Panic attacks are short, intense and unexpected episodes of extreme anxiety or panic attacks that occur suddenly without prior warning. With a panic attack, people may feel short of breath, nervous, fearful, feel like they are going to die, or have a rapid heartbeat, but in most cases, the panic attack does not last long, and after the panic attack subsides, the anxiety starts again. On the other hand, panic attacks usually do not occur because of the perceived threat.
Panic attacks occur for two reasons: biological and mental. Biological causes occur in those who suffer from panic attacks as a result of certain diseases, and these diseases can be life-threatening. For example, a person with diabetes is more likely to have panic attacks than a person with a normal, healthy lifestyle. Likewise, a person suffering from depression will be prone to panic attacks as those who suffer from anxiety disorders.
A panic attack occurs when our body responds “run or fight” when faced with perceived or real danger. When our bodies are under stress and anxiety, we go into "fight or flight" mode, when adrenaline begins to circulate in our system and makes us rush. The problem arises when this adrenaline rush is not enough. Our brain sends a signal to our adrenal gland, ordering it to produce cortisol, a hormone that helps us deal with stress and anxiety, making us feel comfortable and safe.
Unfortunately, there are many stressful situations that can cause our stress hormones to rise to abnormal levels. In turn, cortisol production spikes and then creates an exaggerated sense of threat. When this stress goes away, a panic attack occurs. Often times, this panic attack occurs immediately after you are relieved and comfortable.
If you are experiencing a panic attack, the first step is to seek medical attention from your doctor. In many cases, if you are taking certain medications, such as antidepressants and anticholinergics, symptoms can disappear within a few minutes.
You can also reduce stress and anxiety by exercising more. Exercise such as swimming, brisk walking, or exercise can help increase your heart rate and improve your mental and emotional well-being. There are also exercises you can do at home that can help reduce anxiety and improve your well-being, such as meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques.
Another method is called cognitive therapy. In this therapy, you learn to recognize your symptoms, learn how to deal with them, and learn to deal with them without resorting to a fight or flight mechanism
Cognitive Therapy – Terapia Cognitiva helps recognize panic attacks by helping you identify the source of the fear, change your response to it, and develop coping strategies to help you deal with the fear. A good example is to take a deep breath and try to slow your breathing. Once you do this, you will learn how to breathe correctly and learn to control your breathing so as not to panic.
While you are doing physical activity, you will need to do something, otherwise your mind will be focused on what is happening around you. This is why it is important to set goals and set achievable goals in case you have an attack.
You can also seek professional help if you feel like you have too many panic attacks. Your doctor or therapist can help you determine what triggers panic attacks, be it something physical or psychological.
Finally, cognitive therapy can also help you deal with anxiety or panic attacks through behavioral therapy. These therapies can help you learn how to deal with stress and anxiety by changing your thinking and how you respond to stress. This means you can learn how to change negative thoughts and behaviors to prevent recurrence.