Know The Symptoms And How To Treat Panic Disorder

The symptoms of Panic Syndrome usually happen suddenly and without warning, at any time of the day and also in any situation, such as while the person is driving, shopping at the mall, in the middle of a business meeting, or even sleeping.

The DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders) states that the apex of panic attacks usually lasts about 10 to 20 minutes but can vary depending on the person and the intensity of the attack. In addition, some symptoms may continue for an hour or more.

It is good to be aware, as a panic attack can often be mistaken for a heart attack.

Panic attacks usually manifest the following symptoms:

• The sensation of imminent danger;
• Fear of losing control;
• Fear of death or an impending tragedy;
• Feelings of indifference;
• Feeling of being out of reality;
• Numbness and tingling in the hands, feet, or face;
• Palpitations, fast heart rate, and tachycardia;
• Sweating;
• Tremors;
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and suffocation;
• Hyperventilation;
• Feeling of needing to go to the bathroom;
• Chills;
• Heatwaves;
• Nausea;
• Abdominal pain;
• Chest pain and discomfort;
• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• Difficulty holding the head;
• Fainting;
• Feeling of having the throat closing;
• Difficulty swallowing.

A frequent complication is fear of fear, that is, fear of having another panic attack. This fear can be so great that the person will often avoid extreme situations in which these crises may reoccur.

In crises, physical sensations are interpreted as danger (dying of a heart attack, having a stroke, fainting, losing control, going crazy). Our body produces more adrenaline, which causes the symptoms to become even more accentuated to the point of fear.

Terrifying symptoms are palpitations (racing heart), choking or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in the chest, dizziness or feeling faint, blurred vision, feeling of being out of reality and not knowing where it is, strangeness concerning himself, numbness or sensory anesthesia in parts of the body.

In addition to chills, heat, and dry mouth. That is the same symptoms of anxiety, however, in a more intense way.

The crises would be more frequent if the first crisis were very traumatic because that sensation is registered in our brain, in the emotional memory. Every time we experience a situation or similar sensation, our brain associates what is happening with what has already happened, causing the person to produce more adrenaline by the simple catastrophic interpretation of a similar stimulus.

Despite spontaneous crises that happen suddenly, it is essential to be aware of the moment and how they happen. Which situation triggered a crisis? Which thought seeks to explain the situation?

There is no way to predict panic attacks. At least in the early stages of the disorder, there seems to be nothing specific capable of triggering the attack. But there are indications that the memory of previous panic attacks may contribute and lead to a new crisis. The cause usually stems from chronic environmental stress.

Panic attacks can change behavior at home, at school, or work. People with the syndrome are often concerned about the effects of their panic attacks and can even awaken more severe problems, such as alcoholism, depression, and drug abuse.

People who have some of the symptoms mentioned above need to seek help and set aside prejudice. Early treatment avoids consequences such as leave, dismissal from work, early retirement due to functional disability, among other problems.

The family must be guided in this treatment process so that they understand the patient’s behavior. Isocarboxazid is an MOA inhibitor that can be used to cure it. 

Unfortunately, it is widespread for family members to pressure the person to overcome the crisis, and, at that moment, having a lot of patience and supporting the treatment is essential.