Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Panic Attacks

You get a break at work, and all you have to do is present your groundbreaking idea in front of senior management. Sounds easy, right? But when you got up in front of everyone, you start trembling, sweating, you can’t speak or move and you feel your heart pounding. You might have just experienced a panic attack.
Panic attacks can be very terrifying, especially for people who experience it for the first time. But it’s very important to know that these are highly treatable.

A panic attack is an episode of sudden and intense fear and apprehension. Some of its symptoms may be palpitations or accelerated heart rate, trembling or shaking, blurry vision, shortness of breath, feeling of choking, abdominal stress, chest pains, and weakness in the knees. Sometimes you might even feel that you’re going crazy, or worse, dying.

Panic or anxiety attacks have a lot of causes. Some causes are biological like genealogy, post traumatic stress disorder, hyperthyroidism and Vitamin B deficiency. Some people also experience symptoms of panic attacks as side effects of certain medication. Recurrent attacks are often triggered by a specific situation, like speaking in public, or getting in a crowded elevator.

Going to a physician or a psychiatrist will help you. Since the causes and symptoms of these attacks vary from person to person, it’s very important to know exactly what you’re going through. Sometimes just understanding the situation is a very big step towards coping with the problem. Some therapist would also recommend taking some medication to go with the therapy.

There are other more natural things besides therapy and medication to help you cope. You can help yourself by avoiding substances that are known to contribute to panic attacks. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in people who are susceptible. It’s not realistic to just suddenly stop smoking or drinking coffee. Eat a balanced diet, and just cut back a little everyday until you realize that you can actually do without them. Getting a good night’s sleep as often as you can will also help lower your stress level, thus lowering your risk of having an attack.