Panic attacks are very distressing and scary and many people have said that they are among the most horrible things they have ever experienced. They arise from the ‘flight or fight’ response that is happening in an out of place situation. Panic attacks typically last for approximately thirty minutes, which might not appear very long, but if you are a victim, that’s a very long time to experience the alarm, intense unease and distress that they bring. In addition separate panic attacks can occur in cycles that last for many hours. Those who suffer from panic attacks characteristically feel anxiety continually as they foresee the next attack.

Lots of people, suffering from a panic attack for the first time believe they are undergoing a heart attack or nervous breakdown and may call the emergency services. This ‘fight or flight’ response releases norepinephrine and adrenaline into the bloodstream which prepares the body to cope with the projected crisis and this is the reason for the various reactions that take place. There may perhaps be a panicked desire to escape from the room, nausea, feelings of dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, and a fear of dying which all arise from the rising level of adrenaline in the body. These symptoms themselves add to the general anxiety which forms a positive feedback, causing more adrenaline to flood into the bloodstream which makes the reactions worse.

Panic Attack Medication

The usual panic attack medication is an antidepressant, generally a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) such as sertraline, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine or paroxetine. These can reduce the regularity and the number of attacks which helps to ease anxiety, although they can take a month or more to work. They also have a number of side effects which may include fatigue, constipation, nausea, a dry mouth and migraine. Benzodiazepines were often used previously and while very useful at preventing attacks have a very high risk of addiction and are prescribed a lot less often today. They can also have some side effects including lack of attentiveness, decreased alertness and coordination and lethargy.

Additional Methods of Coping

Lots of people who undergo panic attacks and don’t wish to use medication for panic attacks have found some respite with one of the following methods. These may help to relieve the apprehension experienced throughout an attack and stop it from escalating.

1) Slow abdominal breathing – inhale through the nose, while slowly expanding the abdomen then breathe out gradually. This may help to rectify any imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

2) Mentally repeating coping thoughts such as

“I can deal with this even though it feels bad”
“It won’t last forever then I’ll be alright”
“No one dies from a panic attack”

In Conclusion

Panic attacks can be extremely frightening especially the very first time they occur. Nonetheless if you are aware of the cause and are aware that you are not suffering from something that is a threat to your life you can learn to cope.