What is a panic disorder?
Panic disorder is a form of anxiety which is categorised by recurrent panic attacks which often occur without a known reason or cause. A panic attack is episode of intense fear, feeling overwhelmed and tremendous physical sensations. After a panic attack you may begin to avoid situations that you worry may trigger another attack. This can become a vicious cycle as your being to avoid more things, people, and places and become increasingly more anxious about having a panic attack. Panic attacks are extremely frightening to experience and can feel like a heart attack. If you are ever in doubt about your symptoms and why they are occurring seek medical help. Most attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes although some can last considerably longer.
What causes a panic disorder?
Panic attacks are grounded in anxiety and like many mental health conditions, there are many causes for the onset of a panic disorder. There tend to be a combination of factors and you may notice that you have specific triggers and you may have noticed a pattern to your panic attacks. Some people may experience panic attacks for no known reason. The following are some causes of panic disorders:
- Experiencing a traumatic or stressful event
- Genetic predisposition
- Chemical imbalance in the brain
Symptoms of a panic disorder?
The following symptoms are not exhaustive, but may give you an indication about the condition and symptoms you may be experiencing:
- Fast or irregular heartrate
- Feeling extreme body temperatures – hot or cold
- Feeling lightheaded
- Chest pain
- Stomach-ache
- Sweating
- Tight throat and difficulty breathing
- Dissociation – feeling disconnected to your body or mind
- Heightened anxiety
- Shaking
- Fear of dying
- Feeling of suffocation
