Panic attacks are the sudden, unexpected periods of intense anxiety, resulting from the physiological arousal, discomfort and fear which are linked to arrays of cognitive and somatic symptoms. Even though panic attacks may occur suddenly without having apparent triggers and seem to appear random, they all occur due to the evolutionary response known as fight or flight, as first described by Walter Cannon in 1915. The fight or flight response increases secretion of excessive hormones such as epinephrine or adrenaline into the body, which help aiding in being defensive from harm. It may appear that since panic attacks can’t be predicted, its occurrence can’t be that bad, but in reality, experiencing one is the most distressing, disturbing, painful and terrifying experience.

Panic attacks can be as short as a minute to a five minute or as long as the common ten minutes. These are the usual average time lengths, and panic attacks also can be in a cyclic periodical manner, repeating at certain intervals and lasting for extended period up to hours. Panic attacks have different effects on the victims; experienced victims may be able to endure the attack with little to none apparent internal symptoms or external symptoms, but the first time victims may even require calls for emergency services to become comforted. First time victims can also endure added burden of fear while experiencing panic attack because they fear this is the initial symptom of having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown.

What is it feel like to those having panic disorders? Many victims report that the panic attack states are the most terrifying and dreadful experiences of their lives, and that they feel fear, a sense of dying and fainting, feel as though they are going through nervous breakdown and going psycho or experiencing heart attack, have flashing vision, and have the feeling of losing controls of themselves. When these feelings occur during the attack, the victims feel trapped, and their only choice of response is to fight rather than flight.

Why panic attacks occur and what are their symptoms? Panic attacks are the response of the sympathetic nervous system also known as SNS. SNS is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system, and is always active at a basal level and it increases the activity during the times of depression or stress. Once SNS becomes more active, fight or flight response is also triggered. The most common symptoms of panic attacks include:

• Trembling
• Heart Palpitations
• Chest pain
• Dyspnea
• Hot or cold flashes
• Burning sensations
• Nausea
• Extreme sweating
• Hyperventilation
• Parasthesias
• Choking/Smothering sensations
• Feeling that everything in the surroundings is not real

All the above symptoms can result in increased anxiety, which leads to positive panic attack, and due to the panic attacks, these symptoms occur; it is like a loop between the two.

How panic attacks are different from other forms of anxiety? Panic attacks are more intense and have cyclic or episodic natures. They are most of the times in concurrence with anxiety disorders and other psychological conditions. The victims of panic attacks can’t be categorized as having a mental disorder, however there is a possibility.

Symptoms of Panic Attacks can be found here

By: Kaung | ChitChat247.com | KMKBlog.com