A panic disorder is a condition in which a person has recurrent panic attacks and is constantly afraid of experiencing another one. People with panic disorders may alter their behaviour in order to avoid having a panic attack, or they may be fearful of situations where these attacks have occurred. Panic disorders can affect people of all ages, but they are most common between the ages of adolescence and early adulthood.
A panic attack is characterised by a sudden feeling of immense fear and terror, which is followed by a variety of symptoms, including:
- A sense of doom
- Fear of loss of control
- Fear of dying
- Sweating
- Increased heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Hands shaking, shivering
- Derealization or depersonalization
Single panic attacks may or may not be triggered by specific stimuli, and they may occur only a few times in a person's lifetime. Panic episodes might last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour or more. Clients who experience panic attacks on a regular basis are likely to experience distress over the fear of them reoccurring in the future. They may become increasingly concerned that a panic attack may arise in public, and that they will be unable to control their symptoms, which could cause them challenges or embarrassment.
Clients with panic disorder often misinterpret any physical symptom associated with the disorder as the next panic attack, raising their anxiety levels and increasing their risk of experiencing a panic attack. It's a never-ending cycle that makes it very difficult for them to break free from their panic disorder.
Symptoms:
Panic disorder is certain cognitive symptoms that include:
- Feeling that they are out of control, that they are dying, or that they are in an impending doom
- Feeling intensely worried about the next panic attack
- Fearing and avoiding the places where panic attacks may occur
The symptoms also include the symptoms of panic attacks. Panic attacks must not be induced by drugs or other substances, a medical condition, or another psychiatric disease, such as social phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder, to be recognised as a panic disorder.
In adults and adolescents, the 12-month prevalence estimate for panic disorder in the general population in the United States and several European countries is around 2%–3%. According to the World Mental Health Surveys, the global lifetime prevalence is estimated to be 1.7%
If left untreated, the typical course of panic disorder is chronic but waxing and waning. Some people experience episodic outbreaks with years of remission in between, while others experience chronic severe symptomatology.
Panic disorder hinders individuals to flourish in life and would need proper treatment in order to prevent it from affecting daily activities and responsibilities. If you or someone you know is experiencing any of the symptoms of panic disorder, seek help from a mental health professional as soon as possible.
When it comes to treating panic disorder, a combination of psychotherapy and medications help in reducing the severity and frequency of panic attacks in order to improve one's daily life functioning.
Psychotherapy:
Using psychotherapy is crucial as it helps clients be made aware of their disorder, and its symptoms and causes, as well as helping them learn to manage their panic disorder in a long-term manner. One of the most commonly used methods to treat panic disorder is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Clients can benefit from CBT to better understand panic episodes and reduce their fear of them. Clients frequently catastrophize the physical symptoms that resemble those at the start of a panic attack, and CBT helps them to perceive their panic attack symptoms as less threatening, and the frequency of panic attacks then decreases. CBT may also use exposure methods in order to help clients confront their fears or beliefs that are associated with panic disorder, which would then help them decrease their avoidance behaviour that has developed due to the frequent panic attacks. Relaxation exercises are also implemented in the treatment process. Other modalities may also be useful for panic disorder treatment these include schema therapy, psychodynamic therapy, or humanistic therapy modalities. Psychotherapy also focuses on client’s lifestyle and general set of skills, which may potentially reduce their anxiety levels in their daily lives. The treatment plan could then include skills like time management, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness.
Medications:
Medications can help with panic disorder symptoms as well as other comorbid disorders such as major depressive disorder. There have been a variety of medications that are used to treat panic disorder symptoms, including:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Benzodiazepines
These medications should only be provided by a psychiatrist and should be closely monitored for any potential side effects. Some medications may not work for some people, and it is common to be instructed to switch medications, under supervision, if necessary.
Other lifestyle habits:
Other lifestyle habits, in addition to regular psychotherapy sessions and adhering to one's medications, can help to reduce the severity or frequency of panic attacks.
Among these habits are:
- Yoga and deep breathing
- Exercising
- Decreasing the intake of alcoholic drinks, caffeine, smoking, and recreational drugs
- Getting a good quality and quantity of sleep
- Joining support groups