Panic is what? Causes, signs, types, forms, treatment

Statistics say that more than 45% of the world's population is prone to panic attacks. In most cases, one attack causes a whole chain of similar panic attacks, and this, in turn, significantly complicates life.

Panic is not a complete disease, but a psychological disorder. It is characterized by sudden and unreasonable attacks of fear. The term "panic" is in psychology a definition that implies a state that arises without any apparent causes. Attacks can occur in crowded places, and, conversely, in a confined space. The duration of the panic attack is not more than an hour, while the frequency is about three per week.

Causes of panic attack

Almost everyone can recall a special condition caused by the stress preceding the panic attack: the heart pounding wildly, a hot wave runs through the body, animal fear arises. In the event that the stress factor is not eliminated, but only intensified, for example, quarrels in the family continue or the problem at work is gaining momentum, a repetition of this state is possible. If panic develops, the reasons may be different, but the most frequent are:

1. Stressful situations, during which all experiences were transferred to the subconscious.
2. Constant conflicts at work, in the family.
3. Psychological trauma.
4. Nervous or physical overwork, emotional or mental overstrain.
5. Constant expectation of a stressful situation.
6. Violations of the hormonal background.
7. Abuse of alcohol, drugs.
8. Mental disorders, such as a depressive condition or the presence of phobias.
9. Violation of the work of vegetative centers.

The physiological causes of panic attacks

As for the physiological basis of the panic attack, panic (this sudden attack of fear) arises from the release of a huge dose of adrenaline into the blood. The organism responds to this with a desire to escape, hide or fight, to resist the situation. As a rule, this is how panic manifests itself. The causes of panic can be associated with the following diseases:

• Pheochromocytoma (a hormonally active tumor that is localized in the endocrine system and releases a large amount of adrenaline);
• Phobia (a pathological condition characterized by panic fear of a particular phenomenon or object);
• Diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other diseases of the endocrine system;
• Somatoform dysfunctions (the patient complains of the disorganization of the work of a particular organ, however, in fact, there is no such problem);
• heart diseases;
• Violation of tissue respiration;
• Vegetovascular dystonia;
• cardiopsychoneurosis.

Some drugs may lead to panic attacks.

Risk groups

Some groups of people are particularly prone to panic attacks. First of all it concerns age. Most often suffer from this disorder people aged 20 to 45 years, and women are almost three times more likely than men. It is during this period that most of the most crucial decisions are made, for example, choose a person for life or work for the soul or money.

In women, such conditions occur more often, in view of their physiological characteristics, since hormonal changes occur during certain periods of life. In addition, they are more suspicious and tend to take everything to heart. No wonder women are more likely to turn to a psychologist for help. As for men, many of them solve their problems through drinking alcohol.

Classification of panic attacks

In medicine, there are three types of panic, depending on the cause of the attack:

1. Spontaneous - there is no reason, it suddenly appears.
2. Situational - an attack provoked by special conditions, which were originally for a person psychotraumatic, the reason may be the expectation of creating such conditions.
3. Conditionally-situational - a panic attack is the result of the action of a specific stimulus, which is of a chemical or biological nature. First of all, it concerns the intake of alcohol. However, this relationship is not always observed.

Clinical picture

A panic attack has a certain pattern. During the execution of daily duties on a person for no reason attacks a strong fear, while feeling dizzy, a strong heartbeat, there is a feeling that the soil is running out from under your feet. The person is greatly frightened, there is a fear of death, he can lose consciousness. In some cases, the victim calls an ambulance, because it seems to him that the heart will soon refuse. In this case, doctors can not diagnose any violations. A person can visit many specialists, but the answer is unlikely to be found. As a result, phobias can develop which will again and again provoke panic attacks.

Symptoms of Panic

The main symptoms of panic, regardless of its cause, are:

• Heart palpitations and pulse;
• Increased sweating;
• Trembling, tremor;
• dyspnea;
• Sensation of suffocation;
• Chest pain, discomfort;
• nausea;
• Dizziness, which can lead to loss of consciousness;
• Derealization;
• Depersonalization;
• Fear of losing one's mind, losing control over oneself.

There are also atypical symptoms, such as muscle cramps, vomiting, profuse urination.

During a panic in the body, the release of adrenaline is activated , which gives the corresponding reaction of the nervous system, although there is no danger. Unfortunately, at the end of the attack the patient's condition does not improve, because of this and there is a whole series of panic attacks. That's why you need to know how panic develops, causes and symptoms.

Therapy: features of an integrated approach

Treatment of panic is usually complex. There are several methods of therapy. So, drug treatment can simultaneously remove its symptoms and prevent their appearance. Duration of therapy is about 3 months. Remember that the doctor does all the appointments. Symptoms are eliminated using Corvalol, Glitsid, Validol, and for warning - Persen, Novo-Passit and other soothing agents. In some cases it is justified to use antidepressants, for example "Paroxetine" or "Sertraline".

Homeopathy is effective only when the patient has no bad habits. And psychotherapy (hypnosis or cognitive-behavioral therapy) is one of the most effective methods of treatment. The approach to each patient is individual, therefore before the beginning of treatment the doctor carefully studies the reason of occurrence of a panic.

First of all, you need to realize that there is no disease and no life threat, because panic is an upset associated with an unreasonable sense of fear. Next you need to get rid of the feeling of fear, which is the cause of subsequent attacks. It is recommended to carefully study the symptoms and determine which of the symptoms appeared first and which followed. This will help to find out what are the ways of solving the original problem.

And do not forget about a healthy lifestyle, because very often it is the depletion of the nervous system and the whole organism as a whole and causes panic attacks.