Facts About Panic Disorder
Usually, when you are experiencing fast heart palpitations, combined with dizziness, a sense of impending and irrational fear or terror, then most likely, what you are experiencing is panic disorder. Looking for the right treatments that will address panic attacks is never such an easy task, given the fact that you do not fully understand the nature of the disease that torments you.
Sudden panic attacks are the main symptoms of a panic disorder. Often these attacks will begin with the development of rapid heart rate, dizziness, etc.and can occur repeatedly and unexpectedly. People who suffer from panic disorder try to avoid situations that they believe which cause the attacks.
In the US, the number of people who are suffering from panic attacks seems to rapidly increase day by day. The disorder usually manifest during young adulthood but it can also affect older people and even children. People of all races are affected but a comparatively larger number of women who show symptoms of anxiety attacks panic attacks.
The initial panic attack can happen at random and without warning. It can last for several minutes or continue for a couple of hours. Initial panic attacks are caused by significant stress or major life events such as death or childbirth.
However, the good fact here is that most people may not develop a panic disorder although they may experience occasional panic attacks.
What is a panic disorder? People who are suffering from serious panic disorder experience recurring panic attacks. Commonly described as the fear or anticipatory anxiety, panic disorder can affect a person's quality of life. Once a person experiences an attack while driving a car or while riding the elevator for example, they will try to avoid the activity altogether for fear of triggering another attack. Because of this, his or her life becomes limited. Their work can also be affected as they cannot travel alone, relationships may be marred by conflict or avoidance of them.
Even during sleep, one may experience anxiety attacks panic attacks, as long as that person experiences panic disorder. The worst case here is when the patient already fears sleep itself, due to the fear that sleeping may trigger attacks. This further complicates the matter.
Agoraphobia, a more advances stage, can be experienced by the patient when panic disorder is left untreated. Agoraphobia may cause a person to become afraid of any place or any situation and he or she may escape to come out of it. Agoraphobia also causes a person to fear standing in line, crowds of people or even riding cars. Once a person is affected by agoraphobia, then, expect that person to be left at home disabled.
Treating panic disorder: To prevent the disorder from progressing, as well as to stop panic attacks, one of the most important ways for you to do is to seek treatment for panic disorder. One of the most effective ways to treat it is cognitive behavioral therapy. In cognitive behavioral therapy, patients are made to properly understand thoughts and feelings whenever an attack comes. Also, patients are helped by therapists to first recognize signs of an attack so that responses to it can be modified. This also enables the patient to have greater control over the disease.
Are you suffering from a panic disorder? Learn more about your problem and take the first step to stop panic attacks today. Visit http://anxietyattackspanicattacks.com for resources on panic disorder, agoraphobia treatment, anxiety and depression and get a FREE report, "How To Break Free From A Stressful Lifestyle".