Signs of anxiety attack in women
Panic attacks and panic disorder - Symptoms and causes
Overview
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.
Many people have just one or two panic attacks in their lifetimes, and the problem goes away, perhaps when a stressful situation ends. But if you've had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder.
Although panic attacks themselves aren't life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life. But treatment can be very effective.
Products & Services
- Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition
- Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition
Symptoms
Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you're driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently.
Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides.
Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
- Sense of impending doom or danger
- Fear of loss of control or death
- Rapid, pounding heart rate
- Sweating
- Trembling or shaking
- Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
- Chills
- Hot flashes
- Nausea
- Abdominal cramping
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness
- Numbness or tingling sensation
- Feeling of unreality or detachment
One of the worst things about panic attacks is the intense fear that you'll have another one.
You may fear having panic attacks so much that you avoid certain situations where they may occur.
When to see a doctor
If you have panic attack symptoms, seek medical help as soon as possible. Panic attacks, while intensely uncomfortable, are not dangerous. But panic attacks are hard to manage on your own, and they may get worse without treatment.
Panic attack symptoms can also resemble symptoms of other serious health problems, such as a heart attack, so it's important to get evaluated by your primary care provider if you aren't sure what's causing your symptoms.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health.
To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which
information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with
other information we have about you.
If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could
include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected
health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health
information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of
privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on
the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.
Causes
It's not known what causes panic attacks or panic disorder, but these factors may play a role:
- Genetics
- Major stress
- Temperament that is more sensitive to stress or prone to negative emotions
- Certain changes in the way parts of your brain function
Panic attacks may come on suddenly and without warning at first, but over time, they're usually triggered by certain situations.
Some research suggests that your body's natural fight-or-flight response to danger is involved in panic attacks. For example, if a grizzly bear came after you, your body would react instinctively. Your heart rate and breathing would speed up as your body prepared for a life-threatening situation. Many of the same reactions occur in a panic attack. But it's unknown why a panic attack occurs when there's no obvious danger present.
More Information
- Nocturnal panic attacks: What causes them?
Risk factors
Symptoms of panic disorder often start in the late teens or early adulthood and affect more women than men.
Factors that may increase the risk of developing panic attacks or panic disorder include:
- Family history of panic attacks or panic disorder
- Major life stress, such as the death or serious illness of a loved one
- A traumatic event, such as sexual assault or a serious accident
- Major changes in your life, such as a divorce or the addition of a baby
- Smoking or excessive caffeine intake
- History of childhood physical or sexual abuse
Complications
Left untreated, panic attacks and panic disorder can affect almost every area of your life.
You may be so afraid of having more panic attacks that you live in a constant state of fear, ruining your quality of life.
Complications that panic attacks may cause or be linked to include:
- Development of specific phobias, such as fear of driving or leaving your home
- Frequent medical care for health concerns and other medical conditions
- Avoidance of social situations
- Problems at work or school
- Depression, anxiety disorders and other psychiatric disorders
- Increased risk of suicide or suicidal thoughts
- Alcohol or other substance misuse
- Financial problems
For some people, panic disorder may include agoraphobia — avoiding places or situations that cause you anxiety because you fear being unable to escape or get help if you have a panic attack. Or you may become reliant on others to be with you in order to leave your home.
Prevention
There's no sure way to prevent panic attacks or panic disorder.
However, these recommendations may help.
- Get treatment for panic attacks as soon as possible to help stop them from getting worse or becoming more frequent.
- Stick with your treatment plan to help prevent relapses or worsening of panic attack symptoms.
- Get regular physical activity, which may play a role in protecting against anxiety.
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Related
Associated Procedures
Products & Services
Anxiety Symptoms in Women - Caron Treatment Centers
Racing heart. Sweaty palms. Struggling to focus. Feeling on edge and nervous. Believing there is something wrong or something will soon go wrong—even when things are okay. If any of this sounds familiar to you, you may be one of the 264 million people worldwide who have an anxiety disorder.
These are just some of the symptoms associated with anxiety disorders.
Anxiety is defined by the American Psychological Association (APA) as an emotional state characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes. For women today, these symptoms of anxiety are all too familiar.
Women are experiencing anxiety more and more today. As women strive to juggle work, kids, relationships, health, and any semblance of a social life, anxiety disorders in women are increasing exponentially. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), women are twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder.
Often, both men and women who experience anxiety disorders also have a substance use disorder (SUD) or alcohol use disorder (AUD). This is referred to as a co-occurring disorder or having a dual diagnosis. The definition of a co-occurring disorder is the coexistence of both a mental health and substance use disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
According to an article in the American Journal of Psychiatry, individuals with mental health issues such as anxiety disorder tend to use alcohol or substances as a form of medication.
These substances seem to provide ‘relief’ from the difficult and uncomfortable symptoms of mental health disorders. And while initially, they may seem to work, most times both of the co-occurring disorders worsen.
If you think you may have a co-occurring AUD or SUD and a mental health issue it’s important to realize you are not alone. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that 7.7 million American adults have co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. This equates to nearly 38% of people with SUDs.
Comorbidity, a term used interchangeably with co-occurring disorders and dual diagnosis, also suggests that interactions between the two disorders have the potential to worsen both. And, unfortunately, this is oftentimes the case. This is true with anxiety disorders as well.
For those millions of Americans with co-occurring disorders, the sooner help is sought the better it is for both disorders. And seeking help at a treatment center that has experience and expertise in treating co-occurring disorders is crucial.
At Caron, our clinical staff provides integrated behavioral health treatment. We understand that treating co-occurring disorders, including substance abuse and anxiety disorders, is an essential component in a patient's long term sobriety and success.
It’s often difficult to determine which disorder manifested first; the addiction or the mental health disorder. Both can also have similar symptoms as well as causes.
Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder in Women
Anxiety disorders are real medical conditions. Just like asthma and high blood pressure are physical medical conditions that respond well to treatment; anxiety disorders are also serious medical conditions that can be treated and controlled. If you think you have any of these symptoms of anxiety in women, there is hope to overcome these distressing symptoms which often compromise the quality of daily life.
Since anxiety impacts more women than men, it’s vital to know the symptoms of anxiety disorders in women.
Women and anxiety symptoms are not the same for each person. Some women may experience a certain group of symptoms while another woman has entirely different symptoms. However, most of the time anxiety issues in women are manifested in some of the following signs:
- Stomach problems such as ongoing nausea, inability to eat much, and stomach pain
- Heart rate increases especially during stressful or triggering situations or events
- Feelings of tiredness, lethargy, or weakness
- Concentration and focus difficulties
- Sense of impending danger, doom, or panic
- Irritability, nervousness, or edginess
- Insomnia and other sleeping issues
- Trouble with rapid breathing, sweating, and shaking
These are all signs of anxiety in women, however, it’s important to note that these can also be symptoms of substance use disorders.
Anxiety is a normal response to stressful or dangerous situations. However, the problem occurs when these ‘responses’ interfere with daily life and happen when there is no real threat or reason. When these symptoms of anxiety disorders are repetitive and in response to normal daily activities and events an anxiety disorder evaluation should be sought.
If you, or a loved one, has been exhibiting these symptoms and are also using alcohol or another substance to help ‘ease’ them, it’s important to seek an evaluation at a treatment center, like Caron, with the capabilities to treat both co-occurring disorders.
Understanding Anxiety and Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are several types of anxiety disorders that impact both women and men across the globe, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Characterized by excessive worrying about day to day issues such as work, health, and family. Women with GAD may find themselves jumping to worst-case scenarios, experiencing muscle tension, and having sleep issues as well as stomach problems.
Women diagnosed with GAD also tend towards depression and often have a family history of depression.
Panic Disorder
This anxiety disorder causes the sufferer to feel like they are losing control, a sense of doom, or intense fear when there is no real danger at hand. Some of these anxiety issues in women are described as the feeling that they are having a heart attack, dying, or going crazy.
Phobia Disorders
Intense fears or strong aversions to certain situations or objects characterize phobia disorders. The fears are out of proportion to the circumstance or thing feared. These can be social phobias or specific phobias.
There are also a few conditions often associated with anxiety disorders:
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
This disorder generally starts after a scary or harmful event occurs to the person themselves, to a loved one, or being a witness to a violent or disturbing event.
Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with this disorder experience repetitive thoughts and behaviors that cause anxiety.
Tasks or routines are often performed over and over in an effort to control the anxiety caused by the thoughts. Each of these disorders is characterized as mild, moderate, or severe. These ‘levels’ of anxiety disorders are generally determined by number and type of symptoms as well as with what frequency these symptoms occur.
The type of anxiety disorder as well as the severity of the disorder help to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment options. It’s important to know that whether an individual has just one or two symptoms sporadically or almost all of these symptoms on a daily basis there are a number of types of treatment options that work to help to control and even overcome anxiety disorders.
Treatment Options for Anxiety Issues in Women
If you are experiencing any of these signs of anxiety in women, it’s crucial to remember you are not alone—there is help. According to the NIMH, nearly 32% of adults in the United States will experience anxiety at some point in their lives.
Many times when an individual or a woman with high anxiety symptoms is struggling to cope and feel better, they begin to self-medicate. Reaching for the occasional glass of wine to calm the nerves is not out of the ordinary, however, for those with anxiety disorders, this occasional glass of wine or use of another substance can become a habit. Not only do these habits often become full-blown alcohol and substance use disorders, the use of these substances often leads to an increase in the symptoms of anxiety in women and men.
It’s vital if a co-occurring mental health issue, like an anxiety disorder, and substance or alcohol use issue is suspected that both are treated. Caron is experienced in effectively evaluating individuals for these issues and creating individualized treatment plans for numerous co-occurring disorders, like substance abuse and anxiety disorders.
Whether treatment is needed for co-occurring disorders or only an anxiety disorder many of the approaches to treatment will be similar.
Generally, most anxiety disorders are treated with a combination of counseling and medications. However, if a woman is pregnant, the course of medications may be altered. This is also true if there is a comorbid diagnosis of an alcohol or substance use issue. In these cases, if medications are needed, psychiatrists are cautious as to what they prescribe as these individuals may be more susceptible to becoming dependent on certain medications.
Medications treat the symptoms of anxiety in women and men but do not ‘cure’ anxiety disorders. For that reason, counseling such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), support groups, and learning stress management techniques are essential.
There are numerous healthy stress management and coping skills that an individual can learn. Practices such as mediation, yoga, exercise, journaling, practicing mindfulness, and more are excellent strategies for relieving anxiety. For anyone suffering from anxiety, acquiring these skills may seem insurmountable now, but once you get the treatment you need and your symptoms of anxiety under control, these approaches can change your life.
The best course of treatment will vary a bit depending on a few factors. Not only is the type and severity of the anxiety disorder essential to determine so too are the causes of anxiety in women and men.
Again, it’s important to take an honest look at your own situation and determine if you may have a co-occurring SUD or AUD as well. If you suspect you do, the right treatment center will be able to help you overcome both and live a happy, anxiety-free, and substance-free life.
Understanding the Causes of Anxiety in Women
Research shows that there can be both genetic and environmental causes for both anxiety disorders and substance use disorders. However, for each type of anxiety disorder and for each person with an anxiety disorder the exact causes, timelines, and ways it manifested can vary.
There are some general risk factors and causes for anxiety. Here are a few:
- Experiencing traumatic, stressful, or negative events in childhood or as an adult
- Family history of anxiety or depression (or another mental illness)
- Physical conditions such as thyroid issues, hormonal changes, or use of drugs or other medications.
When it comes to women and anxiety, it’s important to note the role hormone fluctuations can play. Women’s hormones and anxiety symptoms have been linked in various studies. From hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle to postpartum hormone shifts, if you are a woman experiencing anxiety symptoms it’s crucial to get a physical evaluation to determine if hormonal changes can be contributing to or causing this.
It’s also imperative to determine if you are self-medicating for anxiety symptoms. Alcohol, prescribed medications, and even illicit drugs are often used to combat the sometimes disabling symptoms of an anxiety disorder. If you think you may have a co-occurring alcohol or substance use issue, seek help at a reputable addiction treatment center with an understanding of and focus on treating comorbidities such as addiction and anxiety. Caron Treatment Centers has more than 60 years of experience and success in treating co-occurring disorders.
Their highly experienced clinical staff knows how vital it is to treat any underlying and co-occurring conditions to ensure long-term sobriety.
If you relate to these symptoms of anxiety or a co-occurring disorder, remember you’re not alone and there is help available. Take the first step today and enjoy a life free of anxiety. Caron is here for you with innovative addiction treatment and uncompromising care.
Blog
Sep 17, 2019
Mental Illness and Addiction: Cause? Effect? Co-Occurring?
By Caron Medical Staff
Read Article
Blog
Apr 02, 2020
Conquer Anxiety Without Self-Medicating
By Erin Goodhart, LPC, CAADC, CMAT, CSAT, ACRPS, CCS, CPT Provider
Read Article
News & Resources
May 11, 2020
How to deal with anxiety and improve your mental health
By Business Insider
Read Article
symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
Contents of the article
- Symptoms and signs of a panic attack
- Causes of panic attacks
- Risk factors
- What is the danger of panic attacks
- When to see a doctor
- Preparing for a doctor's visit
- Panic Attack Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Home remedies
- Myths and dangerous misconceptions in the treatment of panic attacks
- Prophylaxis
- How to make an appointment with a psychotherapist
Faced with unexplained agonizing bouts of anxiety and severe anxiety, not everyone can understand what is happening to them. In fact, such a condition in modern medicine is called a panic attack. A feature of this disease are the reasons for its appearance that have not been fully clarified. The occurrence of a panic attack is always sudden and is accompanied by somatic disorders, increased heart rate, dizziness and loss of control.
Symptoms and signs of a panic attack
Data from medical studies confirm that about 5% of the inhabitants of megacities suffer from panic attacks today. Anxiety is accompanied by the following signs of a panic attack:
- feeling of doom and fear of death;
- difficulty breathing and dry mouth;
- severe headaches and dizziness;
- increased sweating;
- nausea;
- increased heart rate;
- weakness and numbness of the limbs;
- a feeling of loss of control and unreality of what is happening around.
People who often experience such a problem need to know how to deal with a panic attack on their own and do it the right way.
Causes of Panic Attacks
Panic attacks with uncontrollable fears are associated primarily with neurological disorders. But the true causes of the development of panic attacks today remain poorly understood. As practice shows, signs of a panic attack can appear in the following cases:
- with vegetative-vascular dystonia;
- against the background of a stressful condition;
- with genetic predisposition;
- in the presence of mental illness.
To this list, you can also add excessive physical activity, being among a large crowd of people, the consequences of hormone therapy, ischemia or stroke, emotional instability of the individual.
Risk factors
Symptoms of panic attacks may appear due to some risk factors:
- hereditary predisposition;
- presence of diseases of the thyroid gland;
- constant stress in the family, at work, loss of a loved one;
- low self-esteem and great suspicion;
- persistent sleep disturbances;
- excessive consumption of alcohol;
- uncontrolled intake of drugs without a doctor's prescription and caffeinated drinks;
- presence of phobias.
What is the danger of panic attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks cannot cause death in a person, but if symptoms and signs of this disorder appear frequently, medical attention should be sought. Otherwise, the risks of developing phobias increase when a person, fearing a recurrence of an attack, will deliberately avoid people, visit supermarkets, and use public transport. There are cases when people became recluses.
Since the fear of panic attacks is considered a mental disorder, if left untreated, serious complications can appear, such as:
- asthenia;
- insomnia;
- depressive states;
- phobias;
- neurasthenia;
- neurosis from panic attacks.
Refusal of timely treatment can lead to a personality disorder, which in the advanced stage cannot be cured. Some people suffering from frequent panic attacks may experience food refusal with the subsequent development of dystrophy and diseases of the internal organs.
Not knowing how to cope with a panic attack, often a person closes in on himself and avoids visiting a professional psychologist, and then the situation can worsen up to suicide.
When to see a doctor
Attacks and symptoms of a panic attack in women and men are not life-threatening, but if left untreated, their frequency and intensity can increase, as a result of which a person becomes a hostage to such situations, he cannot live and work normally. Without delay, make an appointment with our psychotherapists at JSC "Medicina" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) in the Central District of Moscow, if you have at least once encountered a sudden condition that is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- headache, dizziness;
- shortness of breath, shortness of breath;
- fear of death;
- tachycardia, irregular heartbeat;
- increased sweating, chills;
- tremor, numbness of limbs;
- nausea, pain and cramps in the abdomen.
A panic attack doctor - a specialist with extensive experience and a wealth of professional knowledge knows how to get rid of panic attacks effectively.
Preparing for a doctor's visit
Before visiting a psychotherapist, no special preparation is required, but you should be prepared to tell him in detail and in detail about the symptoms and signs of the disease that you experienced during moments of panic. It is important to answer all questions frankly so that the doctor can get a complete picture of the problem and determine how to treat panic attacks.
Panic Attack Diagnosis
Diagnosing the disorder is not easy, even for an experienced professional, as the symptoms of panic attacks can be similar to other mental disorders.
Therefore, an accurate diagnosis includes a number of medical measures:
- external examination of the patient;
- reflex test;
- electrocardiogram;
- examination of the abdomen for the presence / absence of internal bleeding;
- listening to the lungs;
- blood pressure measurement.
In order to rule out other pathologies and accurately establish that the patient is suffering from panic attacks, diagnostics are carried out using modern equipment, special tests and analyses.
Heart rhythm disturbance is studied not by one cardiogram, but by wearing the device for 2 days. With myocardial ischemia, the electrocardiogram is taken at rest with a load. In addition, an ultrasound of the heart is performed. An MRI is performed to rule out a stroke. An MRI is also done to rule out a brain tumor. To rule out bronchial asthma, the patient is tested for allergens and breath tests. Ultrasound studies are performed to determine the presence / absence of internal bleeding.
The presence of mental disorders is determined by a psychotherapist.
Important! If the symptoms of a mental attack with impaired coordination, partial hearing loss, impaired coordination of movements, visual impairment, the occurrence of convulsions of the upper and lower extremities were observed once, then they are not considered signs of the disease.
JSC "Medicina" (clinic of Academician Roitberg) in the Central District of Moscow (nearby metro stations Mayakovskaya, Belorusskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Tverskaya, Chekhovskaya) has all the necessary resources to make an accurate diagnosis and provide qualified assistance to patients.
Treatment
A panic attack is not a sentence, but a completely curable condition. Achievements of modern medicine can reduce the frequency and intensity of seizures, and then completely get rid of this problem. The greatest efficiency is achieved through the use of psychotherapeutic and drug treatment in combination.
Note that the key point in the treatment of panic attacks in women and men is the use of individual psychotherapy. It is this method that makes it possible to determine the causes of fear and teach the patient to control his condition.
In addition, the treatment of panic attacks is carried out using different methods of psychotherapy, depending on how panic attacks manifest themselves:
- cognitive behavioral therapy;
- hypnosuggestive therapy;
- autogenic training.
The most effective form of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which involves removing the patterns of thought and behavior that cause panic attacks.
With the help of a psychotherapist, the patient learns to look and perceive fears not “automatically”, but in a real light. Using a safe method, the doctor simulates situations that cause panic attacks, which allow you to dull the feeling of fear over time, and then the disease can be overcome.
Hypnosuggestive therapy is based on suggestion with a targeted effect on the anxiety state. By receiving correct and positive attitudes from the doctor, the patient learns to overcome panic, protect himself from stress and cope with a panic attack on his own.
Home remedies
If you have had panic attacks, you should know what to do when you have a panic attack. It is recommended that you always have a sedative in the form of an infusion or sedative tablets with you.
Seizures can be controlled by massaging the fingertips and earlobes. Learn to convince yourself that all fears are unfounded and do not pose a threat to you.
Once you learn to look at things realistically, you will be able to get rid of panic attacks. It is necessary to sleep enough, eat healthy food, avoid watching programs and movies that cause psycho-emotional overload and stress. After a panic attack, try not to withdraw into yourself, but look at the world positively, and treat yourself to a cup of tea with mint and honey at night!
Myths and dangerous misconceptions in the treatment of panic attacks
There are various myths about panic attacks, including that they can turn into schizophrenia. In fact, neurosis and panic attacks are related, and this emotional disorder is effectively treated by specialists who know how to deal with panic attacks.
Many people are convinced that there is no effective treatment for such a problem, believing that the pills will have to be taken until death.
This is also a myth, since modern medicine has every opportunity to rid patients of this problem.
Prevention
The best prevention of panic attacks is a positive outlook on everything that happens around, the ability not to exaggerate the problems that accompany us through life. Learn to enjoy every moment of life and not see fears where there are none.
Get enough sleep, give up bad habits, lead an active lifestyle and the world will sparkle for you with new colors. Sign up for yoga classes to learn how to live in harmony with yourself and overcome imaginary fears and concerns.
How to make an appointment with a psychotherapist
This can be done easily and quickly: you can call +7 (495) 775-73-60 around the clock or fill out the form on the website.
Panic attacks - symptoms, causes and treatments
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a severe attack of fear and anxiety for no apparent reason, which is accompanied by bodily reactions: rapid heartbeat and pulse, increased pressure, chills or fever, shortness of breath, dizziness.
Seizures can last from a couple of minutes to half an hour, occur suddenly and as if for no reason. You cannot die from a panic attack, but these attacks worsen a person's life and his psychological state.
Why do panic attacks occur?
There are many reasons for panic attacks. An attack can start due to stress, extreme fatigue, or excessive exercise. Causes can also be hormonal disruptions, somatic (i.e. bodily, not mental) diseases or pathologies of the central nervous system. A conflict situation, abuse of alcohol, coffee can provoke an attack. If a person is prone to avoiding negative emotions and is predisposed to a depressive state, he is also at risk.
To find the cause of panic attacks in a particular person, it is worth consulting a doctor. The doctor will take a medical history, prescribe tests and help with the appropriate treatment.
Symptoms of panic attacks
- How does a panic attack start? It becomes difficult to breathe, limbs begin to tremble and darken in the eyes.
- cold sweat;
- feeling of causeless fear and panic;
- chest pain;
- increased pulse;
- nausea;
- dizziness.
Other symptoms include: If you feel fear or panic and there is a reason for it - for example, before an important exam or job interview, this is normal and understandable. This is how your body reacts to a significant event for you.
Experiencing more than 4 symptoms at the same time without a good reason is most likely the beginning of a panic attack.
Have you experienced similar symptoms of panic attacks and have questions?
Leave your contacts and we will dial you ourselves to answer all questions
Write to
Panic attacks in adolescents
Panic attacks can occur in adolescents in the same way as in adults. The causes of seizures also coincide - stress and strong emotional experiences.
In adolescence, hormonal levels change in adolescents, which makes them less mentally stable.
The nervous system undergoes a great load and reacts to it with panic attacks.
What to do if a teenager has a panic attack? Take the child by the hand and ask to breathe deeply, offer to drink a glass of water. Explain what's happening - it's an attack, but it will pass, you're safe. Offer to name objects of a certain color or play on the phone to distract.
What to do if a teenager has a panic attack? Take the child by the hand and ask to breathe deeply, offer to drink a glass of water. Explain what's happening - it's an attack, but it will pass, you're safe. Offer to name objects of a certain color or play on the phone to distract.
How to deal with panic attacks? 5 Easy Panic Attack Advice - Neurologist's Tips
- Panic Attack First Aid is a series of simple steps that can be taken wherever the attack strikes.
- 1. Breathe. Slow and deep inhalations and exhalations relax the body and help to recover.
- 2. "Ground yourself." Take off your shoes and feel the floor with your feet.
Touch objects with your hands. Pet a cat or dog if they are nearby. - 3. Drink some water.
- 4. Stomp your feet or march in place to help release stress hormones.
- 5. Switch your attention - look around and name 5 objects near you. This will distract you and help you think more calmly.
You can stop an attack yourself. To understand the problem and the causes of panic attacks, we recommend that you consult a doctor. If this is not the first time this has happened, it is imperative to contact a specialist.
What to do in case of a panic attack at night
At night, the human body is relaxed and cannot maintain self-control, so stress seems to “catch up” with the body. Because of this, panic attacks can also occur at night.
To stop a panic attack in the middle of the night, do the following: normalize breathing, drink water, distract yourself.
Panic attacks as a complication after covid
After the coronavirus, the human body is severely depleted.
In addition, isolation, uncertainty, economic difficulties have become a test that people have been struggling with for a long time. Panic attacks appear as one of the consequences of COVID-19as a reaction to stress and excessive emotional stress.
How to treat panic attacks after covid? You can stop the attack with the help of the already described actions - breathing, switching attention.
Since the body is weakened after an illness, it is not recommended to postpone a visit to a specialist. The doctor will determine the possible causes and help choose the treatment so as not to aggravate the condition of a person who has been ill with COVID-19.
Panic attacks: treatment in Kyiv
To start treating panic attacks, you need to contact a doctor - a neurologist and an endocrinologist. Doctors will ask the patient about complaints and prescribe the necessary tests to rule out other diseases that cause similar symptoms.
Diagnosis is carried out by experts from the Time+ Clinic for Neurology and Orthopedics.
