|
| |
Answers to Your Questions About Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is a serious condition that around one out of every 75 people
might experience.
It usually appears during the teens or early adulthood, and while the exact
causes are unclear,
there does seem to be a connection with major life transitions that are
potentially stressful:
graduating from college, getting married, having a first child, and so on. There
is also some
evidence for a genetic predisposition; if a family member has suffered from
panic disorder, you
have an increased risk of suffering from it yourself, especially during a time
in your life that
is particularly stressful.
Panic Attacks: The Hallmark of Panic Disorder
A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning
and without any obvious reason. It is far more intense than the feeling of being
'stressed out' that most people
experience. Symptoms of a panic attack include:
*racing heartbeat
*difficulty breathing, feeling as though you 'can't get enough air'
*terror that is almost paralyzing
*dizziness, lightheadedness or nausea
*trembling, sweating, shaking
*choking, chest pains
*hot flashes, or sudden chills
*tingling in fingers or toes ('pins and needles')
*fear that you're going to go crazy or are about to die
You probably recognize this as the classic 'flight or fight' response that human
beings experience
when we are in a situation of danger. But during a panic attack, these symptoms
seem to rise from out of nowhere. They occur in seemingly harmless
situations--they can even happen while you are asleep.
In addition to the above symptoms, a panic attack is marked by the following
conditions:
*it occurs suddenly, without any warning and without any way to stop it.
*the level of fear is way out of proportion to the actual situation; often, in
fact, it's completely unrelated.
*it passes in a few minutes; the body cannot sustain the 'fight or flight'
response for longer
than that. However, repeated attacks can continue to recur for hours.
A panic attack is not dangerous, but it can be terrifying, largely because it
feels 'crazy' and
'out of control.' Panic disorder is frightening because of the panic attacks
associated with it,
and also because it often leads to other complications such as phobias,
depression, substance abuse, medical complications, even suicide. Its effects
can range from mild word or social impairment to a total inability to face the
outside world.
In fact, the phobias that people with panic disorder develop do not come from
fears of actual
objects or events, but rather from fear of having another attack. In these
cases, people will avoid certain objects or situations because they fear that these things will
trigger another attack.
How to Identify Panic Disorder
Please remember that only a licensed therapist can diagnose a panic disorder.
There are certain
signs you may already be aware of, though.
One study found that people sometimes see 10 or more doctors before being
properly diagnosed, and that only one out of four people with the disorder
receive the treatment they need. That's why it's important to know what the
symptoms are, and to make sure you get the right help.
Many people experience occasional panic attacks, and if you have had one or two
such attacks, there probably isn't any reason to worry. The key symptom of panic
disorder is the persistent fear of having future panic attacks. If you suffer
from repeated (four or more) panic attacks, and especially if you have had a
panic attack and are in continued fear of having another, these are signs that
you should consider finding a mental health professional who specializes in
panic or anxiety disorders.
What Causes Panic Disorder: Mind, Body, or Both?
Body: There may be a genetic predisposition to anxiety disorders; some sufferers
report that a family member has or had a panic disorder or some other emotional
disorder such as depression. Studies with twins have confirmed the possibility
of 'genetic inheritance' of the disorder. Panic Disorder could also be due to a
biological malfunction, although a specific biological marker has yet to be
identified.
All ethnic groups are vulnerable to panic disorder. For unknown reasons, women
are twice as likely to get the disorder as men.
Mind: Stressful life events can trigger panic disorders. One association that
has been noted is that of a recent loss or separation. Some researchers liken
the 'life stressor' to a thermostat; that is, when stresses lower your
resistance, the underlying physical predisposition kicks in and triggers an
attack.
Both: Physical and psychological causes of panic disorder work together.
Although initially attacks may come out of the blue, eventually the sufferer may
actually help bring them on by responding to physical symptoms of an attack.
For example, if a person with panic disorder experiences a racing heartbeat
caused by drinking coffee, exercising, or taking a certain medication, they
might interpret this as a symptom of an attack and, because of their anxiety,
actually bring on the attack. On the other hand, coffee, exercise, and certain
medications sometimes do, in fact, cause panic attacks. One of the most
frustrating things for the panic sufferer is never knowing how to isolate the
different triggers of an attack. That's why the right therapy for panic disorder
focuses on all aspects -- physical, psychological, and physiological -- of the
disorder.
Can People with Panic Disorder lead normal lives?
The answer to this is a resounding YES -- if they receive treatment. Panic
disorder is highly treatable, with a variety of available therapies. These
treatments are extremely effective, and most people who have successfully
completed treatment can continue to experience situational avoidance or anxiety,
and further treatment might be necessary in those cases. Once treated, panic
disorder doesn't lead to any permanent complications.
Side Effects of Panic Disorder
Without treatment, panic disorder can have very serious consequences. The
immediate danger with panic disorder is that it can often lead to a phobia.
That's because once you've suffered a panic attack, you may start to avoid
situations like the one you were in when the attack occurred.
Many people with panic disorder show 'situational avoidance' associated with
their panic attacks. For example, you might have an attack while driving, and
start to avoid driving until you develop an actual phobia towards it. In worst
case scenarios, people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia -- fear of going
outdoors -- because they believe that by staying inside, they can avoid all
situations that might provoke an attack, or where they might not be able to get
help. The fear of an attack is so debilitating, they prefer to spend their lives
locked inside their homes.
Even if you don't develop these extreme phobias, your quality of life can be
severely damaged by
untreated panic disorder. A recent study showed that people who suffer from
panic disorder:
*are more prone to alcohol and other drug abuse
*have greater risk of attempting suicide
*spend more time in hospital emergency rooms
*spend less time on hobbies, sports and other satisfying activities
*tend to be financially dependent on others
*report feeling emotionally and physically less healthy than non-sufferers
*are afraid of driving more than a few miles away from home
Panic disorders can also have economic effects. For example, a recent study
cited the case of
a woman who gave up a $40,000 a year job that required travel for one close to
home that only
paid $14,000 a year. Other sufferers have reported losing their jobs and having
to rely on
public assistance or family members.
None of this needs to happen. Panic disorder can be treated successfully, and
sufferers can
go on to lead full and satisfying lives.
How Can Panic Disorder Be Treated?
Most specialists agree that a combination of cognitive and behavioral therapies
are the best
treatment for panic disorder. Medication might also be appropriate in some
cases.
The first part of therapy is largely informational; many people are greatly
helped by simply
understanding exactly what panic disorder is, and how many others suffer from
it. Many people
who suffer from panic disorder are worried that their panic attacks mean they're
'going crazy'
or that the panic might induce a heart attack. 'Cognitive restructuring'
(changing one's way of
thinking) helps people replace those thoughts with more realistic, positive ways
of viewing
the attacks.
Cognitive therapy can help the patient identify possible triggers for the
attacks. The trigger
in an individual case could be something like a thought, a situation, or
something as subtle as
a slight change in heartbeat. Once the patient understands that the panic attack
is separate and
independent of the trigger, that trigger begins to lose some of its power to
induce an attack.
The behavioral components of the therapy can consist of what one group of
clinicians has termed
'interoceptive exposure.' This is similar to the systematic desensitization used
to cure phobias,
but what it focuses on is exposure to he actual physical sensations that someone
experiences during a panic attack.
People with panic disorder are more afraid of the actual attack than they are of
specific objects
or events; for instance, their 'fear of flying' is not that the planes will
crash but that they
will have a panic attack in a place, like a plane, where they can't get to help.
Others won't
drink coffee or go to an overheated room because they're afraid that these might
trigger the
physical symptoms of a panic attack.
Interoceptive exposure can help them go through the symptoms of an attack
(elevated heart rate,
hot flashes, sweating, and so on) in a controlled setting, and teach them that
these symptoms need not develop into a full-blown attack. Behavioral therapy is
also used to deal with the situational avoidance associated with panic attacks.
One very effective treatment for phobias is in vivo exposure, which is in its
simplest terms means breaking a fearful situation down into small
manageable steps and doing them one at a time until the most difficult level is
mastered.
Relaxation techniques can further help someone 'flow through' an attack. These
techniques include breathing retraining and positive visualization. Some experts
have found that people with panic disorder tend to have slightly higher than
average breathing rates, learning to slow this can
help someone deal with a panic attack and can also prevent future attacks.
In some cases, medications may also be needed. Anti-anxiety medications may be
prescribed, as well as antidepressants, and sometimes even heart medications
(such as beta blockers) that are used to control irregular heartbeats.
Finally, a support group with others who suffer from panic disorder can be very
helpful to some
people. It can't take the place of therapy, but it can be a useful adjunct.
If you suffer from panic disorder, these therapies can help you. But you can't
do them on your own;
all of these treatments must be outlined and prescribed by a psychologist or
psychiatrist.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
Much of the success of treatment depends on your willingness to carefully follow
the outlined
treatment plan. This is often multifaceted, and it won't work overnight, but if
you stick with
it, you should start to have noticeable improvement within about 10 to 20 weekly
sessions. If
you continue to follow the program, within one year you will notice a tremendous
improvement.
If you are suffering from panic disorder, you should be able to find help in
your area. You need
to find a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional who
specializes in panic or
anxiety disorders. There may even be a clinic nearby that specializes in these
disorders.
When you speak with a therapist, specify that you think you have panic disorder,
and ask about
his or her experience treating this disorder.
Keep in mind, though, that panic disorder, like any other emotional disorder,
isn't something you
can either diagnose or cure by yourself. An experience clinical psychologist or
psychiatrist is
the most qualified person to make this diagnosis, just as he or she is the most
qualified to treat
this disorder.
This brochure is designed to answer your basic questions about panic disorder; a
qualified mental health professional will be able to give you more complete
information.
Panic disorder does not need to disrupt your life in any way!
American Psychological Association
We can help.
Learn about Therapy.
Check out our Staff!
Wilmes-Reitz Psychological
23945 Calabasas Rd., Suite 202
Calabasas, California 91302
(818) 591-8270
|
