Panic Attacks & Anxiety Disorder #2

In this post I will discuss some of the types of panic attacks and anxiety disorders that you may face.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This disorder os characterised  by upsetting images or thoughts of dangerous possibilities that might seem out of your control. An example of this could be when a person has an obsession with germs and hygiene, fear of losing control of themselves and attacking someone or even a paranoia that they haven’t locked the door or turned off an appliance. These types of obsessions can cause a person to constantly fear that something awful is going to happen and as a result they suffer compulsions. This obsession takes the form of unreasonable worrying and nagging doubt, so much so that it’s almost impossible not to do something about it.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Most people have heard about this disorder when it is in relation to  survivors of torture, terrorism or natural disasters. PTSD can also occur after some traumatic experience such as a physical or sexual assault or even an accident. The experience needs to be of a high degree of severity that a person would feel that their life is threatened. For most people if they have been through a traumatic experience that would be distressed and in shock, but for a small minority the reaction is taken to a new level and does not settle over time. Some of the characteristics of this disorder is the lack of sleep with recurring nightmares, irritable and jumpy. They are extremely sensitive to anything that might remind them of their traumatic encounter and can experience flashbacks that can occur without warning that are just as vivid and terrifying. The individual might find that they feel emotionally numb when they aren’t experiencing flashbacks and can withdraw from social interactions.

Panic Disorder

When you have reoccurring panic attacks or fear of having a panic attack then you are experiencing panic disorder. You may have four or more of the following symptoms:

– Feeling of choking

– sweating

– palpitations

– chills or hot flushes

– chest pain

– trembling/shaking

– dizziness

– nausea

– feeling detached

– fear of dying

– fear of losing control

A panic attack can be very frightening as it can seem like you have a serious illness such as a heart attack but in actual fact it is the flight or fight symptoms that are occurring.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is not just a fear of small space but also the fear of being alone. It is a fear of having a panic attack in a situation where escape might be difficult as well as getting help. For example, crowds, shops and halls can make those suffering from this disorder anxious and fearful. As a result, these places are avoided in case they trigger their fear. Agoraphobia affects women twice as much as men

Social Anxiety Disorder

This is also known as social phobia, which is a fear of being in social situations. Its in a deep fear of somehow being embarrassed at social gatherings. They are scared of doing something embarrassing, looking like an idiot in front of people and having other people think less of them. Some of the symptoms they might have are blushing, trembling, sweating and shaking. They might worry about vomiting because they are so anxious, passing wind, a rumbling stomach or even their voices shaking if they speak. The most common fear is public speaking. Thought most people might not like public speak, those with social phobia will also fear other situations like parties and social gatherings. It is only a disorder if this problem starts taking over your life.

If you are after some more information on this topic please click on the link below:

Panic Attacks & Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Panic Attacks & Anxiety Disorder #1

A panic attack is an extreme fear response that occurs when a person is convinced that they are in extreme danger, even when no danger actually exists. An excessive amount of anxiety is a key component to having panic attacks. Almost everyone worries about something whether it be the mortgage, the kids or exams. But how much anxiety is too much? If you seem to be worrying about things that other people don’t, feel anxious and stressed most of the time, have panic attacks and fear the next one then yes, you do have too much anxiety.

An excessive amount of anxiety  can hinder your quality of life. It can place stress on you relationships, your work environment and of course your health. If your anxiety is exceptionally severe then you have what most mental health professionals call anxiety disorder, which interferes with your ability to function normally in any social or occupational setting. Bear in mind that if you have a few anxiety symptoms it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a disorder. Just like a fever and low blood pressure doesn’t mean that you certainly have pneumonia. If the symptoms match a recognised check list and are severe enough, then doctors will call it a disorder.

There is actually more than one type of anxiety disorder. Anxiety has to be present for some time before it can be called a disorder. The following are some types of anxiety disorders that are currently recognised:

– generalised anxiety disorder

– post-traumatic stress disorder

– panic disorder

– obsessive compulsive disorder

– social anxiety disorder

– agoaraphobia

– specific phobia

– adjustment disorder

In the next post I will expand a bit further on each of these anxiety disorders. In the meantime, for more information on panic attacks and anxiety disorders please click on the link below.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks Triggers and Prevention

“The source of anxiety lies in the future. If you can keep the future out of mind, you can forget your worries.”

– Milan Kundera

Hugh Grant suffers from Panic Attacks

 

If you think you are alone with your fight against panic attacks – you’re not! Hugh Grant, a top British actor also suffers from server panic attacks. You would think that someone sitting in the lap of luxury wouldn’t have any anxiety or stress that plagues them in their day to day lives, but the truth is that panic attacks can affect anyone. There are many different and varied reasons for having panic attacks and they are not limited to a social or economic class.

It is said that Hugh Grant has to take anti-anxiety pills during shoots as to prevent a sudden panic attack. His panic attacks have been reported to have started as early as the Notting Hill days in 1999 and have continued and gotten worse right up to 2007 when he film Music and Lyrics with Drew Barrymore.

Hugh Grant says, “They (the panic attacks) have been growing over the years. There would always be two or three during a film and on ‘Music and Lyrics’ I had a lot. I don’t really know why. They would come and go, said the actor. It’s humiliating and it’s so bad I can barely speak so they have to throw the scene away.”

It seems that whatever Hugh Grant is taking is probably not working. The only effective thing he said that did work was the natural way of focusing on your breathing. Excerpt from The Mirror:

“I went to every shrink in London,” he says. “I had every treatment – I had a man oscillate something in front of my eyes and another man who stabbed me in the arm. The one thing that did me some good was a bloke who said that when you have a panic attack it’s your natural adrenalin which you need to do the scene, but just a fraction too much. So if you just breathe and take it down a little you can do it. Just knowing that helped, so I got through this movie just about all right. Just.”

For more information on Hugh Grant’s panic attacks see the related links below:

http://www.celebitchy.com/hughgrant

http://www.azcentral.com/hugh-grant.html

If you wish to know more information on a fast and affective way to treat panic attacks naturally, please click on the link below.

Panic Attack Triggers and Treatment

Panic Attacks

For those people who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, you know how crippling it is and how it can not only take over but consume your life. Panic Attacks occur when the body’s normal ‘flight or fight’ when threatened gets triggered inappropriately. This can involve feelings of extreme fear and panic which can last up to minutes or even hours. This condition can strike anyone at any time. You might be driving a car, at a restaurant, walking home, on vacation or even in your own bedroom. You might feel like your heart is pounding so hard it’s going to explode, you can’t get enough breath into your lungs, you start trembling and it’s at this point that many people feel like they are going to die.

But no, you are not going to die. Even though it might feel that way people don’t die from panic attacks.

Panic Attacks can be difficult to treat when going to the doctor as panic on one hand can manifest with physical symptoms but the root of it is it’s mental and emotional causes. There is no logical emotional response to a panic attack. Panic attacks can occur on a day that you a relaxing and this can baffle doctors who can’t give an explanation. Most people when seeing doctors only mention one or two symptoms, mainly the ones that alarm them the most such as the heart irregularities and breathing problems. This naturally might give the diagnosis of asthma and a inhaler might be prescribed. Or even a neurological investigation for dizziness. And sooner or later you find yourself back to where you started.

People who have successfully bypassed panic attacks have dealt with this condition by being aware of their mental and emotional causes and have also used relaxation techniques to prevent themselves from having a full blown panic attack when they feel one is about to occur.

Below is a video from You Tube that seems to be pretty popular that might help you if you think you are going to have a panic attack.

For more information on a successful and effective way to treat panic attacks please click on the link below.

Panic Attack Treatment