone actually experiences when they are having a panic attack.  The majority of people are not actually afraid of the experience or object, they are more afraid of the attack itself.  For example they may not be afraid of the people in a social setting, but they are afraid of having a panic attack in a social environment.  These behavioral therapies deal with exposing a panic attack sufferer to the symptoms of the attack whilst in a controlled environment and then allowing the person to see that symptoms such as an increased heart rate or hot flushes do not always develop into a full blown panic attack.

Behavioral therapies also involve the sufferer being allowed to go through small manageable steps of the situation or action they are afraid of.  Once again, using our social setting example, these particular practices involve for instance, just getting in the car to go to an event or party.  This then allows the sufferer to just deal with the emotions and feelings of just being in the car in isolation.  Soon enough they learn to not focus on the situation that awaits them or the consequences of their fear.  This is an important achievement as a lot of what a panic disorder is about, is to do with anticipating an attack before it happens, so by dong this they quickly learn that sitting in the car will not bring about a panic attack.  During these types of therapies each individual goes through similar steps in their own time and at their own pace.  One sufferer may need to arrive at a social setting, stay for ten to fifteen minutes and then leave a dozen times or more, before they start to show decent progress.  Whilst some other person may be able to force themselves through the situation with increased heart rate and palpitations and maybe even other symptoms before they learn that they were able to get through the event and that the next one will be easier.

Those suffering panic attacks may also find the help that they need from medication.  Medication is often used to control the symptoms of panic attacks. Medications can also limit the quantity of panic attacks as well as their intensity.  Also, they will reduce the level of fear and anxiety that is associated with onset of another attack.  Relaxation techniques may sometimes help a sufferer deal with an attack.  Certain relaxation techniques include positive visualization and diaphragmatic breathing exercises. Attending a support group or belonging to an online or offline community of other people who suffer from panic attacks can be extremely helpful.

Despite the fact that panic attacks are often a very private thing, it does affect a large number of people.  Because of the fact that there are so many people that are affected by panic attacks or panic disorders a sufferer is going to find it much easier to get the help and support they need.

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