An anxiety panic disorder is characterized by the recurrence of severe panic attacks. The panic attacks are difficult to predict although there are anticipatory attacks triggered by the patient's worry about having another attack. The medical world has not reached a clear-cut conclusion on the anxiety panic disorder, in the sense that some differentiate between anxiety and panic disorder while others treat them together. Although debilitating, the condition is treatable and controllable. Panic attacks could be unexpected, situational or situationally predisposed.
The attacks specific to an anxiety panic problem can wax and wane over longer periods of time, sometimes hours, although the intense episode lasts about ten minutes. The common symptoms of the panic attack include:
- rapid heartbeat;
- shortness of breath;
- a feeling of imminent death;
- trembling;
- dizziness;
- sweating;
- chest pain;
- nausea;
- numbness;
- a sense of altered reality etc.
This list of symptoms is not by far exhaustive. The symptom that appears to be common to all people diagnosed with an anxiety panic problem is the necessity to escape from the situation provoking the attack. As for causes, so far doctors have not been able to determine what the more general causes might be. Genetic predisposition has been confirmed as in families with anxiety panic disorder history, inheritance proves decisive.
Life transitions, stressful events, physical illness and even medications can be found behind an anxiety panic disorder. Stimulants in excess, such as caffeine, could also trigger a panic attack. Sometimes precisely the drugs used to control the condition (like SSRI medication) can exacerbate the condition due to their stimulant side effects. This is also the reason why doctors don't always rush into prescribing drugs to a patient suffering from an anxiety panic disorder. Medication can keep severe symptoms under control, but therapy is a lot more effective at bringing health improvement.
Some researchers suspect a chemical imbalance in patients with panic anxiety disorder. Drug therapy with benzodiazepines seems to regulate the possible chemical imbalances behind a panic attack, keeping the condition in check.
Besides drugs, there is a huge number of therapeutic strategies and techniques that can be used successfully to improve the health condition of an anxiety panic disorder sufferer. The most qualified person to answer your questions on this is your therapist. As part of the counseling sessions, the therapist will discuss various methods meant to bring you in control of your body and mind when a panic attack is at your door. Don't hesitate to ask, and start working towards achieving health improvement goals right away!