Treatment of panic attacks

Panic attacks are sudden attacks of intense anxiety and unreasonable fear, accompanied by somatic symptoms. The attack is accompanied by increased sweating, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, nausea, and a feeling of fear of death. When making a diagnosis, the clinical course of the attacks is taken into account, their severity, and somatic diseases against which anxiety may arise are excluded.

How does a panic attack manifest itself?

The main sign of panic attacks is a spontaneous feeling of anxiety, fear or panic. Associated symptoms include:

Sometimes there is fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, decreased vision or hearing, increased BP, unsteady gait.

Reasons

There are three groups of etiological factors:

1. Psychogenic - family quarrels, divorce, infidelity, conflicts at work, etc. The occurrence of anxiety attacks is preceded by the death of a loved one, an electric shock, an automobile accident, or an illness. Sometimes attacks occur after watching emotional television programs and movies.

2. Biological - changes in hormonal background (in women during pregnancy, after childbirth, menopause), taking hormonal contraceptives, beginning of sexual life, painful menstruation. Panic attacks do not include conditions caused by diseases of the endocrine system (adenoma of the adrenal gland) and hyperfunction of the thyroid gland.

3. Physiogenic - drug use, alcohol intoxication, meteosensitivity, high physical activity, acclimatization.

Panic attacks occur predominantly in patients with certain personality traits: women with drama and desire for attention; men with constant anxiety and increased concern about their health.

Clinical picture

The duration of the attacks ranges from 15 minutes to several hours, with a frequency of 2-3 times during the day or once a month. As a rule, panic attacks occur suddenly, against a background of complete calmness. But most patients claim that attacks develop more often when they are stressed, in a small closed room, in crowded transport.

At the first attacks the person does not understand what is happening to him. When the patient is severely frightened, he suspects a severe cardiovascular pathology, endocrine or nervous disorders, and calls an ambulance.

After the first panic attack, the person makes an appointment for a consultation with various specialists, undergoes an examination, suspects the presence of a rare disease. The patient concentrates excessively on his health, which aggravates the course of the attacks.

As a rule, panic attacks recur. Therefore, the person is constantly in a tense expectation of the next attack. If fear and anxiety arise in certain conditions and under the influence of certain factors, the patient begins to avoid similar situations. The anxiety about the occurrence of a panic attack in a certain place and the subsequent avoidance of it is called "agoraphobia". As a result of increasing signs of "agoraphobia," the person becomes antisocial, he or she is afraid to leave the house, and depressive states occur.

People aged 20-65 years are at increased risk of developing panic attacks; attacks are more frequently noted in people between the ages of 25 and 40. The elderly over the age of 70 are less likely to have attacks.

Diagnosis

The leading role in the diagnosis of panic attacks is played by recurrent attacks of fear and anxiety that develop suddenly, as well as the presence of four concomitant symptoms from the list. Somatic diseases are excluded, between attacks the person feels quite normal - there is no pronounced fear and anxiety.

Treatment of panic attacks

The treatment regimen for panic attacks is developed by a neurologist and psychotherapist. Good results are noted with cognitive psychotherapy: the patient is trained to solve arising problems and find a way out of different difficult situations. A specialist helps the patient to think correctly, make realistic decisions in different situations, thereby helping him get rid of troubling thoughts. It is equally important to convince the patient that the attacks are not related to serious pathologies, are not life-threatening and that he or she is able to control them himself or herself.

How to cope with a panic attack at the time of the attack? It is important to learn how to control your breathing: take a deep breath, hold your breath as long as possible and exhale slowly. As you exhale, you should relax the entire body as much as possible. During the attack slowly performed 10-15 repetitions. In between attacks, you can learn breathing exercises, which will allow better control of breathing in a stressful condition.

Psychotropic medications are prescribed to increase the effectiveness of psychotherapy: anxiolytics (antidepressants). The selection of drug therapy is made by the attending physician. Specific medications, their regimen and dosage are selected individually, depending on the clinical course of the attacks!

How do I cope with a panic attack on my own?

If you suddenly feel frightened, anxious, or panicked, you should control your breathing. Slow, deep and steady breathing in and out will help you cope with the feeling of shortness of breath. After breathing in, you should hold your breath and breathe out smoothly.

How do you deal with a panic attack? The ability to control not only your breathing, but also your body gives a person the ability to control the situation. When there is a feeling of fear, a person's muscles tense, there are spasms in the epigastrium, discomfort in the chest. Therefore, during the attack you should try to relax your arms, legs and take a comfortable position.

During a panic attack it is necessary to eliminate any negative factors that worsen the condition (bright sunlight or artificial lamp light, crowds of people in a small room). At the moment of an attack, you can go to a secluded place away from noise and people, cover your eyelids, turn on music with headphones. It is also necessary to shift your attention to one object, for example, to look at your wristwatch or to concentrate on correct breathing.

People suffering from panic attacks are recommended to give up caffeine, take up active sports (running, cycling, aerobics) or take up yoga and meditation. A good night's sleep (7-8 hours) is important.