Panic Attack Disorder

Most people suffer from the occurrence of sudden anxieties and fear. For many though, these experiences do not last more than a few minutes. We are then able to resume our normal daily tasks as if nothing had happened at all. However there are others amongst us who suffer from intense panic attacks which last a lot longer than just a few minutes. These extended attacks are sometimes so intense that they leave the victims in a state of despair, much like that old saying “a nervous wreck”. If you are a person who suffers these more severe attacks, then you could be suffering from Panic Attack Disorder.

As opposed to someone who may experience the odd panic attack from time to time, like most of us do, to be suffering a “disorder” would indicate that these attacks are a more frequent and potentially more severe occurrence. In some cases it has been reported that a person actually suffering from Panic Attack Disorder, is more likely to suffer attacks without any cause. These are obviously a lot harder to pin down to a cause, and therefore more difficult to treat or prevent. If you are one of these people, you should consult your medical professional for the best advice and possible treatment for your condition.

More than three million Americans suffer from panic attacks at various points in their lives, and studies have shown that most of these people have started experiencing the symptoms of Panic Attack Disorder in their late teens. Although this deals with the majority of people tested, it is also a concern that many other people don’t start to notice symptoms until much later in life. We see that research has focused for some time, on the connection between past trauma in a person’s life and the onslaught of panic attack symptoms in later years. People who have experienced relatively happy childhoods seem less likely to suffer from Panic Attack Disorder, as is the case with people who are content in their current life.

Another connection that has been established is that which looks at the connection between attack victims, and the evidence of others in their family group who have also suffered from panic attacks in earlier years. People, who have this trait in their family, seem more likely to manifest symptoms once they reach their teens. Stress seems to be a major contributing factor, whereby a person with a history of panic attack symptoms is less likely to be able to deal with very stressful situations. For some this could be in the case of public speaking, driving at night, or even venturing outside the front door.

As we are all different, so are the ways in which symptoms present in different people. Some people will suffer mild symptoms, others will experience extreme symptoms. Some of the common symptoms experienced by most people would include pounding heart, shortness of breath, upset stomach, dizziness, and hot & cold flashes. Some people have been seen to act erratically, while others seem to in some way, keep their cool. If you are someone who experiences the extreme side of the symptoms the chances are very high that you may be actually suffering the Panic Attack Disorder, as opposed to simply having an attack from time to time.