Panic Attacks

Kilkenny Counsellors/Therapists have been trained in the area of Panic disorder. The victim suffers an overwhelmng senation of anxiety and fear.

Panic attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike without warning. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. A person experiencing a panic attack may believe that he or she is having a heart attack or that death is imminent. The fear and terror that a person experiences during a panic attack are not in proportion to the true situation and may be unrelated to what is happening around them.

Most people with panic attacks experience several of the following symptoms:

“Racing” heart

Trembling/Shaking

Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy

Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers

Sense of terror, of impending doom or death

Feeling sweaty or having chills

Chest pains

Breathing difficulties

Feeling a loss of control

Shortness of breath or hyperventilation.

They can be a one time occurrence or a repeat event.

Panic attacks are generally brief, lasting less than ten minutes, although some of the symptoms may persist for a longer time. People who have had one panic attack are at greater risk for having subsequent panic attacks than those who have never experienced a panic attack.

When the attacks occur repeatedly, a person is considered to have a condition know as panic disorder. People with Panic Disorder may be extremely anxious and fearful, since they are unable to predict when the next episode will occur. Panic Disorder is fairly common and affects about 2.4 million people in the U.S., or 1.7% of the adult population between the ages of 18 and 54. Women are twice as likely as men to develop the condition, and its symptoms usually begin in early adulthood.

It is not clear what causes Panic Disorder. In many people, its symptoms develop in association with major life changes (such as getting married, having a child, starting a new job, etc.) and major lifestyle stressors. There is also some evidence that suggests that the tendency to develop Panic Disorder may run in families. People who suffer from Panic Disorder are also more likely than others to suffer from depression, attempt suicide, or to abuse alcohol or drugs.

Luckily for suffers of frequent panic attacks, Panic Disorder is a treatable condition. Psychotherapy and medications have both been used, either singly or in combination, for successful treatment of Panic Disorder. If medication is necessary, your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medications, antidepressants, or a class of heart medications known as beta blockers to help control the episodes in Panic Disorder.

The primary means to treat panic attacks, panic disorder and agoraphobia is the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or (CBT).

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