Most Common Panic Attack Symptoms

Almost everyone has suffered a panic attack at some point in their lives. It could have been simply a momentary fright or a longer lasting sense of being very, very scared for whatever reason, but the fact is that a panic attack is devastating and often has long lasting and detrimental effects on general one's health. Anyone who suffers from a panic attack for whatever reason and at any age is deemed to be suffering from a syndrome known as Panic Disorder.

Panic attacks occur in a large percentage of adults, with statistics showing that around 20% of adult Americans; and around 60 million people worldwide, are sufferers. It is to be noted that women are twice as likely to be afflicted by this disorder than men. The onset of the first episode of panic attack usually occurs between the ages of 15 and 19 years of age.

Panic attack symptoms vary just as much as the people afflicted by them. As they happen very suddenly, they are unlike other forms of anxiety, which mostly build up over a period of time. The most common is an intense feeling of terrifying fear which leaves the victim rooted to the spot, unable to move, cry out for help, or act rationally. This awful fear is almost always accompanied by a pounding heart which sufferers relate can actually be heard and which results in the person shaking uncontrollably and, in a number of cases, with severe chest pain.

All these symptoms result in the inability to breathe normally and thus the person tries to gulp in air in an effort to get oxygen into their bloodstream. Thus, faintness and dizziness are further symptoms; and so in hyperventilation, where the person afflicted breathes in too fast and too shallowly and all the symptoms experienced thus far are magnified. More minor, but just as important, symptoms may include sweating, especially of the hands; and a tingling or numbness of the fingers and the hand. A feeling of being chilled or cold may manifest too.

An episode of panic attack is commonly mistaken for a heart attack, as there are many symptoms which are alike in the two, especially those of the racing or pounding heart and the chest pain. This, in turn, causes the episode to be lengthened, as the sufferer becomes more and more frightened. The phrase 'scared to death' is appropriate in this scenario.

It is important to know that a panic attack is usually of a very short duration, although the victim generally does not know how long an attack lasts. Statistics reveal that episodes usually only last up to ten minutes and most of them are considerably shorter. Bear in mind too, that even when most of the symptoms disappear, some may persist with the person for some time.

It is generally accepted that once someone has had one panic attack, he or she will be prone to experience the symptoms again, thus they will be known to suffer from Panic Disorder.

There are various Panic Attack Treatments available, such as the Linden Method and Barry McDonagh's Panic Away.

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Childhood Anxiety Disorder

Much the same as adults children can experience issues with anxiety. A certain amount of anxiety in children will not cause problems, however if the anxiety becomes intense and recurring they can quite easily disable the child. Increased levels of anxiety can affect the daily life of the child.

Here are some common causes of childhood anxiety disorder:

Change in Lifestyle - children can be dramatically affected by a families relocation. Moving away from their school and neighbourhood friends can make them very stressed and if the child cannot cope with stress it can lead to bouts of anxiety.

Separation anxiety - this is an excessive fear of being away from someone the child is comfortable being with.

School Phobia - the reason behind this phobia is not completely understood, what happens is the child will increasingly come up with excuses as to why they cannot go to school, complaining of toothaches, headaches, stomach aches anything to keep them away. School phobia is often linked to separation anxiety.

Relationship Problems - Family problems can play a large part in a child's anxiety issues. If a child experiences the loss of a family member this can trigger anxiety attacks. As can family conflicts, divorce or fighting in the family can be traumatic for a child.

Performance Anxiety - this can be a common problem for children who find themselves at the front of the class if they are not very good at their lessons or on the sports field if they are no good at sports.

General Anxiety Disorder - this is an uncontrollable fear of almost everything. Symptoms of GAD in children are the same as they are in adults.

Here are some of the possible symptoms that your child may display if they are suffering from a childhood anxiety disorder:

Bed wetting
Nightmares
Tantrums
Feeling of panic and fear
Fear of making mistakes
Fear of embarrassment
Not wanting to go out at all
Lack of confidence

Looking at the above list you have to agree that with some children it is very difficult to actually determine if a child has an anxiety problem. Due to the fact that the symptoms are similar to other physical, behavioural and psychological conditions it is very important if you do think your child may have a problem to take them to a doctor.

Doctors will usually prescribe medication to help relieve your child's anxiety issues. You may however wish to try alternative treatments such as:

Play Therapy - this is the child version of exposure therapy and is an effective treatment for anxiety in children.

Herbal Medicines - these can be an effective means for treating childhood anxiety disorder. Some of the most common herbs are: valerian, st. johns wart, and scullcap.

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Get Your Life Back - Stop Living With Fear and Anxiety Disorder

We all get anxious when faced with unusual or fearful situations. Having a normal amount of anxiety from time to time is useful because it helps us to be alert in the face of dangerous situations and it can also push us to make the necessary preparations to perform well on frightening and difficult tasks like exams and job interviews. But if you are living with fear and anxiety and you are excessively afraid of situations and things that are not frightening, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder.

If you are suffering from anxiety disorder, it can be a daunting experience. Living with fear and anxiety is not fun. The physical and psychological symptoms of this mental disorder can be very disabling. Living with anxiety disorder can rob you of your happiness and the freedom to enjoy and do the things that most people do on their everyday lives. You need to know how to conquer your anxiety disorder and stop living with fear and anxiety to get your life back.

Some of the physical symptoms of anxiety disorder are increased heartbeat, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, trembling, nausea and light-headedness. The psychological symptoms include excessive fear or worry and the feeling of going crazy or losing control. Excessive worry or anxiety can make you restless and you will find it hard to relax. You may also find yourself unable to sleep and concentrate on your daily activities. It can prevent you from functioning normally on your everyday life. If the fear is so severe, you may also experience phobia. This mental disorder is not only destroying your self-image but it can also ruin your job and your personal relationships. Anxiety disorder can rule your life if not treated.

Fortunately, anxiety disorder is a very treatable mental disorder. With the proper treatment, people living with fear and anxiety disorder can learn to function effectively in their everyday lives.

One way to stop living with fear and anxiety disorder is through medications. Of course it is important to seek professional or medical help. A psychiatrist or a doctor trained to treat mental disorders like anxiety disorder can help you. Anxiety problems can be treated by anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medicines and psychotherapy. The treatments require a great deal of work and dedication so it is important to work with your doctor if you want to stop living with fear and anxiety.

It is also important to know how to manage your stress to stop living with fear and anxiety disorder. Stress and anxiety are connected with each other. Stress is one of the major causes of anxiety. People normally get anxious when stressed out. Stress is unavoidable and it is a normal part of life but there are ways to manage your stress and avoid anxiety. The first thing that you should do is to identify your stressor. Learn and understand the root cause of your stress to identify the necessary changes that you have to make to relieve your stress. Do you have marital problems? Are you experiencing financial difficulties? Or are you starting a new career? These things can give you stress and anxiety. When you are experiencing severe stress, meditation or simple yoga techniques can be very helpful to relieve your stress. It is also helpful to withdraw from a stressful situation for a while and deal with it later. Take a walk, smell the flowers, exercise or do some deep breathing exercises and comeback with a new perspective of the situation.

Alternative treatments are also gaining popularity because there are people who do not like the side effects of medications. Of course before engaging yourself into any alternative treatment, you have to do your homework. Consult your doctor to ensure that the alternative treatment is safe for you. There are herbs and vitamins that can help you stop living with fear and anxiety. Passionflower and Kava Kava are common herbal remedies used to treat anxiety.

Do not allow anxiety disorder to ruin your life because there are ways to conquer this disorder. Get your life back and stop living in constant fear and anxiety visit Panic Disorder Freedom

Thesie Cortez is an article writer and an internet marketer. This article is free for publishing provided that the article must be published in its entirety without alterations. The author's name and all links must be included and remain intact or unaltered with every reproduction.

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