Why Do Panic Attacks Happen?

Though panic attacks generally appear to take place at random, they are actually a part of a natural human response commonly known as “fight or flight” that just happen to take place out of turn. Fight or flight reflexes inundate the body with hormones (including adrenaline) that are intended to help it protect itself from danger. It has been said that suffering a panic attack is one of the scariest, most distressing and uncomfortable experiences a human being can endure.

You can stop panic attacks naturally without medication.

What are the Signs of an Attack?

Below is a list of the most common panic attack symptoms. Diagnostic criteria for a true attack state that at least four of the below symptoms must be experienced, that the symptoms must have been developed abruptly, and that they must have reached a peak within 10 minutes of their onset.

• Increased heart rate, intense pounding of the heart or palpitations
• Profuse perspiration
• Trembling or shaking of the body including limbs, digits, shoulders or lips
• Shortness of breath or the sensation of being smothered
• Sensation of choking
• Discomfort or pain in the chest area
• Abdominal stress, pain or nausea
• Feelings of dizziness, wobbliness, lightheadedness or weakness
• Feeling of loss of touch with reality or loss of touch with self (depersonalization)
• Feelings of loss of control or fear of going insane
• Intense fear of dying or feeling that you are dying
• Numbness or tingling throughout the body
• Waves of intense cold (chills) or heat (hot flashes)
• Intense feelings of terror or dread

How Long Does an Episode Last?

The American Psychological Association states that the symptoms of a panic attack typically last for about half an hour. It is not uncommon, however, for panic attacks to be as short as 15 minutes in duration. On the other hand, some people suffer from series of panic attacks that can go on to add up to hours at a time.

Stop panic attacks naturally without medication.

Have You Had Panic Attacks?

After reading about panic attacks, including information about symptoms and duration, you should have a pretty good idea if what you have experienced is a true panic attack. Review the list of symptoms again, and ask yourself: did what you experience include at least four of the listed signs of anxiety attacks? Also, does your episode fall within the range of duration that is deemed common for true panic attacks?

Even though you’re getting a good start on knowing what’s going on in your body by reading this, you should speak with a medical professional if you think you may be experiencing these attacks. Your doctor knows you best and will be able to properly diagnose what you are experiencing if it is indeed an anxiety attack. Your physician will also be able to recommend a course of treatment for you as well as suggest ways to prevent these episodes in the future.

If you’d prefer NOT to take prescription medication for panic attacks and/or anxiety, there are alternative and natural options. You can stop panic attacks naturally without prescription medication.

Anxiety Attack

Anxiety attacks, or panic attacks, are episodes of intense panic or fear, which occur for no apparent reason. Anxiety attacks can occur suddenly and without warning – when this happens the sufferer generally experiences a feeling that their life is about to end. Sometimes, there is an obvious circumstance that causes the attack, like having to drive in heavy traffic or getting stuck in an elevator, but often times there is an unknown “trigger” that causes it.

An anxiety attack generally lasts for a few minutes, but can go on for as long as thirty minutes for some people, depending on how severe it is and how they cope with it. Many anxiety sufferers can feel one coming on, with a strange sense of nervousness just before one occurs. During an anxiety attack, a person feels such an intense fear that they often feel as if they will die of a heart attack or from not breathing. Many feel terrified that they will lose control in front of other people – worst yet endanger others if they are at work or driving a car. The physical symptoms of an anxiety attack seem so severe that the person experiencing it loses touch with reality and focuses on their heart pounding in their chest, their rapid breathing and their sudden urge to vomit or faint. The anxiety attack will most often peak at ten minutes into the state of panic and it can be especially frightening to be in public, where there is no safety or place to escape, when it occurs.

So what does an anxiety attack feel like? Here are the most common symptoms associated with a full-on anxiety attack:

• Heart palpitations or chest pain / tightness
• Trouble breathing or hyperventilation
• Sweating excessively
• Trembling or shaking uncontrollably
• Feeling that you will pass out or fall
• Hot flashes or chills
• Feelings of being detached or surreal
• Nausea, “butterflies” or stomach cramps
• Feeling that you are losing control or going mad

This only begins to explain the sheer terror that someone feels when he or she experiences an anxiety attack. The worst feeling for most adults is being in a place where there is no room to escape to a safety zone when experiencing an anxiety attack. This can happen in public places, elevators, cars, the office, stores or anywhere else so the anxiety sufferer often avoids these places at all costs – causing them a significant loss of normal lifestyle.

It’s no wonder that depression is most often associated with anxiety attacks. This often follows when the anxiety sufferer avoids normal life and stays home for days at a time, not coming into contact with others or enjoying social interactions for fear of having another “fit” in front of their peers, or worse yet, strangers.

Another problem associated with anxiety sufferers are those who attempt to self-medicate themselves. This can cause symptoms to become even worse and so this type of behavior should be avoided at all costs. Instead, anxiety sufferers may want to consider using natural alternatives like aromatherapy or herbal supplements to help keep the nerves calm and reduce the chances of having another attack. Or they can seek counseling from a psycho-therapist who has experience with anxiety attacks and methods to treat them.

If you are reading this, chances are either you or someone you care about experiences anxiety attacks. It’s important to note that you can stop panic anxiety attacks for good.

Anxiety

More than forty million North American adults suffer from some type of anxiety or panic, and for many, it has a very real cost to their lifestyle.

If you find yourself arguing with your partner more frequently than normal; catch yourself side-stepping social events; or perhaps even fostering unrealistic feelings of fear or apprehension there’s a good chance you are experiencing some type of anxiety disorder.

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard the term “panic attack”.  The reality is that panic attacks are real, but they are just one of many types of anxiety disorders. One myth surrounding anxiety is that having an anxiety disorder somehow makes you a bad or weak person. Everyone has had feelings of anxiousness or fear at some time or another. How a person deals with those feelings is what determines if it is ruling your life or not. For a growing percentage of society, the impact of anxiety is very real, and that only reflects cases that are reported. What is really alarming is that many adolescents and children are also affected by stress and anxiety attacks.

The body’s basic response to stress is significant in how a person protects themselves from perceived treats. It measures a person’s chances for survival when faced with danger or a potentially dangerous situation. A person can either face the stress and fight back, or retreat and take flight.

The fight or flight syndrome is a person’s reaction to stressful circumstances, even in the ordinary course of life. Such reactions or choices are inherent in your modern fight for survival. Your fight or flight reaction is stimulated the moment you are faced with a potentially dangerous situation. The smell of danger keeps the adrenaline rushing through your veins, and gets your heart beating faster. This is what makes you feel faint or weak. The strange thing is that it is your body’s way of preparing you for fight or flight! Just try running when you feel like this. You might be surprised at how fast you can run! At the fight or flight stage, you have a choice to make; you can either become aggressive and face the danger, or be passive and retreat.

Allowing yourself to become exposed to fight or flight situations regularly can be stressful and dangerous to your health. It can backlash and lead to heart ailments, migraines and soaring blood pressure, and for many it leads to social withdrawal.

However it doesn’t have to rule your life. If you or a loved one experience continuous bouts of fear, concern, or apprehension of some unknown event, now is the time to examine your lifestyle. Manage and eliminate your anxiety today.