Panic Disorder occurs in people who experience involuntary and unanticipated panic attacks. This panic attack is often described as sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that peak within minutes. People living with this disorder live in fear of having a panic attack, which could happen at any time. The person may experience intense physical symptoms such as racing heart, difficulty in breathing, and sweating.
While this condition appears rare to most people, it is said that a panic attack transpires in a person’s life at least once or twice. According to American Psychological Association, 1 out of every 75 people might have a panic disorder. Some panic attacks happen unexpectedly like waking up in the middle of sleep.
Symptoms
During adolescence and early adulthood, symptoms of panic disorder often begin to occur. If you have had more than four panic attack episodes, or you live in a fear of having another panic attack after previous experience, you may have a panic disorder. With this, a panic attack is the hallmark for panic disorder — thus, it’s important to understand the symptoms.
Here are the most common symptoms associated with a panic attack:
- Shortness of breathing
- Dizziness
- Palpitations
- Choking Sensation
- Nausea
- Light-headedness
- Shaking and Trembling
- Chest Pain or Tightness
- Irrational Fear of Dying
- Numbness or Tingling in Your Hands or Feet
Treatment
The aim of treatment is to lessen the frequency and intensity of your panic attacks. If the symptoms are contained and alleviated, your daily function and routine can improve. The main traditional options for treatment include psychotherapy and medications; however, this depends on your preference, severity of panic attacks, and history. An alternative therapy, known as Acupuncture, has also proven effective for many Americans.
- Psychotherapy – Also dubbed as talk therapy, psychotherapy is considered an effective and staple treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder. In this treatment, you will have help to understand your panic triggers and the disorder and learn how to cope with them.
- Medications – There are various medications available to help manage panic attacks symptoms. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRIs, are typically a first-choice medication option to treat panic attacks. There’s also Benzodiazepines, which is a sedative and central nervous system depressant.
- Acupuncture – Acupuncture is one of the most popular treatment alternatives for panic attacks because of the immediate impact it has on patients’ lives. Treatment with acupuncture helps decrease the frequency, intensity, and duration of panic attacks. A trained Acupuncture doctor can also prescribe herbal medicines, mindfulness techniques and various other lifestyle modifications to ward off a panic attack.
Want More Help?
Contact us for a consultation if you are suffering with ongoing panic attacks and want to know if Acupuncture and herbal medicine could help you.