Fear Overwhelms and Causes Panic Disorder

Sometimes, when a person gets a sudden attack of anxiety and overwhelming fear, he or she is not able to think or breathe properly. The heart pounds and the person sweat a lot. These kinds of attacks are sudden and unpredictable, and one fears having another episode of them. This is called a panic disorder. It may be caused by a situation or, at times, it has no cause. But the panic disorder is treatable.

Panic attacks may come frequently or may be very rare. A woman is more likely to suffer from it than a man. It may start at an early adolescent age, but whenever you get an attack and you panic, and if there are repeated episodes, then you must find professional help and consult a psychiatrist near you.

What are the Causes of Panic Disorder?

Panic disorder may not have a specific trigger point; it can be unexpected. They are caused without warning and give multiple attacks. It peaks within minutes and disappears soon. But a person who gets attacks may not necessarily suffer from panic disorder.

• A person suffering from panic disorder may feel intense fear, palpitations, tremors, and shortness of breath.

• These attacks can occur several times daily and cripple one's life.

• Panic attacks can also be caused biologically. If a close family member suffers from panic disorder, you will likely develop the condition.

• If a person has been a victim of a traumatic event like physical or sexual abuse, they can develop these conditions.

• A person going through difficult times or some significant change in life, which includes the death of a loved one, can also trigger the disorder.

Treatment for Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is treatable. It is an anxiety disorder and can be treated with psychotherapy, medications, or at times both. Find an experienced doctor for panic disorder and take his / her advice. There are various approaches to it.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: The therapist helps the person to identify and understand unwanted and unnecessary thoughts and replace those thoughts with real and helpful ways of thinking in provocative situations.

• Exposure therapy: Here the person is slowly exposed to the disorder of the object or situation that triggers fear. The psychiatrist near teaches them new strategies that can help them relax.

• Panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy: This therapy is helpful when a person has suffered from a traumatic event. It helps to reveal the situation or the experience that may cause anxiety and panic and then help them deal with it.

• Medications: Medications are also divided into two categories: antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs. These medications control the severity of the attack.

People must support each other. A person suffering from panic disorder should educate themselves about the cause and prevention of it. The person should have someone that he or she can trust completely to have a clear and true conversation. One should express their concern. If you think you are causing problems in public places, then you must seek help from a professional, which would be really helpful.