A panic attack can happen anywhere, at any time. You may feel terrified and overwhelmed, even though you’re not in any danger.
If this kind of random event has happened to you at least twice, and you constantly worry and change your routine to keep from having one, you might have panic disorder — a type of anxiety disorder.
One in 10 adults in the India has panic attacks each year. About a third of people have one in their lifetime. But most of them don’t have panic disorder. Only about 3% of adults have it, and it’s more common in women than in men.
Symptoms
A panic attack is a sudden strong feeling of fear. You’ll have four or more of these signs:
- Pounding or fast heartbeat
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of being smothered
- A choking feeling
- Chest pain
- Nausea or stomach pains
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Chills or hot flashes
- Numbness or tingling in the body
- Feeling unreal or detached
- A fear of losing control or going crazy
- A fear of dying
An attack usually passes in 5-10 minutes, but it can linger for hours. It can feel like you’re having a heart attack or a stroke. So people with panic attacks often wind up in the emergency room for evaluation.
If left untreated, panic disorder can sometimes lead to agoraphobia, an intense fear of being outside or in enclosed spaces.
Causes
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes panic disorder. Researchers have found that it can run in families, but they’re not sure how much of that is because of your genes or the environment you grew up in. People with panic disorder may have brains that are especially sensitive in responding to fear.
Turning to drugs or alcohol to try to deal with the panic disorder, in turn, can make the symptoms worse.
People with this disorder often also have major depression. But there is no evidence that one condition causes the other.
Diagnosis
There isn’t a lab test specifically for panic disorder. Your doctor probably will examine you and rule out other health issues. If you’ve had two or more random panic attacks and live in fear of a repeat episode, you likely have panic disorder.
Treatments
Psychiatrist in Uttam Nagar, Janakpuri, Delhi may refer you to a psychotherapist. He/she may recommend a type of effective talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy. With it, you can learn how to change unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that bring on panic attacks.
Psychiatrist in Delhi may also prescribe antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds. You can take antidepressants for years if necessary. Anti-anxiety medication can help in the short term.
Lifestyle changes — such as cutting back on caffeine, exercising, and deep breathing exercises — also may help.
The primary treatment choices for panic attacks are psychotherapy and medicines. Both are successful. Dr. Prashant Goyal, Psychiatrist in Janakpuri, Uttam Nagar, perhaps will suggest one or both forms of treatment, relying on your choice, your medical history, the intensity of your panic attack.
