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Dr. Paul Latimer
By Dr. Paul Latimer
Panic. Your heart races, palms sweat and body shakes. You feel as though you’re choking and losing your breath as a bout of dizziness overtakes you. This is out of control.
Imagine feeling this way on a regular basis. People with an anxiety disorder called panic disorder experience recurring panic attacks—brief but intense periods of fear throughout their adult lives. Physical symptoms such as the few described above are common and the individuals often believe they are either experiencing a heart attack or going crazy.
Everyone has probably felt intense fear at some point in life. The body’s natural fight or flight response kicks in to help keep us out of danger. When in a threatening situation, this response is a good thing, but not when it happens for little or no reason.
Panic attacks come on suddenly with no warning and no way to stop them. The level of fear is not appropriate to the situation and is often completely unrelated or unprovoked. Usually, panic attacks subside in a few minutes, but repeated attacks can go on for hours. They are terrifying and physically exhausting.
Panic disorder occurs when the attacks are recurrent. At least one panic attack must also be followed by a month or more of concern over having more attacks, worry about the implications of the attack or a significant change in behaviour (such as avoiding activities) as a result of the attack.
This frightening illness affects approximately one in every 75 individuals and is usually a chronic condition that lasts throughout a person’s adult life. Because the physical symptoms associated with a panic attack can mimic other serious illnesses, diagnosis can be delayed and it is not uncommon for it to take several years before panic disorder is identified.
As with many psychiatric conditions, an exact cause for panic disorder is not yet understood, but genetic and environmental factors both play a role. If there is already anxiety or depression in a family, it is more likely for an individual to develop the disorder. Also, environmental situations such as stressful transitions like exams, marriage or moving can be triggers for panic disorder.
Although panic attacks are not dangerous, they are extremely frightening and make it nearly impossible to function in certain situations. Phobias such as agoraphobia are very common in individuals with panic disorder as are depression and substance abuse and often develop as a result of the underlying panic disorder.
Fortunately, effective treatment is available for panic disorder. Antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications can help to alleviate anxiety symptoms and prevent panic attacks from occurring.
Cognitive-behaviour therapy can also be useful at helping individuals understand the symptoms of a panic attack and learn techniques to lessen their effects. The most important element of this treatment is the elimination of avoidance behaviour. Often the avoidance behaviour becomes more disabling than the panic attacks themselves.
Lifestyle strategies like getting enough sleep and regular exercise and avoiding caffeine and alcohol can also help to reduce panic attacks. Minimizing stress where possible and learning ways to deal with it effectively may also be helpful to individuals experiencing panic attacks.
Paul Latimer- psychiatrist, medical researcher, and writer has recently published a book entitled MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS. This is a compilation of articles, written with his daughter Megan, to inform the public about common psychiatric issues. For more information about Dr Latimer and his work visit www.okanaganclinicaltrials.com.
