Panic Disorder

 

Introduction

Panic disorder is a mental condition, where people suffering from this illness experience an extreme anxiety referred to as Panic Attacks. One cannot explain the feeling that is being experience by the sufferers until one has had such an attack. Many sufferers often say, panic attacks are one of the most frightening or scary experiences and when they happen, people often get the feeling that they are dying or just going insane.

Panic disorder is the illness that a person suffers from when there are repeated and unprovoked panic attacks. It is a type of anxiety disorder. In the United States, panic disorder is a serious health problem. According to the survey, 1.7% of the adult American population has panic disorder. The majority of the people, who are suffering from panic disorder for the first time are between 25 and 30 years old. Also it is concluded that women are more likely to a develop panic disorder than men. Fortunately, with medicine panic disorder can be treated nowadays.

Symptoms

Panic attacks may occur because of stressful situations or for no particular reason at all. There are different symptoms for anxiety attacks depending on the respective person. Sufferers deal with these attacks weekly or sometimes even daily. They have a major impact on their lives. Therefore, individuals suffering from panic attacks start avoiding going in any public place as they have the constant fear of having another sudden panic attack. Around 35% of all individuals with panic disorder also have Agoraphobia. The symptoms includes:

  1. Pounding heartbeats
  2. Chest pains
  3. Dizziness, nausea
  4. Numbness in the hands
  5. Difficulty in breathing
  6. Fear of losing control and dying
  7. Fear that some catastrophe is about to happen

Many government agencies like the US FDA also have good information on symptoms of panic disorder.
 

Treatment

The effect of panic disorder is usually felt in the whole family of the patient. It is not only the sufferer who gets troubled due to panic attacks but also his near and dear ones have to suffer to an extent. His/Her family and friends too have to face some embarrassing behavior from the patient or get ill treated by him/her. Earlier panic disorder would even made a person disabled. But it can be controlled now, if the patient is treated properly.

Treatments for panic disorders include medications and a cognitive-behavioral therapy, which is a type of psychotherapy. Mental health professionals like psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors and social workers are the people who assist in the treatment of panic disorder. The condition can, however, continue for months or years and also the condition of the person can become worse, if the panic disorder is left untreated. If treated properly, the main symptoms of panic disorder can disappear within few weeks. And there would be no side effects once the treatment is completed. So, there is no need to worry as various treatments are available for this disorder and more are in research.

Questions to Ask

Before getting the treatment for panic disorder, one has to ask questions to the institute to get some things clearly done.

  1. How many patients have you treated with panic disorder?
  2. Do you offer any special training in panic disorder treatment?
  3. How long is the treatment?
  4. What are your fees?
  5. What is your basic approach to your treatment?
  6. Whether my health insurance will cover this or no? 

Causes  

Panic disorder can be found running in the family, and so inheritance plays a strong role. However, in some cases such disorders just develop even though there is no presence of it in previous family generations. Working in stressful life, high tension environments, tendency to think in negative way and other biological factors play are primary causes of panic disorder. Also there are many more factors that lead to such disorders.

Individuals with panic disorders should be treated delicately as they indulge in having alcohol and drugs such as cocaine or marijuana to control their anguish and stress. Research says that person with panic disorder is also likely to attempt suicide. And so, having a family or friends support is very important, as they can understand the sufferers condition really well and can deal with them effectively and can also give then the right treatment for the disorder. There are many institutes and hospitals which offer treatment for panic disorders.  Before it attains big proportion the problem should be controlled and permanently treated.