More than one in every four people experience a panic attack at some time in their lives. Fortunately only a small proportion of people develop panic disorder or panic disorder with agoraphobia following their first panic attack. Panic attacks are usually experienced following a sudden stressful experience such as childbirth, an operation, drug or alcohol use, a traumatic experience or following a long period of stress in a person’s life. For some people the cause is unknown and the panic attack appears to occur as part of another anxiety disorder such as post traumatic stress disorder, social phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder.
How Do We Define Panic Attacks ?
A panic attack is a short period of intense fear or discomfort which is accompanied by a sudden rush of physical sensations and distressing thoughts about the meaning of the physical sensations. For example, the person may think that they are going to die, faint or lose control.
When a person has a panic attack they experience a lot of different physical sensations. If you have experienced a panic attack you might like to tick the boxes alongside the symptoms shown below that apply to you:-
1. Pounding heart
2. Sweating
3. Trembling and shaking
4. Shortness of breath
5. Feelings of choking
6. Chest pain or discomfort
7. Nausea or feeling sick
8. Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed or faint
9. Feeling as if things around you are unreal and/or feeling detached from yourself
10. Fear of losing control or going crazy
11. Fear of dying
12. Numbness or tingling in parts of your body
13. Chills or hot flushes
Not everyone who has a panic attack experiences all of these symptoms. However most people have at least four of the symptoms on the list shown above.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is characterised by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks about which there is persistent concern. When a person experiences panic attacks out of the blue (for example, when relaxing in front of the television), they begin to spend long periods of time worrying that another attack might occur at any time. They may also begin to have concerns that they might have a serious physical illness and spend more time visiting their doctor for check ups. Not surprisingly many people who have panic disorder become depressed as a result of their symptoms.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a condition which usually occurs after a person develops panic disorder. It is defined as a fear of being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help might not be available if the person should have a panic attack. People with agoraphobia avoid situations such as being alone, crowded places, standing in queues, travelling in buses or cars or travelling away from home.
At What Time In Life Do These Conditions Occur ?
The most frequent time in life for panic disorder or agoraphobia to occur is in late adolescence or around 35 years of age. However people may develop these conditions at any stage.
Can These Conditions Be Effectively Treated ?
Most people can be taught to successfully manage their symptoms.
- State Wide Agoraphobia Group Australia (SWAG)
- Panic - Anxiety Disorder Association (PADA)
*Source: Panic Anxiety Disorder Association
