What are panic disorders?
On Wednesday, we talked about social anxiety. Today, we will be talking about panic disorders. Panic disorders are a collective term, and a panic disorder is characterised by sudden episodes of overwhelming fear that are recurring, which can happen about twice a week (WebMD, n.d.). These episodes are known as panic attacks. There are many types of panic disorders, most notably phobias.
What's the difference between Panic Disorders and Generalised Anxiety?
Many people mistaken panic attacks as anxiety attacks, but that is not true.
Panic Disorder is NOT the same as Generalised Anxiety. While they are related and can co-exist in a person, anxiety attacks are more gradual and there are particular stressors (e.g. school, work) that trigger the attacks (Healthline, n.d.). Panic attacks occur unexpectedly and leave a person in a state of dizziness and fear (Healthline, n.d.). Additionally, people have anxiety attacks before panic attacks.
According to the Institute of Mental Health (n.d.), about 20% of adults experience an episode of a panic attack sometime in their lives, with many reported experiencing their first episode in their late 20s and early 30s. Unfortunately, individuals with panic disorders recall their first episode most notably, which may make it hard for them to recover as they cannot move past the memory.
Symptoms of Panic Disorders
Common symptoms include (WebMD, n.d.):
Fast heartbeat
Chest pain
Nausea and/or faint
Trembling or shaking
Feelings of suffocation
In some cases, people diagnosed with panic disorder may describe their experience with panic attacks like heart attacks.
Can Panic Disorders be Treated?
Thankfully, there are treatments available for panic disorders (Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). Common treatments include CBT and medications to help individuals manage their attacks.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Helps patients with panic disorder to change their maladaptive thoughts into adaptive thoughts. For instance, for someone with a phobia, the therapist may identify causes that trigger the phobia and work with the patient to confront it. Gradually, the patient learns to not fear the fear object. This prevents anxiety attacks from snowballing into panic attacks.
Medication
Antidepressants are often prescribed to reduce anxiety and prevent panic attacks. With medications and CBT, a patient with panic disorder can improve within six to eight weeks!
Recommended Self-Care Tips
Since panic disorders fall under the umbrella of Generalised Anxiety Disorders (GAD), self-care for panic disorders are similar to that of GAD’s. Here are some tips (WebMD, n.d.):
Cut down on caffeinated food and drinks – Caffeine may be attributed to your insomnia and increase your anxiety, which increase your chances of getting a panic attack.
Practising mindfulness – Mindfulness is a technique that helps you to collect your thoughts and be at ease with them without imposing any judgement. To practice mindfulness, it requires you to meditate quietly without any distractions. In the long run, mindfulness helps you to confront your thoughts and stressors without panicking.
Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day – Exercise releases endorphins, which is a chemical in your brain that elicits a positive feeling, thus lowering your anxiety!
Summary
For a summary of what panic disorders are, check out the video below:
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of what panic disorder is. If you have anything to share with us, please do! We would love to hear from you. Should you require a list of helplines, click here.
In the next post, which comes out next Wednesday, another common mental disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), will be discussed.
References
Healthline (n.d.) What’s the Difference Between a Panic Attack and an Anxiety Attack? [Information on a page]. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/panic-attack-vs-anxiety-attack
Institute of Mental Health (n.d.) Panic Disorder [Information on a page]. Retrieved from https://www.imh.com.sg/clinical/page.aspx?id=606
Osmosis (2016, March 01). Panic disorder - panic attacks, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment & pathology [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/YxELZyA2bJs
WebMD (n.d.) What is Panic Disorder? [Information on a page]. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-panic-disorder#1
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