What are the causes and symptoms of panic attacks? Looking for the solution begins by first finding the causes of attacks and making the proper diagnosis. The terms anxiety attack and panic attack are often used interchangeably however they are very different.

We all experience normal anxiety in our everyday lives. It's really our body's natural warning system alerting us that there's a problem. Maybe you're late for an important meeting or you forget that you left the oven on. Believe it or not, it's fine to feel anxious at these times.

Panic attacks however are normally associated with panic disorder and also agoraphobia. Conditions such as these are anxiety disorders. Sufferers may find themselves preoccupied with the thought of another attack.

Panic attacks are much more terrifying and severe in comparison to anxiety attacks. Symptoms such as chest pain, sweating and a pounding heart are common with both kinds of attacks. But panic attacks can produce other symptoms such as derealization and depersonalization.

It can be hard to grasp the symptoms of depersonalization since they seem almost unimaginable. Feelings of unreality and a sensation of detachment are common symptoms of depersonalization. It's not uncommon for sufferers to later describe that they felt like they were robot-like.

Derealization is usually also experienced during panic episodes. People who suffer from other mental or physical disorders might also experience this symptom. Sufferers might feel a sense of detachment from their external environment. Surroundings become distorted like looking through the bottom of a glass.

Panic attacks are much more severe in comparison to anxiety attacks and seem random. Attacks can go on for 30 minutes or more. Repeat attacks may be frequent and symptoms may last for days.

People in their mid-twenties are at the highest risk of developing panic disorder. Depression and insomnia have been closely linked to panic disorder, although the exact cause for this condition is unknown. People who lead stressful lives or have experienced emotional trauma are much more likely to develop panic disorder.

The chemical changes that occur in the brain and body during an anxiety attack are similar to those of panic attacks. However, sufferers usually report episodes as being completely out of the blue. Attacks may happen even during sleep. Unsurprisingly these attacks are disturbing and frightening.

More importantly however, there is much a sufferer can do to reduce and prevent panic attacks from occurring. Unfortunately many sufferers live on their lives undiagnosed and untreated. Often this is because sufferers simply do not recognize or acknowledge their condition.
 


Comments

helene

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:33:02

Panic attacks are very real, scary and intense. And you might be amazed if you knew how many people on the planet endure them.

 

Elisabeth Williams

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 07:03:20

@helene To answer your question, more than 20% of the population in the US, so about 60 million people, are experiencing <a href=”http://www.anxiety-stressmanagement.com/anxiety/panic-attacks-and-anxiety-attacks-explanation-causes-and-symptoms/>symptoms of anxiety attacks or panic attacks</a> at all times. That's 1 in 5! So yes I do agree with you that's it's an amazing number of people.

 



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