Panic Disorder

What is Panic Disorder

Panic disorder involves panic attacks, which are a severe attack of anxiety or fear that occurs suddenly. These often occur repeatedly and can develop without any obvious reason.

A person can experience a panic attack at some point of life, particularly in a stressful situation. However, when these attacks happen repeatedly and are followed by a fear of having another attack, it is called as a panic disorder.

Panic disorder UK cases can affect people differently. Some individuals experience occasional panic attacks, while others may have frequent episodes that have a significant interference in their daily life.

Panic disorder can occasionally coexist with depression, stress-related conditions, or other anxiety disorders

Symptoms of Panic Attacks

The physical symptoms that occur during a panic attack does not mean that you have problems with your heart. These occur mainly because there is an overdrive of the nerve impulses from the brain to various parts of the body during the attack.

This causes the body to produce the “fight and flight” hormone, i.e., epinephrine (adrenaline). This usually happens when we perceive danger. The body responds similarly during a panic episode.

You may feel symptoms like:

• A rapid heart rate
• Sweating and trembling
• Hot flushes or chills
• Feeling short of breath, feeling choked
• Chest tightness
• Dry mouth
• Feeling nauseated, dizzy, or faint
• Numbness or-pins and needles, tingling sensation

During a panic attack you may breathe fast, basically you hyperventilate. This causes too much release of carbon dioxide from the body and changes the acidic levels of the blood. Which in turn can cause more symptoms like confusion and cramps also worsen certain symptoms like palpitations.

Also, you need to know that some of these symptoms can occur in other health conditions as well and does not necessarily mean that you have a panic attack. For example, the feeling of a racing heart also occurs when there is low blood pressure.

Generally, a panic attack lasts for 5-10 minutes, but it can also happen in waves.

Causes and Triggers of Panic Disorder

Panic disorder can be a result of many factors that combine together and contribute to its occurrence.

Stress and Life Events

Periods of prolonged stress can sometimes increase the occurrence of panic attacks. This may include factors such as work-related stress, relationship issues, financial instability, somebody’s death, emotional factors, or any major life changes.

Genetics and Family History

If you have a close family member who has panic disorder, you may be vulnerable to it. Although, it is not necessary that you will develop it.

Physical Sensations and Health Anxiety

Some people become highly sensitive to physical sensations such as a racing heartbeat, dizziness, or breathlessness. These sensations may trigger fear, which can then worsen panic symptoms further.

For example, feeling a fast heartbeat after exercise may lead to fear of losing control or becoming seriously ill, which can exacerbate panic symptoms.

Lifestyle Factors

Certain lifestyle habits can aggravate panic symptoms. These include, like poor sleep, alcohol, caffeine, recreational drugs, or lack of relaxation. Medicines/substances that trigger the nervous system may sometimes make panic symptoms feel more intense.

Treatment Options for Panic Disorder

The goal of treatment for panic disorder is to bring down the frequency and severity of panic attacks along with helping people to manage their symptoms more effectively.

The choice of treatment depends on severity of the symptoms, personal choices, their medical history, and if their daily life is being affected.

Therapy

The initial and most commonly recommended approach to manage anxiety is talking therapy.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used therapies for anxiety. It helps people recognise thought patterns and behaviours that may be making their anxiety worse and teaches practical ways to deal with it more efficiently.

CBT may help people in:

• Trigger identification
• Overcoming the negative thinking
• Developing better coping strategies
• Reducing the need to avoid situations/people
• Effective management of their stressful thoughts

The duration of the therapy can differ from person to person. Some people may notice improvement within a few weeks, while others may need a longer-term support.

Medication

Your doctor may consider medicines if you experience severe, persistent, or significant symptoms that start affecting your daily life.

The most commonly used medicine for long-term management of panic disorder and symptoms of anxiety are SSRIs. They act by affecting the serotonin levels in the brain, which plays an important role in regulating mood and emotions. SSRIs do not provide immediate relief, instead, it can take a few weeks for you to notice their effects.

If you need short-term relief from extreme episodes of anxiety and panic, your doctor may give you benzodiazepines. One example is, diazepam. They have a fast action and work by calming the electrical activity in the brain. However, they are used with caution as their repeated or prolonged use may increase the risks of dependence.

Your doctor may decide your treatment based on factors such as age, pregnancy, current health conditions, or previous mental health history. Regular follow-up during treatment helps ensure that the medicine suits you and any concerns are identified early.

Lifestyle and Self-Help Strategies

The way you live your life can also affect your anxiety levels and general wellbeing.

Habits such as regular physical activities/exercises, breathing techniques, healthy sleep routine, mindfulness, stress management and relaxation techniques, may reduce the impact of anxiety symptoms.

Although even after these lifestyle changes you may need treatment but, they can support overall mental wellbeing and improve your ability to cope.

When to Seek Help

If it has become difficult for you to manage panic attacks or it has started affecting your daily life, it may be important to speak to a healthcare professional.

You may consider seeking help if:

• You have ongoing panic attacks or they are becoming more severe
• Your daily activities are getting affected
• You have started avoiding social situations or responsibilities
• You have to compromise your sleep, focus, or productivity

Some people may have a hesitation in seeking support and think that their condition will improve on its own. However, this is not the truth. Mental health conditions that continue for a long time can start affecting confidence, work, relations, and even your general wellbeing.

Getting on time support can help you explore and understand the treatment options wisely and manage your symptoms more effectively.