Can anxiety attacks cause high blood pressure

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?

According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders affect more than 40 million adults every year in the United States. Anxiety can cause a wide range of physical symptoms, including an increase in blood pressure levels.

Although anxiety isn’t linked to chronic high blood pressure, both short-term and chronic anxiety may cause your blood pressure to spike.

In this article, we’ll explore the link between anxiety and high blood pressure and treatment options for both.

Fortunately, anxiety doesn’t cause chronic high blood pressure. However, it can lead to a short-term increase in blood pressure.

When you begin to feel anxious because of a stressful situation, your body enters fight-or-flight mode. This happens due to the activation of your sympathetic nervous system. During fight-or-flight mode, your adrenaline and cortisol levels rise, both of which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

Although stress and anxiety can cause high blood pressure, it’s only temporary, and levels generally return to normal once you’ve calmed down again.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a chronic condition that occurs when blood pressure levels are elevated. Chronic high blood pressure can be quite dangerous and can cause significant damage to the body, especially the brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes.

Hypertension is classified into two categories:

Primary hypertension. This type of hypertension develops in the absence of a specific trigger and is the most common type of hypertension. Primary hypertension is often thought to develop due to genetic, environmental, or lifestyle causes.
Secondary hypertension. The cause of this type of hypertension is generally known and is often another underlying condition. Secondary hypertension is often caused by conditions that affect the kidneys, heart, or thyroid.

Interestingly, anxiety can also cause a type of high blood pressure commonly called white coat hypertension. This type happens when your blood pressure is typically normal but spikes in a medical setting, such as a doctor’s office, due to medical anxiety.

Anxiety is a natural response to a perceived threat and is something that all of us experience from time to time. When you feel anxious and your fight-or-flight response is activated, you may experience:

nervousness
restlessness
panic or dread
rapid heart rate
sweating
difficulty breathing
chest pain
hyperventilation
shaking or trembling
muscle twitches
chills or hot flashes
numbness or tingling
weakness or fatigue
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea
poor concentration
depersonalization or derealization

In some people, chronic anxiety is due to an underlying anxiety disorder rather than just environmental causes. Anxiety disorders include:

generalized anxiety
panic disorder
specific phobias
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Just like anxiety can cause temporary high blood pressure, high blood pressure can sometimes cause anxiety.

For example, some symptoms of high blood pressure mimic those caused by anxiety, such as:

shortness of breath
dizziness
chest pain
changes in vision

Experiencing these symptoms or any other symptoms of high blood pressure can lead to an increase in anxiety.

In addition, having a chronic condition like high blood pressure can cause depression and anxiety. In fact, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states that people who have chronic illnesses are more likely to experience mental health conditions, such as anxiety.

One 2018 study found that up to 51 percent of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension may have anxiety and panic disorders, with many of these individuals going untreated for these conditiƒwas ons.

If you have frequent episodes of high blood pressure that are caused by anxiety, treating the underlying anxiety disorder can help bring your blood pressure back down to healthier levels.

Treatment options that may help include:

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard treatment for most anxiety disorders. CBT techniques can help address and change problematic thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that contribute to anxiety.

Research has shown that CBT can be as effective as medication in treating anxiety disorders.

Other treatment approaches can also be considered, depending on the type and severity of the anxiety disorder. For example, exposure therapy is effective for treating specific phobias, while trauma-focused therapy and interactive therapy such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be helpful for conditions like PTSD.

Medications

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety disorders. SSRIs work by increase the uptake of serotonin in the brain, which can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

According to the research, SSRIs are most effective when combined with psychotherapy.

In some cases, benzodiazepines may be prescribed to provide short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. However, they’re highly addictive and are generally prescribed for short-term use only.

Other

While psychotherapy and medications are effective methods for treating anxiety disorders, lifestyle changes are also important.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and moving your body physically. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and massage can also help.

Things you can do to feel less anxious

Whether you have an anxiety disorder or not, everyone can benefit from reducing their daily anxiety levels. Here are some changes that you can make in your daily life to lower your anxiety levels:

Get enough sleep. Sleep is very important for overall health, and getting enough sleep can make a huge difference in daily anxiety levels. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, so make sure to aim for this.
Eat a balanced diet. Eating nutritious foods can help support both your physical and mental well-being. Aim to fill your plate with whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, whenever possible.
Move your body. Moving your body is important, whether that involves weight training at the gym or taking a walk around the block. Daily exercise and movement can help increase your endorphins and lower stress levels.
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your awareness to the present moment, which is incredibly important when you have anxiety. Meditation is a great mindfulness practice to reduce daily stress and anxiety.

Medications used to treat anxiety can help reduce overall anxiety levels, which can reduce blood pressure spikes. However, some anxiety treatment options may also cause an increase in blood pressure levels.

One meta-analysis from 2017 investigated the impact of SSRIs and serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) on blood pressure levels. Data from over 13,000 participants was analyzed, and the researchers found that while SSRIs didn’t have any significant impact on blood pressure, SNRIs caused a slight increase in blood pressure levels.

If you have high blood pressure and have recently started taking medication for anxiety, keep track of any changes in your blood pressure levels. This can help your doctor determine if adjustments need to be made to any of your medications.

Treatment for high blood pressure generally involves making a handful of dietary and lifestyle changes. This includes increasing physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting sodium, and increasing intake of whole foods.

If dietary and lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure naturally, certain medications may be prescribed, such as:

beta-blockers (which are also prescribed to reduce symptoms of anxiety)
diuretics
ACE inhibitors
angiotensin II receptor blockers
calcium channel blockers
alpha-2 agonists

Generally, if you have high blood pressure and it’s causing an increase in your anxiety, treating the high blood pressure can help to reduce your anxiety symptoms.

Although anxiety can’t cause chronic hypertension, there’s a definite connection between anxiety and blood pressure. Anxiety leads to a natural increase in blood pressure due to the fight-or-flight response, and high blood pressure can sometimes also lead to an increase in anxiety.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or high blood pressure that are impacting your daily life, talk with your doctor about which treatments may work for you.

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure?

Although anxiety isn’t linked to chronic high blood pressure, both short-term and chronic anxiety may cause your blood pressure to spike.

In this article, we’ll explore the link between anxiety and high blood pressure and treatment options for both.

Fortunately, anxiety doesn’t cause chronic high blood pressure. However, it can lead to a short-term increase in blood pressure.

Although stress and anxiety can cause high blood pressure, it’s only temporary, and levels generally return to normal once you’ve calmed down again.

Hypertension is classified into two categories:

Primary hypertension. This type of hypertension develops in the absence of a specific trigger and is the most common type of hypertension. Primary hypertension is often thought to develop due to genetic, environmental, or lifestyle causes.
Secondary hypertension. The cause of this type of hypertension is generally known and is often another underlying condition. Secondary hypertension is often caused by conditions that affect the kidneys, heart, or thyroid.

nervousness
restlessness
panic or dread
rapid heart rate
sweating
difficulty breathing
chest pain
hyperventilation
shaking or trembling
muscle twitches
chills or hot flashes
numbness or tingling
weakness or fatigue
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea
poor concentration
depersonalization or derealization

In some people, chronic anxiety is due to an underlying anxiety disorder rather than just environmental causes. Anxiety disorders include:

generalized anxiety
panic disorder
specific phobias
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Just like anxiety can cause temporary high blood pressure, high blood pressure can sometimes cause anxiety.

For example, some symptoms of high blood pressure mimic those caused by anxiety, such as:

shortness of breath
dizziness
chest pain
changes in vision

Experiencing these symptoms or any other symptoms of high blood pressure can lead to an increase in anxiety.

If you have frequent episodes of high blood pressure that are caused by anxiety, treating the underlying anxiety disorder can help bring your blood pressure back down to healthier levels.

Treatment options that may help include:

Psychotherapy

Research has shown that CBT can be as effective as medication in treating anxiety disorders.

Medications

According to the research, SSRIs are most effective when combined with psychotherapy.

In some cases, benzodiazepines may be prescribed to provide short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. However, they’re highly addictive and are generally prescribed for short-term use only.

Other

While psychotherapy and medications are effective methods for treating anxiety disorders, lifestyle changes are also important.

Make sure that you are getting enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, and moving your body physically. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, and massage can also help.

Things you can do to feel less anxious

Whether you have an anxiety disorder or not, everyone can benefit from reducing their daily anxiety levels. Here are some changes that you can make in your daily life to lower your anxiety levels:

Get enough sleep. Sleep is very important for overall health, and getting enough sleep can make a huge difference in daily anxiety levels. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, so make sure to aim for this.
Eat a balanced diet. Eating nutritious foods can help support both your physical and mental well-being. Aim to fill your plate with whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, whenever possible.
Move your body. Moving your body is important, whether that involves weight training at the gym or taking a walk around the block. Daily exercise and movement can help increase your endorphins and lower stress levels.
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your awareness to the present moment, which is incredibly important when you have anxiety. Meditation is a great mindfulness practice to reduce daily stress and anxiety.

If dietary and lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure naturally, certain medications may be prescribed, such as:

beta-blockers (which are also prescribed to reduce symptoms of anxiety)
diuretics
ACE inhibitors
angiotensin II receptor blockers
calcium channel blockers
alpha-2 agonists

Generally, if you have high blood pressure and it’s causing an increase in your anxiety, treating the high blood pressure can help to reduce your anxiety symptoms.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of anxiety or high blood pressure that are impacting your daily life, talk with your doctor about which treatments may work for you.

symptoms, signs, causes and how to get rid of them

Ksenia Krivova

psychiatrist, psychotherapist

Ksenia Terletskaya

editor

I am a psychotherapist and psychiatrist. One of the questions I work with is how to deal with panic attacks.

I want to help those who have experienced this condition. I will tell you how to relieve symptoms and make sure that panic attacks do not return as long as possible. At the same time, I will give recommendations on how to behave if a loved one has an attack.

An important point

The examples described in the article are fictitious. The real stories of my former patients are published with their consent. Do not self-medicate: only the attending physician can make an accurate diagnosis and select help. Take care of yourself and take care of your mental health.

What are panic attacks

Between 4 and 25% of the world's population suffers from anxiety disorders. This data is for the beginning of 2020. Over the past year, people began to contact me more often with complaints of uncontrollable fear and panic. In many cases, this is due to the situation around the coronavirus. Many sick people with COVID-19There are complications in the form of panic attacks.

Systematic review of surveys of the prevalence of anxiety disorders in the adult population - article by Olivia Remens

Covid and panic attacks: panic attacks as a complication of covid - article by the Korsakov Medical Center

Official statistics on how the number of people with panic thoughts increased after the announcement coronavirus pandemic, no. But my colleagues and I already see this relationship in our practice.

Before we know how to deal with a panic attack, we need to figure out what we are going to deal with. A panic attack is a state of extreme fear accompanied by unpleasant physiological manifestations such as nausea and dizziness.

This is a psychological disorder, it does not directly relate to diseases of the body. But when emotions overwhelm us, we cannot resolve a life conflict, then a failure occurs - and emotions begin to manifest through our body, the autonomic nervous system.

For example, a person has problems at work: bosses press, there is no time to rest, sleep is disturbed. There is no one to cry, everything grows like a snowball. As a result, an attack of a strong heartbeat and shortness of breath occurs.

Another was greatly frightened by doctors in childhood. Now, with a certain medical manipulation, panic arises: it darkens sharply in the eyes and nausea rolls over.

Someone has recently lost a loved one and is also experiencing panic attacks. They are manifested by the fear of death, a semi-conscious state, and agoraphobia has also developed - the fear of open spaces.

I want to say right away: panic attacks are not life threatening, you will not die or go crazy. It is simply a very strong reaction to stress, strong emotions and anxiety associated with internal or external events.

One of the main signs that a panic attack has happened to you is that it seems that something bad is about to happen to you. You will feel sick, you will faint, your heart will stop and so on. This feeling usually occurs during a panic attack. A person tries to interpret it logically and connects it with some physical problems, considers it a sign of illness.

/psy-stories/

“Understood that there are no unsolvable problems”: 7 stories about how psychotherapy changed lives

I don’t know of such cases when during a panic attack a person actually vomited or fainted . These are always very unpleasant sensations - dizziness, nausea or obvious nausea, palpitations - but what you are afraid of does not happen.

This is a reaction of the body, in which there is no damage to the internal organs. If a person really vomited, then this indicates that there is some kind of illness, you need to check the stomach. The psychotherapist makes the final diagnosis, for this he collects an anamnesis: he talks with the patient, finds out how the attack goes.

Why panic attacks occur

Panic disorder, or episodic paroxysmal anxiety, is classified as a disease in the International Classification of Diseases - F41.0 ICD-10 and 6B01 ICD-11. In the new edition of the ICD, which is recommended for use in Russia from January 1, 2022, a separate symptomatic code is allocated for a panic attack - MB23.H.

International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision

For a person who has a panic attack, his intrapersonal conflict is very important, otherwise the attack would not have happened. This means that some situation is internally difficult for him. He cannot resolve it on his own, so the psyche tries to isolate him from this situation with the help of a symptom.

This condition can manifest itself in neurosis and in somatic diseases. Competent treatment can be selected only by establishing the cause.

Neurosis is psychological difficulties, what relates to psychiatry and personality problems, the internal organization of a person. Under neurosis there is never a physiological background, as is the case with ordinary somatic diseases.

A somatic disease always refers to some kind of damage to an organ or organ system. It is as if a serious breakdown of the mechanism has occurred in the engine of a car, which can be diagnosed and corrected. For example, a piston has gone. So it is with a person: it is a breakdown at the level of physiology, tissues. This is a problem that can be identified on an MRI, confirmed by tests, and operated on. For example, a brain tumor, coronary heart disease, or hyperthyroidism.

When there are health problems, it is enough to cure them, and the symptom - a panic attack - will pass. If the cause of panic is neurosis, this condition also needs to be treated. There are several reasons for this.

Neurosis tends to expand symptoms. If you do not take care of your condition in time, other symptoms may join the neurosis. For example, obsessive thoughts, discomfort in the body and depression.

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How I Treated Generalized Anxiety Disorder under CHI

Panic attacks reduce the quality of life and prevent you from developing. Neurosis is built on internal contradictions and on an inadequate request to the world or to oneself. You need to figure this out, otherwise the symptom will not recede. Pills, a trip to the sea or walks in the forest will only help for a while, but then the condition will worsen.

Panic attacks strain the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems. Recurring panic attacks for a long time do not cause disturbances in the work of internal organs. But they deplete the body. Sooner or later, this can lead to illness.

Reactivation of dormant tumor cells with modified lipids derived from stress-activated neutrophils - Science article

How panic attacks can manifest

Panic attacks manifest themselves in different ways. Shortness of breath, palpitations, faintness and nausea are just some of the symptoms.

Panic disorder - NHS article

Anxiety, fear and panic - NHS article

The manifestations of a panic attack may occur individually or together. Seizures last from a few minutes to half an hour. The main thing is to remember that no matter how strong they are, you will not faint, you will not go crazy and you will not die.

Track the situations in which you have a panic attack, how it manifests itself. Usually, the symptoms go away with panic attacks. It is better to deal with these manifestations than to get used to living with them.

Manifestations of panic attacks: what to be prepared for

Symptom	How it manifests itself
Feeling of suffocation	It seems to a person that there is not enough air and he can suffocate
Feeling of unreality of what is happening	It seems to a person that he looks at the world as if through a haze
High blood pressure	Panic increases - pressure increases, panic passes - pressure returns to normal
Gaze defocus	Difficulty keeping eyes on one object
Fear of death and fear of going crazy	It seems to a person that he is losing control over himself and his body, may harm himself or loved ones
Permanent alarm	Any, even the most insignificant event, can lead to disturbing thoughts
Sleep disorder	A person falls asleep badly, sleeps little, wakes up abruptly. I don't feel like I've had enough sleep
Fear of swallowing food	There is a feeling that during swallowing the air disappears and you can suffocate
Agoraphobia	A person is afraid to leave the house, he is afraid to go to the store, to meet friends
Trembling	Shakes with small or large shaking
Chest pain	Pain in the chest, and the person thinks that a heart attack has begun
Chill or fever	Some people get chills or have a fever
Numbness or tingling	Numb limbs

Symptom

How

Senses

It seems that there is not enough air and it may suffocate

The unreality of the incidence of

people who watches that he is watching to the world as if through a haze

Increased blood pressure

Panic increases - pressure rises, panic disappears - pressure returns to normal over oneself and one's body, can harm oneself or loved ones

Constant anxiety

Any, even the most insignificant event, can lead to anxious thoughts

Sleep disturbance

A person falls asleep badly, sleeps little, wakes up abruptly. No feeling that you had enough sleep

Fear of swallowing food

There is a feeling that during swallowing air disappears and you can suffocate

Agoraphobia

A person is afraid to leave the house, he is afraid to go to the store, to meet friends

Trembling

large trembling

Chest pain

Pain in the chest, and the person thinks that a heart attack has begun

Chills or fever

Some people feel chills or have a fever

Numbness or tingling

Numbness in limbs

What to do in case of a panic attack

Short-Term Plan: Manage Symptoms

There are many ways to deal with panic attacks on your own. But I must warn you: in this way you will only remove the symptom, and the neurosis or disease that provoked the attack will not go anywhere. You will not feel relief, there will be internal tension and pain.

Here are some techniques to help you deal with panic.

Call an ambulance. If you have not yet been diagnosed with panic attacks, it makes sense to call an ambulance in case of a severe attack. So you exclude a somatic disease. For example, a heart attack, an allergy attack or bronchial asthma have similar symptoms. Better to be safe.

I had cases when the ambulance team after the ECG said that everything was fine with health and assumed that it was panic attacks. After the visit of doctors, the person turned to a psychotherapist.

Don't fight the attack, embrace it. Instead of resisting, accept what is happening, then the attack will end faster. This will not work right away: repeat to yourself that everything will be fine and your body is just trying to protect you from imaginary danger.

Breathe. Inhale for four seconds, then hold your breath for seven seconds, exhale for eight seconds. Repeat one or two times. A simple breathing practice will help the autonomic nervous system switch from a sympathetic, sensitive state to a parasympathetic, calm state.

Correlation and differences between brain and body vibrations - article in Neuroscience Letters

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the tone, for escaping from danger. In ancient times, it turned on when a predator approached a person. It is the activating part of the nervous system.

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming and relaxing. It slows down the pulse, normalizes breathing and makes it more even. The parasympathetic nervous system turns on the cerebral cortex, which helps us realize that we are in a safe place and nothing terrible is happening.

Method 5-4-3-2-1. This is one of the "grounding techniques" variations. It works like this: look around and mark five items. Select four sounds. Touch three things. Catch two smells and then one taste.

For example, you are standing on the street. Select five items: house, stairs, railing, curb, hatch. Note four sounds: a car drove by, a door slammed, a dove flew up, someone coughed. Touch three things: a button on a coat, a wall of a house, a lamppost. Catch two smells: the cafe smells of fresh croissants and coffee. Feel the taste: put chewing gum in your mouth.

The method works by bringing the person back to reality. During PA, consciousness is narrow, tunnel-like. A person focuses on feelings, listens to the body and anxiety, and this accelerates him even more. When he starts to switch to reality - pays attention to smells or touches something - he returns to the here and now. The tone of the sympathetic nervous system begins to decrease, the parasympathetic nervous system turns on, the person calms down.

In a panic attack, we are fixated on frightening thoughts in our heads. The 5-4-3-2-1 method helps to switch from disturbing thoughts and start thinking about something else: about smell, objects, and so on.

Consciously intensify the panic attack. Don't tell yourself to "relax" or "calm down", on the contrary, create panic. The opposite method works well, but it should not be used by a person who has experienced a panic attack for the first time. It is suitable for experienced people who know that PAs are not dangerous, they don’t die and go crazy with them, that this is just a reaction of the nervous system to an internal conflict.

The method of consciously intensifying a panic attack will help to cope with an attack more quickly. When we stop resisting, the attack passes faster. Resistance can increase anxiety.

There is also a popular “breathe into the bag” technique. Do not abuse it, and if you resort to it, control your condition. If you feel that it is becoming stuffy or your head hurts, then the carbon dioxide rate has been exceeded, take a break.

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Deep Inhale and Long Exhale: 5 Meditation Apps

The best defense is offense. Do not run away from a panic attack, live it, so it will recede sooner. And then still contact a psychotherapist to deal with the cause.

What to do in case of a panic attack

Long Term Plan: Check Your Health and See a Psychotherapist

This plan is best for preventing seizures from returning for as long as possible. To begin with, it is worth checking if you have any pathologies that can cause panic attacks.

The illnesses that sometimes underlie panic attacks can have serious health consequences. That is why, in order to exclude diseases of the body, I always first refer my patients to a therapist. With panic attacks, you can first go to the clinic, then the therapist will issue directions for the necessary tests.

I do not want to scare anyone, but this advice can help a person realize that it is worth going and being examined, and then the process of moving towards treatment will begin. During the examination, the doctor may say that there is nothing at the level of physiology, the help of a psychotherapist is needed.

One patient came to me with high levels of anxiety, restlessness, panic attacks and sleep disturbance. I sent him to a general practitioner, the doctor suspected thyroid disease based on symptoms and referred the patient to an endocrinologist. The analysis revealed hyperthyroidism.

This diagnosis explained that there was nothing wrong with the person and why there were problems. The hormones were balanced, the patient's condition improved, my help was not needed.

/somatic-symptom-disorder/

What is hypochondria and how much does it cost to cure

Panic attacks are treated by a psychotherapist. He does this using special psychotherapeutic techniques. Cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven to be effective. It helps a person to understand that if you want to change your state, then you need to change the reasons that led to it. I myself practice this method. We analyze situations that are alarming for the patient, and the person learns to choose not the worst scenario, but the logical and optimal behavior.

5 books on cognitive psychology - an article by Maria Falikman

Find a doctor with whom you feel comfortable talking and connecting. Describe what is bothering you. So he will be able to understand how urgently you need to make an appointment. This is how my patient's initial appeal looked like:

The patient described how and at what moments she manifests panic, whether she went to other doctors

How is the treatment with a psychotherapist for panic attacks

The number of sessions with a psychotherapist individually. But get ready for the fact that this is not fast, usually working with a doctor lasts several months. With my patient, whose story is given in the article, we worked for six months. Meetings stop as soon as the doctor understands that the patient has come to a calm state, found the cause of anxiety and learned to cope with it.

The class usually lasts an hour. For people who still find it difficult to leave the house, it is convenient to call on Skype. No need to go to an unfamiliar place and get used to a new environment. It is easier to talk about your problem in a familiar and safe atmosphere.

11 types of psychotherapy that work

In the sessions, we analyze the internal problems that led to panic attacks. In addition, I give my patients various techniques to help smooth out anxiety and consolidate a calm state.

Do the Jacobson exercises. They are perfect for unloading during the working day. I advise you to perform them in a secluded place.

The Jacobson method directly for a panic attack is not as effective. But it helps to reduce overall levels of anxiety and tension and reduces the risk of future attacks.

The Jacobson method works by consciously tensing the muscles in certain places. Due to the strong contraction, the muscles begin to relax. Tension knots are also relaxed, so anxiety is reduced

Under the supervision of a psychotherapist, catch thoughts about what causes anxiety. So you will know what makes you uncomfortable. Over time, learn to limit communication with people you don’t like, to avoid stressful situations.

Examples of anxious thoughts are: "I'm a failure", "I'm not going to succeed", "I'm ugly". Sometimes the people with whom we are in contact contribute to the emergence and intensification of disturbing thoughts. They can impose problems, convince a person that he is helpless.

Anxious thoughts, a person can speak so automatically that he does not notice them. A conflict situation arises, a thought flashes through the head, say, “I won’t succeed,” but the person does not catch it. That's why it's automatic. Then behavior follows: for example, a person does not start learning a new course, does not move towards his values. He stops developing, and this worries him.

/psychotherapy/

How much does psychotherapy cost

Such beliefs are most often formed in childhood. A person gets along with them so much that until he consciously reveals, sometimes he does not even know that they exist. Everything seems to be fine, but for some reason he does not do what is important to him. When automatic thought is detected, it becomes clear why. The person works out the automatic persuasion and the anxiety goes down.

Under the guidance of your therapist, try to identify automatic anxious thoughts. This will help you figure out how you really feel about yourself.

Exercise for nervousness. A simple meditation that does not require the study of spiritual practices will help.

Let's talk about panic attacks. Workbook with exercises and tests - David Carbonell

You can do breathing exercises. For example, stay in a calm position for 5-10 minutes and concentrate only on your breathing, try to let go of thoughts. Imagine your thoughts as leaves floating away from you down a stream, or clouds running across the sky. Get back to breathing.

What medications are used to treat panic attacks

Your doctor may prescribe medication to treat a panic attack. It is important to understand the following here: tablets most often help temporarily, at the time of taking the drug, and after their cancellation there is a high risk of symptom resumption.

With neurosis, the nervous system is gradually depleted, the nervous system becomes very sensitive. There is an imbalance of neurotransmitters, that is, transmitters of physiologically active substances in the nerve cell. For example, dopamine or serotonin. Changes after taking the drugs occur, but they are temporary.

Borderline mental disorders - article by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, psychiatrist A. B. Smulevich

Pills work while a person takes them, while the internal conflict that worries remains unresolved. After discontinuation of the drug, the symptoms return, and often new, more severe ones join them. This leads to a deepening of the neurosis. That is why psychotherapy is needed for neurosis.

How to help a loved one if he has a panic attack

If you are not sure that a loved one is having a panic attack, and the attack is severe, call an ambulance. Do not leave a person alone, try to find out what is happening to him. If he can't talk, try switching his attention: show a neutral or positive video, offer to listen to a song, or tell a funny story. Do together the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise I described earlier.

In no case do not scold your loved one and do not devalue his experiences. During a panic attack, a person experiences fear of death, it seems to him that he can go crazy. Try to be understanding about this.

Bad: “You are pretending! You can't be that bad!"

Better: “I will be there for as long as it takes. Everything will be fine".

A simple technique will help to calm the person - offer to drink water. Due to the swallowing reflex, the autonomic nervous system calms down. The fact is that the vagus nerve, which is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, is involved in the act of swallowing. The sympathetic nervous system reflexively switches to the parasympathetic one, the person calms down.

Human Anatomy - a textbook edited by M. G. Prives

After the attack has passed, advise you to consult a doctor.

The cost of panic attack treatment

For the treatment of panic attacks, you can go to a neuropsychiatric dispensary or polyclinic that has a specialist, or to a psychotherapist in private practice. Antidepressants are usually prescribed in clinics, their prices depend on how modern the medicine is. The course of admission is from six months, at least six packs are needed. But, as I said earlier, pills without therapy give a temporary effect, after they are canceled, the symptoms return.

Treatment by a psychotherapist takes an average of six months. In the first three months, sessions are held weekly, then once every two weeks or once a month as supportive sessions.

/psychotherapy-search/

How to choose a psychotherapist

In the table I have given the average prices in Moscow. I took as a basis the scenario for the treatment of panic attacks without complications.

I note that the videos and exercises recommended to the patient by his psychotherapist are freely available and free - a person spends only his time working on them.

The cost of treating a panic attack is from 600 R with antidepressants and from 34,800 R with a psychotherapist

What do we pay for	How much is
Antidepressants	100—10,000 R per pack
Session with a psychotherapist	From 2000 R per session
General practitioner consultation	From 800 R with a paid specialist, free of charge at the clinic
Exercises	Free

Antidepressants

100-10 000 R per pack

Session with a psychotherapist

From 2000 R per session

Consultation with a therapist

free at the clinic

Exercises

Free

Looking at the table, you can conclude that it is more profitable to treat panic attacks with antidepressants than go to psychotherapy. But let me remind you that the pills give a temporary effect, after their cancellation, the symptoms return and sometimes become stronger. As a result, it is more profitable to immediately go to a psychotherapist and learn how to cope with the cause of a panic state.

Remember

Panic attacks are not life threatening, a person in this condition will not die, go crazy, lose consciousness, or vomit.
If something nevertheless happened - for example, a person fainted - it is worth contacting a doctor as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis.
In any case, it will not be superfluous to consult a doctor and undergo an examination to rule out a serious somatic disease that provokes panic attacks.
You can stop a panic attack on your own, but that's only half the battle. A psychotherapist will help to deal with its cause.
Before starting psychotherapy, it is important to undergo a medical examination in order to exclude neurotic, neurological and somatic diseases that can lead to panic attacks.
Medication for panic attacks may seem more cost effective than psychotherapy sessions. But drugs are only effective when taken. After their cancellation, the symptoms will return, and the internal conflict remains unresolved.
If a panic attack has happened to a loved one, do not leave him or condemn him. If you know that the diagnosis has been made, you should not call an ambulance. Be there, help the person to normalize breathing, try the 5-4-3-2-1 method. Not sure about the diagnosis - call an ambulance, doctors will help you navigate.

Increased pressure during panic attacks: what to do and how to bring down

When a panic attack occurs, people experience different symptoms. Among them are mental and physiological. The emergence of anxiety and uncontrollable fear, fear for one's life, loss of awareness are attributed to the first. Changes in temperature, dizziness, nausea, breathing problems, pressure surges and an acceleration of the heartbeat are among the second. Whether blood pressure rises during panic attacks, what characterizes such jumps, and how to lower blood pressure if necessary - we will tell in this article.

An increase in pressure during panic attacks is considered a temporary and transient physiological change provoked by stress. The human body, sensing a threat to life, mobilizes all resources so that, if necessary, you can quickly react and escape. The heart works at its maximum capacity, the brain is supplied with oxygen in greater quantities, and the hormone adrenaline is released into the bloodstream. The pressure during panic attacks rises to certain levels, but such changes are not harmful to health or a strong change in well-being.

Many victims are afraid of a heart attack at the moment of panic, although experts have proven that an attack of uncontrollable fear does not lead to a hypertensive crisis. Despite the fact that some compare the experienced symptoms with the harbingers of the initial stage of this unpleasant condition, doctors say the opposite.

Which blood pressure is high and which is low? The norm is the position of the upper indicator, indicating 120, and the lower one in position 80, but for each individual person they can be individual. For example, hypotensive patients have low blood pressure under normal and familiar conditions, therefore, with indicators that are considered standard, they may feel bad. Such people perceive the increase in pressure as unpleasant sensations and symptoms of diseases.

If the pressure rises during panic attacks, then its indicators may well reach the level of 130 or 145 on the upper bar. Such a phenomenon does not become a prerequisite for a hypertensive crisis, in which case blood pressure goes off scale, reaching 200-220/240. Having a little understanding of the indicators, you will understand that panic attacks do not provoke hypertension, and it is difficult to confuse them with a crisis.

Remember that panic is primarily characterized by a loss of awareness and an inability to think rationally, so the brain gets an idea of the threat to life and projects it onto the smallest changes in well-being. Illusory danger seems real, and slight physiological changes are perceived as terrible harbingers of possible death.

How can I get my blood pressure back to normal after a panic attack?

Panic attacks that occur on a one-time basis are not harmful to health, but when completed, leave the person in a broken and devastated state. Some of the symptoms that appear during panic recommend stopping as soon as possible so as not to overload the body. Is high blood pressure dangerous in and of itself? No, but regular jumps are undesirable, so frequent attacks should be treated with the help of a specialist, because sooner or later they can provoke a mental disorder.

What should I do to normalize my blood pressure? There are a few simple techniques that can help bring your heart rate and blood pressure back to normal, stabilize your circulation, and calm your palpitations.

Experts recommend taking a comfortable static position if you have the conditions for this. If the panic happened in a public place, try to find a secluded corner with the least concentration of people. Try to surround yourself with comfort: sit on a bench or lean against a wall. If you have a bag handy, try breathing into it. Thus, you will cope with the problem of downed breathing and normalize gas exchange in the body. Exhale deeply into the bag several times and then inhale from it. This will help to exhaust the lack of carbon dioxide in the blood, and also partly normalizes the pulse.

Close your eyes and try to relax. You can use a small auto-training, pronouncing how certain parts of the body relax. A small massage of the eyeballs, carried out with a light counterclockwise pressure with your fingers, will help. Try also to put pressure on the temples, put pressure on them for a few seconds and release. Repeat these steps 10 times, alternating exercises with eye massage.

Don't be afraid to accept help if someone else offers it. Since it is difficult to take control of your feelings and emotions during a panic attack, another person can assist in this or act as a reliable support.

Blood pressure usually returns to normal quickly, and 10 minutes after the panic attack ends, you may feel quite comfortable. Remember that unlike hypertensive attacks, during which the use of medications that stabilize blood pressure is recommended, drugs that lower blood pressure should not be used during a panic attack.

Prevention of panic attacks

Quite often the first occurrence of a panic attack and its repetition form a reflex expectation of the next attacks. The rise in pressure indicates that there are some disturbances in the body. To understand the degree of changes that occur during a panic, to realize whether a reading of 180 is a lot or a little, it is worth taking a blood pressure measurement in a calm and agitated state so that you have something to compare sensations and data with.

As an accessible prevention of a panic attack, doctors point out the rejection of bad habits in the form of attachment to cigarettes and alcohol, revision of the diet and the formation of the correct mode of wakefulness and sleep.

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