How to Handle Panic Attacks: What You Need to Know
Panic attacks are frightening experiences that can affect an individual’s daily functioning and can even lead to unexpected trips to the ER. Many people are familiar with these mental health conditions, but not everyone fully understands what it entails and what to do about them. Let this article tell you about panic attacks, their symptoms, and how to handle them.
What Is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense, uncontrollable anxiety. It usually lasts for only a few minutes, but it could be very frightening and distressing to the person experiencing it. Panic attacks can occur out of the blue in any person, and they do not have any physical cause.
Panic attacks have several symptoms, the primary ones being a feeling of uncontrollable fear, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, trembling, and a sense of being unreal. The symptoms might feel like a heart attack, severe pains, and even the feeling of dying. Although people may feel physical symptoms, the root is psychological in nature.
Panic Attacks Symptoms
The symptoms of a panic attack are usually the same. They all appear suddenly and without warning. The symptoms are a compelling need to escape, difficulty breathing, dizziness, faintness, tingling or numbness in the body, chest pain, sweating, and the urge to flee or hide.
The symptoms of a panic attack will not be limited to only the ones mentioned above. There are cases when the person experiencing a panic attack will feel that they are going to faint, feel they are passing out, or feel they are dying. The symptoms of a panic attack are terrifying and could really make one think of the worst.
How to Handle Panic Attack
If one is experiencing a panic attack, the following steps should be done:
Breathe deeply and stay calm.
Remind oneself that the attack will soon subside.
Remind oneself that it will be over soon.
If the attack is too intense, one should go to a quiet place and remain calm until the episode fades away.
If the attack is intense, one should go to a physician and ask for a sedative.
Panic attacks are not dangerous, and they rarely have any physical cause. However, if one is experiencing them, it is still best to see a doctor or a therapist. They could advise and prescribe medication that will control the frequency and severity of panic attacks.
Panic attacks can be very frustrating and frightening. With just a little knowledge, one could prevent and handle it.
Is It Treatable?
Yes, panic attacks are treatable. They can be treated with medication or therapy. Once an individual starts treatment, they will see that their panic attacks can diminish or disappear altogether. Once the panic attacks disappear, they will feel a lot better and have a lot less stress in their lives.
Are Panic Attacks Dangerous?
Panic attacks are not dangerous because they do not have a physical cause. The brain causes the symptoms that come with an anxiety attack. However, they present a danger because they cause the person experiencing it to react dangerously. When one has a panic attack, they will do anything to get out of it.
Conclusion
Panic attacks are a mental reaction to stress. They do not have any physical cause, and they are not dangerous. Though they have a very frightening effect on a person experiencing it, it is treatable. There is no quick fix, but you can seek therapy to help you manage the attacks better.
Dr. Stephanie Lyn Coleman will conduct a detailed medical intake and evaluation to determine the appropriateness of ketamine treatment for each client. The ketamine is administered by a trained physician who sits with you for your entire session. If you are considering ketamine treatment to address the underlying causes of anxiety, then schedule a consult today..