Panic Attack - Causes, Symptoms and Cures

A panic attack is the manifestation of several factors which affect the person suffering from the disorder. It is often described as a short period of intense anxiety and fear experienced by the person. Some might experience them only once, while other face repeated attacks throughout their lives.

Learning about these attacks can lead to our preventing and curing the disorder. This can be done by studying the disorder in three stages - causes, symptoms and cures.

1. Causes: The attacks can be caused by many factors. These factors influence the mind of the person and force them to respond in a manner which causes the attacks. The causes can be genetic or behavioral. These factors display different symptoms during the attacks.

- Heredity has been found to be one of the reasons why panic disorders affect members of the same family. However, people with no family history of panic disorders also suffer from them.
- Some other diseases and disorders can also lead to panic disorders. Common among them are obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hyperthyroidism, etc. Some phobias also result in people suffering from panic attacks.
- Substance abuse can also be a cause of panic disorders. Side effects during their use and after discontinuing them are major causes of the attacks. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs often display side effects of these attacks.
- People can have panic attacks when they are faced with stressful situations and events. This is another symptom of PTSD.

2. Symptoms: Different symptoms are expressed in different people. There are commonly known symptoms some or all of which are displayed during these attacks.

- Accelerated heart rate
- Feelings of choking or smothering
- Nausea or chest pain
- Cold or hot flashes, etc.

3. Cures: The attacks can be treated using different methods. They include behavioral therapies, medication and self-help techniques. Cognitive Behavior Therapy is the most widely acclaimed therapy for curing the attacks. Medication is only prescribed in the most severe cases when there is a risk of the attacks affecting the health of the sufferer. The medications are usually antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. But these drugs have the side effect of leading to an increase in the symptoms of the attacks. Self-help methods work for those who do not find success with the above mentioned methods. Some of these methods are more successful than the others.

People can overcome panic attacks and lead normal lives by understanding the disorder and combating it.