Living with Panic Disorder
Living with Panic Disorder
People diagnosed with panic disorder may live a very scary life – having completely random panic attacks and being terrified of their return. Panic attacks are unexpected and may not have any reasoning behind them. They may occur during the day, night and even whenever someone wakes up from sleep. Although typically diagnosed after age 20, panic disorder can affect children, causing them to have panic-like symptoms or, fearful spells (Panic Attacks, 2017).
As reported by the U.S. Department of Health (2016), around 2-3% of Americans are diagnosed with panic disorder each year with twice as many women affected than men. The ailment can cause people to miss work, struggle with everyday life, and completely avoid normal situations that they believe may lead to an attack, such as driving. Often, people are fearful of leaving their homes, developing a disorder known as agoraphobia.
Symptoms
A panic attack is an intense wave of fear that reaches a peak within a few minutes. At least four of the following symptoms are typically present (Symptoms, 2017):
Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
Feelings of choking
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint
Chills or heat sensations
Paresthesia (numbness or tingling sensations)
Derealization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalization (being detached from oneself) Listen to this podcast.
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Fear of dying
Treatment
People with panic disorder often fail to realize that their condition is real and quite receptive to treatment. A victim of the ailment may feel afraid to express their symptoms or embarrassed to admit their feelings to their family, friends, and health professionals for fear of being labeled as insane. Therefore, patients suffer on their own, distancing themselves from help and support. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the most helpful treatment for panic disorder, agoraphobia, and panic attacks. Specialists aim to guide a patients thinking patterns and attitudes about the disorder. A common goal of therapy is to see the fear of a panic attack in a realistic point of view. An example of this may be to think of what would realistically happen if a person had a panic attack behind the wheel. The person may be afraid, but should be able to pull over and breathe, giving themselves enough time to regain calmness before continuing their drive (Stefan, 2016).
Another common cognitive therapy used to dampen the effects of a panic attack is called exposure therapy. During this treatment, the patient is asked to simulate the experience of a panic attack in a controlled setting. For instance, they may be asked to breathe quickly, shake their head, or not breathe at all, in an attempt to cause feelings comparable to an attack. The procedure is then repeated to diminish the intensity felt internally while panic ensures. Patients who experience exposure therapy find that it helps them control their panic attacks.
Many medical practitioners recognize that while medication will not treat or cure panic disorder, it may be used to reduce the intensity of symptoms and allow patients to temporarily control their condition. Therefore, medication is saved for severe cases of the disorder and is most effective when combined with cognitive therapy or other treatments that address the causes of panic disorder.
Self-Help Tips for Panic Attacks
While professional assistance and cognitive therapy can be beneficial in treating panic disorder, there are several ways you can help manage your symptoms:
Education. Learning about panic disorder, symptoms, and treatment is a great first step to relieving stress caused by the illness.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and caffeine. Substance use of many kinds can aggravate the conditions of people who struggle with panic disorder. They have been known to cause panic attacks, feelings of helplessness, and raise fear.
Learn how to control your breathing. During a panic attack, it is common to hyperventilate which can cause the body to feel lightheaded or tightness in the chest area. If you can focus on breathing properly, you can relieve these feelings. Learning to control breathing is also beneficial as a calming technique.
Take the time to relax. Activities such as meditation and yoga can be very helpful when controlling stress and anxiety, leading causes of panic attacks.
Spend time with people who matter to you. Stress and anxiety can be extremely powerful when someone feels alone. Therefore, it is beneficial to reach out to loved ones often and build supportive relationships with people.
Exercise regularly to relieve stress and anxiety.
Get enough restful sleep as not to aggravate emotions during the day.
When Someone Is Having a Panic Attack
Below are tips for you or your loved one to consider during a panic attack:
A panic attack cannot last forever. It comes to a peak and then anxiety has to decrease. It is physiologically impossible to peak forever. Once youve gone to the highest point of your anxiety, the only place to go from there is down. A panic attack is uncomfortable, but please remember that it will fade away.
Emotions are like a wave, they will come and go.
These feelings have happened before, and you have survived each time. Take a deep breath, you can do this.
Avoiding treatment or the cause of anxiety is detrimental. Avoidance now will mean sustained anxiety in the future.
Read More Here:
Panic Attacks. (2017). Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/panic-attacks/
Stefan G. Hofmann, Ph.D. Consulting Editor, Hay, P. A., & Barthel, B. A. (2017, December 13). Panic Attacks And Anxiety Attacks: Panic Disorder Treatment. Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://www.anxiety.org/panic-disorder-panic-attacks
Symptoms. (2017). Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/panic-disorder-agoraphobia/symptoms
U.S. Department of Health. (2016). Panic Disorder: When Fear Overwhelms. Retrieved January 07, 2018, from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/panic-disorder-when-fear-overwhelms/index.shtml
Thank you for learning about panic disorder. Now that weve covered the basics, lets have a discussion on this topic.
Have you ever experienced the symptoms of panic disorder? If so, please share your experience with us.
If yes, what was your support system like at that time? How did they help you handle your symptoms?
Have you ever witnessed a loved one going through the symptoms of Panic Disorder? If yes, how did you support them?
Since we have learned about the disorder, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
@AlluraRae
Thank you for a wonderful and educational post!
Have you ever experienced the symptoms of panic disorder? If so, please share your experience with us.
Yes, after the birth of my first child I developed Post Natal Depression (PND) and I can say it was the hardest time and I had panic attacks. I felt like I was going to die at times or my baby might die so just very paranoid and heightened anxiety symptoms. The panic attacks were so scary so I have a lot of empathy for other sufferers and it DOES get easier :)
If yes, what was your support system like at that time? How did they help you handle your symptoms?
I was young and the GP at the time didn't know how to best handle my severe depression but he was sympathetic. Unfortunately, my support system was lacking but I got through and now I have even more compassion for others.
Have you ever witnessed a loved one going through the symptoms of Panic Disorder? If yes, how did you support them?
Yes to this too. I offered acceptance, patience and compassion and I was just there for them which gave them the space to manage their panic disorder. As a professional, I see many clients with panic disorder and key to healing is to offer kindness, support and encouragement that it will pass whilst truly listening to them.
Since we have learned about the disorder, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
* Support and encouragement
* Kindness and empathy
* Above all just listen to them.
Lisa
@OceanCounselling
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Lisa. I agree that it can be extremely helpful to listen to someone who is having a panic attack. I appreciated reading about your past experience with someone who was experiencing trouble and love that you said that you tried to be patient with them. I think that patience is very important with this kind of disorder as it can be exhausting at times.
Thank you again.
@OceanCounselling
I don't have panic disorder enymore but still have anxaity
@conscientiousPineapple1782..we're in the same boat.
@AlluraRae an amazing post! Very educational yet interesting - i loved it! My best friend has panic disorder, and many-a-times have i experienced her panic attacks. On the first few, i obviously became a bit scared, because I didn't know what to do. Now, however, we have established a way that I can help calm her down (this is also for the long term effects). Generally, I hold her hand, and talk really calmly and slowly, and I almost 'pretend' she isn't having a panic attack. By creating a calming environment, it' alot easier for her to calm down quicker.
Again, a wonderful post! ❤
@peacefulHug92
Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with your friend. I know how immensely scary it can be to be around someone who is struggling with this disorder, as my mother has suffered for many years. I am so pleased to hear that you hold her hand and speak calmly to her as I know that helps.
"By creating a calming environment, it's alot easier for her to calm down quicker." And I think this part of what you said is particularly beautiful as well. I think you are going about it in a great, loving way and I am so proud of you.
Thank you again.
@AlluraRae
I've been diagnosed with anxiety since 2015 when recently I got my psychologist's confirming that I have a panic disorder.
This is a nightmare. A daily nightmare. Doesn't help I panic of the thought of having a panic attack in public. My social life went puff, gone.
Is a daily struggle to get out, to go to university, to be normal I guess.
My advice to anyone who reads this is PLEASE find help. Since I've started therapy sessions I'm bit by bit fighting this and working on it. I promise you that panic attacks can genuinly be fixed if you find the reasons behind them and work on them. The therapist will find them and help you with it!
Sending lots of love to anyone who struggles with this and a huge thank you for the lovely member who did this thread 
@Booklover95
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience with us. I can imagine that it would be very very difficult to go to college everyday in fear of the next attack. I appreciate your saying that people who read this should receive help as that is absolutely true! I've read many times that people react very well to the treatments of this disorder. I sincerely hope that things get easier for you as you continue your therapy sessions.
Thank you for your strength, love and kind words.
Are there some good CBT resources? My therapist seems to be at a loss on what we should be doing.
@AlluraRae
Have you ever experienced the symptoms of panic disorder? If so, please share your experience with us.
I have GAD.. So Since 2000 I have been having them off and on.. Now that I'm familiar with it, I can recall times when i was younger that I was having a panic attack and wasn't aware.
If yes, what was your support system like at that time? How did they help you handle your symptoms?
My Family doctor happened to be away when i finally went in. The interim doctor just handed me a bag of prescriptions and sent me on my way. I was so out of it for a week that I went back to my doctor to ask for something different. I learned then that my father had it all his life (He had already passed by this point) My Fiancee at the time had severe anxiety previously, so was able to help some (When she wasn't causing me anxiety)
Have you ever witnessed a loved one going through the symptoms of Panic Disorder? If yes, how did you support them?
My daughter is already exhibiting some of the signs.. So I just make sure that she feels safe, and comforted.. and Let her know that she is very loved, and that it only lasts a little while.
Since we have learned about the disorder, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
I have helped coworkers and friends navigate through them with cold compresses to the back of the neck.. through breathing.. through different distraction techniques.. and just talking it out with them until it passes. Ultimately finding the right prescriptions helped me greatly, and I'm working on some ACT therapy for Anxiety to help minimize the remainder, so hopefully that can be of use to those i support
@Paradox111
Thank you tremendously for your comments on your experiences. It must be very difficult to not only fight with anxiety yourself but be surrounded by loved ones who are struggling as well. I know what it is like to wish to be able to do so much more for them. I know many times, I have felt helpless with my mother as she fought her inner demons and wishing that I could love her enough to cure her or some irrational thought like that. I am glad to hear that you have found and are still searching for ways to manage symptoms and thoughts.
Thank you again. :)
@AlluraRae
Thank you for a great and informative post on panic attacks! It was a really good read, and a lot more informative than some sites that have spoken about it.
Have you ever experienced the symptoms of panic disorder? If so, please share your experience with us.
Not the disorder, but I had one panic attack. It was so scary, and I can understand why the fear can develop quickly, especially after a few panic attacks happened. It happened midway through 2015 when I was sleeping, and suddenly I woke up and a panic attack occured. I still have no idea why... maybe it was caused by stress?
This post was actually super helpful in making me feel more normal, as I never read about parasthesia before, and that's a symptom I felt! I thoight I might have made it up or something! I felt my arms and fingers tingling, and it was quite scary.
If yes, what was your support system like at that time? How did they help you handle your symptoms?
As I had experienced high stress and general anxiety by that point, I just had my year adviser and a teacher I really liked as part of my support system. However, I went to the doctors and I had sessions with a psychologist (I wasn't ready at that time so it didn't really help!)
Have you ever witnessed a loved one going through the symptoms of Panic Disorder? If yes, how did you support them?
Yes, I have one person I know who has severe Panic Disorder. She used to be my closest friend, but now it's to the other extreme- limited contact. I gave her tight hugs if she wanted them, and let her vent to me whenever she felt like it. She knew she had my support, and could use it whenever she needed it.
Since we have learned about the disorder, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
I'm probably going to share this post with them! And research more in depth about the topic, about how to help someone.
@rebecca947
Thank you so very much for sharing with us. I appreciate your kind words but also appreciate your words on your past experiences. As odd as it is panic can come in all shapes and forms. It can strike just once and scare us entirely and then never strike again, yet for others it can be a daily occurance. I loved the way you helped your friend at the time as being there for her is very helpful for those who struggle in that way.
Thank you again. <3 :)
Bookmarked. Thank you so much for this wonderfully informative post. This is awesome - just like you. Great job!
Have you ever experienced the symptoms of panic disorder? If so, please share your experience with us.
I get panic attacks every few months, I used to get them at least a couple of times a week. Most of the time I hyperventilate which can be quite scary for both myself and the people who are around me. Unfortunatley, hyperventilating means that my circulation is affected and my hands and face are the first things to go numb which makes me panic more. Sometimes I need someone to hold onto my hands and help me to regulate my breathing and other times I cannot be touched. I feel that the world is too small and my brain is going to fast for anything to slow down. Sometimes I have a trigger in the form of a situation and which runs through my head over and over again and other times I don't know what has caused me to panic which, unfortunatley, makes me feel worse because 'I shouldn't be panicking'.
If yes, what was your support system like at that time? How did they help you handle your symptoms?
I can't stop hyperventilating without the help of other people and they slow down my breathing by getting me to inhale and exhale with them. Most of my friends are really supportive when I experience panic attacks and if I ever feel uncomfortable they will try and ease situations that begin to trigger my symptoms.
Have you ever witnessed a loved one going through the symptoms of Panic Disorder? If yes, how did you support them?
There are many people that I know who experience symptoms of panic disorder. Some of them are best supported by being given a hug and talking through the situation that is causing them to panic. Others are supported by being taken outside for fresh air to ease feelings of claustrophobia. Honestly, it is good to deal with each situation with fresh eyes because everyone reacts in different ways.
Since we have learned about the disorder, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
Do everything that I can to help them to get through the immediate symptoms of panic attacks and then talk to them about what has triggered the attack. Once that has happened I will always aim to help them deal with the situation that they are struggling with and overcome any problems that they are experiencing.
@AlluraRae I have anxiety/panic disorder and this is beyond amazing explanation.