WHAT IS A PANIC ATTACK?


TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A PANIC ATTACK ARE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, ACCELERATED HEART RATE, THE PERCEPTION OF ONE'S PERSONAL SPACE CLOSING IN, THE FEELING ONE IS DYING, SWEATING, NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE BODY'S EXTREMITIES, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA, HEADACHE, BLURRED VISION, SYNCOPE (PASSING OUT). A FULL BLOWN PANIC ATTACK MAY BE LIKENED TO THE TRAUMA SOMEONE EXPERIENCES IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. PANIC DISORDER OFTEN RUNS IN FAMILIES, BUT ALSO HAS A DEFINITE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME QUITE OFTEN ARE SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOMS AS THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND BELIEVE THEY ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK. A PERSON WHO HAS PANIC ATTACKS IS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ACTUAL DISORDER IF THE EPISODES ARE SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION IN THE EFFECTED PERSON'S LIFE. PANIC DISORDER VARIES IN SEVERITY. SOME PEOPLE WITH PANIC ATTACKS EXPERIENCE THEM AS LITTLE MORE THAN MINOR ANNOYANCES, WHILE OTHERS HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY FUNCTIONING AT ALL ON A DAILY BASIS. THE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS FOR PANIC ATTACKS ARE BEING IN CROWDS, BEING OVERWHELMED BY STRESSORS , AND DRIVING. HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE HAVE PANIC ATTACKS WHICH OCCUR "OUT OF THE BLUE" EVEN WHEN THINGS IN THEIR LIFE ARE GOING WELL AND THEY ARE IN FAMILIAR, PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS. WHILE THERE ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PANIC ATTACKS, THEY ARE ALWAYS EXPERIENCED SOMEWHAT UNIQUELY BY INDIVIDUALS.


TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS PART 1


WE WILL BEGIN WITH MEDICATION AS TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD BE THE SECOND CHOICE AFTER PSYCHOTHERAPY, BECAUSE SO MANY PHYSICIANS USE MEDICATION AS THE FIRST CHOICE IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU TAKE PILLS FOR PANIC. FIRSTLY, THERE ARE THE BENZODIAZEPINES --KLONOPIN, VALIUM, ATIVAN, TRANXENE, AND THE LIKE. THESE ARE ALL ADDICTIVE MEDICATIONS. THESE MEDICINES ARE OFTEN MORE EFFECTIVE INITIALLY BEFORE THE BODY BUILDS UP TOLERANCE AND THE PANIC ATTACK SUFFERER OFTEN ASKS FOR A HIGHER DOSAGE. THESE ARE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS, AND ARE QUITE DANGEROUS WHEN TAKEN WITH ANOTHER CNS DEPRESSANT --ALCOHOL. BENZOS WORK FOR SOME PEOPLE, HOWEVER IF ONE MUST GO THE MEDICATION ROUTE THESE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE THE FIRST CHOICE.

A SECOND CLASS OF MEDICATIONS WHICH ONE MIGHT BE PRESCRIBED FOR PANIC ARE ANTIDEPRESSANTS. THERE'S A LONG LIST TO CHOOSE FROM, INCLUDING PROZAC, PAXIL, ZOLOFT, REMERON, CELEXA, SERZONE, WELLBUTRIN, EFFEXOR AND CYMBALTA. (THESE ARE ON AND OFF LABEL USES) THESE HAVE A LOWER SUCCESS RATE FOR TREATING ANXIETY THAN BENZODIAZEPINES BUT ARE SAFER AND MORE TENABLE IN THE LONG RUN.

THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER MEDICATIONS HELPFUL FOR PANIC ATTACKS SUCH AS PROPANOLOL AND LIBRIUM. ANOTHER INTERESTING CLASS OF MEDICATIONS WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL WITH PANIC SYMPTOMS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS OFFICIALLY APPROVED FOR SUCH, ARE THE SECOND GENERATION ANTI-PSYCHOTICS, INCLUDING ZYPREXA, RISPERDAL, GEODON, AND SEROQUEL. ALTHOUGH THE THOUGHT OF TAKING MEDICATIONS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR PANIC ATTACKS MAY SEEM STRANGE, IF PSYCHOTHERAPY ISN'T WORKING AND YOU HAVE EXTREMELY SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS, AND THE ADDICTIVE BENZODIAZEPINES AREN'T SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET INTO, AND THE ANTIDEPRESSANTS AREN'T EFFECTIVE, AT LOW DOSAGES THE ANTIPSYCHOTICS ARE A CREATIVE AND OFTEN VERY HELPFUL TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS, IF YOU CAN TALK YOUR PHYSICIAN INTO PRESCRIBING THEM
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Friday, January 23, 2009

DON'T MAKE YOUR CHILDREN HAVE PANIC ATTACKS

DON'T YELL AT THEM EVERY SECOND OF THE DAY!! LET KIDS BE KIDS. RELAX, THINK ABOUT WHAT EXAMPLE YOU ARE SETTING FOR THESE FUTURE-LEADERS-OF-OUR-PLANET EARTH!! C

SLEEPING DISORDERS AND PANIC ATTACK ANXIETY ATTACKS

I BELIEVE THAT SLEEPING DIORDERS ARE FACTORS IN PANIC/ANXIETY ATTACKS ALSO. SEE, I'M OT ASLEEP NOW. I'LL PROBABLY HAVE A SEVERE PANIC ATTACK TOMORROW. I BELEIVE THAT SLEEP IS AN ABSOLUTE FACTOR. WE WILL SEE... C

Thursday, January 22, 2009

FIBROMYALGIA

PANIC GOES ALONG WITH THIS CONDITION OR DISEASE. I'VE SEEN IT. MOST WOMEN SUFFER FROM THIS DISEASE(I SUPPOSE, YOU CALL IT). SOME MEN ALSO. DON'T LEAVE THEM OUT ALL TOGETHER. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THIS? I HEAR THERE'S MEDICATIONS, BUT DO THEY REALLY WORK? I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY THAT REALLY HAS. MANY CALL THIS CONDITION A MADE-UP DISEASE. I WOULD SAY IT'S A DISEASE BECAUSE OF THE PAIN THAT COMES WITH IT. I BELIEVE THAT IS REAL. NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER FROM THIS. YOU ALSO GET PANICKY WITH IT. DOCTORS SHOULD FIND SOME WAY TO STOP IT! TV COMMERCIALS OFFER SOME HELP SUPPOSEDLY, BUT DOES THAT WORK? LET ME JUST SAY FOR THE FINISH THAT I DO NOT HAVE THIS, BUT KNOW PEOPLE THAT DO. I SEEN THESE PEOPLE HAVE KINDA PANIC ATTACKS. THIS SHOULD END. NO ONE SHOULD HURT LIKE THIS.

Monday, January 19, 2009

PANIC ATTACK ANSWERS PART 1

WE WILL BEGIN WITH MEDICATION AS TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS. ALTHOUGH THIS SHOULD BE THE SECOND CHOICE AFTER PSYCHOTHERAPY, BECAUSE SO MANY PHYSICIANS USE MEDICATION AS THE FIRST CHOICE IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE GETTING INTO WHEN YOU TAKE PILLS FOR PANIC. FIRSTLY, THERE ARE THE BENZODIAZEPINES --KLONOPIN, VALIUM, ATIVAN, TRANXENE, AND THE LIKE. THESE ARE ALL ADDICTIVE MEDICATIONS. THESE MEDICINES ARE OFTEN MORE EFFECTIVE INITIALLY BEFORE THE BODY BUILDS UP TOLERANCE AND THE PANIC ATTACK SUFFERER OFTEN ASKS FOR A HIGHER DOSAGE. THESE ARE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DEPRESSANTS, AND ARE QUITE DANGEROUS WHEN TAKEN WITH ANOTHER CNS DEPRESSANT --ALCOHOL. BENZOS WORK FOR SOME PEOPLE, HOWEVER IF ONE MUST GO THE MEDICATION ROUTE THESE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE THE FIRST CHOICE.

A SECOND CLASS OF MEDICATIONS WHICH ONE MIGHT BE PRESCRIBED FOR PANIC ARE ANTIDEPRESSANTS. THERE'S A LONG LIST TO CHOOSE FROM, INCLUDING PROZAC, PAXIL, ZOLOFT, REMERON, CELEXA, SERZONE, WELLBUTRIN, EFFEXOR AND CYMBALTA. (THESE ARE ON AND OFF LABEL USES) THESE HAVE A LOWER SUCCESS RATE FOR TREATING ANXIETY THAN BENZODIAZEPINES BUT ARE SAFER AND MORE TENABLE IN THE LONG RUN.

THERE ARE VARIOUS OTHER MEDICATIONS HELPFUL FOR PANIC ATTACKS SUCH AS PROPANOLOL AND LIBRIUM. ANOTHER INTERESTING CLASS OF MEDICATIONS WHICH MAY BE HELPFUL WITH PANIC SYMPTOMS, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS OFFICIALLY APPROVED FOR SUCH, ARE THE SECOND GENERATION ANTI-PSYCHOTICS, INCLUDING ZYPREXA, RISPERDAL, GEODON, AND SEROQUEL. ALTHOUGH THE THOUGHT OF TAKING MEDICATIONS ORIGINALLY DEVELOPED FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR PANIC ATTACKS MAY SEEM STRANGE, IF PSYCHOTHERAPY ISN'T WORKING AND YOU HAVE EXTREMELY SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS, AND THE ADDICTIVE BENZODIAZEPINES AREN'T SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET INTO, AND THE ANTIDEPRESSANTS AREN'T EFFECTIVE, AT LOW DOSAGES THE ANTIPSYCHOTICS ARE A CREATIVE AND OFTEN VERY HELPFUL TREATMENT FOR PANIC ATTACKS, IF YOU CAN TALK YOUR PHYSICIAN INTO PRESCRIBING THEM.

WHAT IS A PANIC ATTACK

TYPICAL SYMPTOMS OF A PANIC ATTACK ARE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, ACCELERATED HEART RATE, THE PERCEPTION OF ONE'S PERSONAL SPACE CLOSING IN, THE FEELING ONE IS DYING, SWEATING, NUMBNESS AND TINGLING IN THE BODY'S EXTREMITIES, DIZZINESS AND NAUSEA, HEADACHE, BLURRED VISION, SYNCOPE (PASSING OUT). A FULL BLOWN PANIC ATTACK MAY BE LIKENED TO THE TRAUMA SOMEONE EXPERIENCES IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. PANIC DISORDER OFTEN RUNS IN FAMILIES, BUT ALSO HAS A DEFINITE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENT. PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PANIC ATTACKS FOR THE FIRST TIME QUITE OFTEN ARE SEEN IN EMERGENCY ROOMS AS THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON AND BELIEVE THEY ARE HAVING A HEART ATTACK. A PERSON WHO HAS PANIC ATTACKS IS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ACTUAL DISORDER IF THE EPISODES ARE SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT DISRUPTION IN THE EFFECTED PERSON'S LIFE. PANIC DISORDER VARIES IN SEVERITY. SOME PEOPLE WITH PANIC ATTACKS EXPERIENCE THEM AS LITTLE MORE THAN MINOR ANNOYANCES, WHILE OTHERS HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY FUNCTIONING AT ALL ON A DAILY BASIS. THE MOST COMMON TRIGGERS FOR PANIC ATTACKS ARE BEING IN CROWDS, BEING OVERWHELMED BY STRESSORS , AND DRIVING. HOWEVER, SOME PEOPLE HAVE PANIC ATTACKS WHICH OCCUR "OUT OF THE BLUE" EVEN WHEN THINGS IN THEIR LIFE ARE GOING WELL AND THEY ARE IN FAMILIAR, PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS. WHILE THERE ARE COMMON SYMPTOMS OF PANIC ATTACKS, THEY ARE ALWAYS EXPERIENCED SOMEWHAT UNIQUELY BY INDIVIDUALS.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

WELCOME TO: panicattackanswers.blogspot.com

WE ARE GOING TO TRY AND HELP YOU THE BEST WAY WE CAN. FOR THAT MATTER, MAYBE WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER GET THROUGH THESE THINGS. SEE I AM FEMALE WHO SUFFERS FROM THESE MEDICAL CONDITIONS. I WELCOME ANY COMMENTS FROM ANYONE INCLUDING DOCTORS THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO SUGGEST OR OFFER THEIR EXPERTISE THAT WILL HELP THESE TERRIBLE THINGS! WE ARE GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM FROM MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND MY HUSBAND'S MEDICAL POINT OF VIEW. They take over your body in some sorts. TERRIFYING!! I'll tell you what helps me get through them is--MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND!! See he's a COUNSELOR, but I still have the episodes and he is the one that gets me through them. GOD BLESS HIM!!