Panic Attacks are unexpected and intense feeling of fear lasting from minutes to hours. Stress in considered to be one of the major causes of panic attacks. Women are prone to panic attacks twice than men. Genetics also play role in passing on panic attacks.
Symptoms of panic attacks are quite identical with heart attacks like chest pain, choking, difficulty in breathing, sweating, trembling etc. One also suffers feeling of unreality, losing control over mind, dizziness, fear of dying instantly. Though panic attacks do not cause death, its symptoms are scary as death.
Proper medical examination and psychiatric evaluation must be done to diagnose panic attacks in early stage. Tests of cardiovascular, endocrine, nervous and respiratory systems must be performed to diagnose the disorder. Symptoms related to drug and alcohol abuse should be considered as many people try to cope up with panic attacks on their own using these substances.
Anti-anxiety and Antidepressant medications are mainstream treatments for panic attacks. Though medications like Benzodiazepines are effective to reduce anxiety, they are very addictive in nature. Moreover, they act on symptoms of disorder and not on roots. It is advisable to undergo alternate therapies along with regular medicines. Alternate therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Hypnotherapy and meditation have shown successful result for overcoming panic attacks in thousands of cases.
CBT works on the principle of repetition. Positive responses are imagined and played in mind over and over to generate new neural pathways and create new responses. It helps to act positively in stressful circumstances of real life. Hypnotherapy first removes negative beliefs and thought patterns from subconscious mind which are the roots of this disorder. Then new positive suggestions are implanted to cope up every situation effectively. One can use brainwave entrainment programs like Hemi-sync and Quantum Mind Power to practice self hypnosis without any need for therapist (Please consult your therapist) . Meditation is the biggest stress resistant. It soothes entire mind-body-soul. Regular practice of meditation not only makes biological system stress-proof but also brings peace and tranquility of mind.