Unraveling the Mystery Behind Anxiety and Panic Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks are very common psychological conditions that can happen to people, regardless of the age, gender, race or lifestyle. Most cases are found to be a direct manifestation of depression or some other underlying psychiatric disorder. However, there are also many other possible factors that can trigger these attacks. In order to stop them completely, it is imperative that you get professional medical help in order to find out what exactly is causing your to have these meltdowns.
There are dozens of possible reasons for anxiety and panic attacks, but depression does top the list. To find out if this is what you are suffering from, you can start by answering the following questions: Do you feel sad all the time for no apparent reason? Are you lacking in energy even for activities that you usually find interesting? Have you been isolating yourself from your friends and family? Do you feel exhausted all the time, even upon waking up in the morning? If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, then it is highly possible that you are suffering from depression and that this is indeed the cause for your sporadic panic attacks.
How Anxiety and Panic Attacks Can Cause Depression
As we have just seen, anxiety and panic attacks normally result from depression but the opposite may also be true. In other words, it is possible for you to experience depression due to frequent anxiety or panic attacks. For instance, let’s say you have a fear of heights. Every time you find yourself in a situation where you will be suspended above the ground, such as jumping from the diving board in the pool or getting into an airplane, you feel extreme panic to the point that you find it hard to breathe or you break out in cold sweat. Needless to say, you will do everything you can to stay away from such situations. Now, if you were suddenly offered that job position that you have always wanted but you find out that it would require frequent flying to different places, it is very likely that you will feel depressed about the whole situation.
This is just one example but there are many other cases where anxiety or panic attacks can actually cause depression and vice versa. In fact, it can often be pretty confusing at times to determine which causes which. For this reason, the best thing to do is to see a doctor the moment you experience symptoms of a psychiatric condition and undergo the necessary treatment as soon as possible.
Anxiety and Panic Attack Disorders Are Stressful
It is becoming more and more common to hear about anxiety and panic attack disorders. They happen in women twice as much as men. When they strike someone, it is usually when they are in a social situation and embarrassment is likely to occur. The thought alone can be overwhelming for those who suffer from them. When a panic attack strikes, it usually results in an increased heartbeat and chest pain. Dizziness and heart palpitations all occur also. The extreme symptoms leave the sufferer feeling like they are going mad or they have the terrifying thought that they could die. The actual symptoms of anxiety and panic attack disorders can be frightening and cause anyone to fear the attacks.
While a certain amount of anxiety is a natural feeling when stressed, it can reach a debilitating point. Anxiety and panic attack disorders can actually keep your real personality under the surface and can keep the sufferers from leading perfectly normal and active lives. It often comes about from an acceptable amount of anxiety and fear which will express itself more severely touching all aspects of your work life and social life. The disorder will cause you everything from basic dread and illness to downright feelings of terror. People with severe forms of anxiety and panic disorders will often become too frightened to leave the house. This can lead to the disorder called agoraphobia in which people only feel safe in their own house.
Prepare To Fight Back Against Anxiety and Panic Disorders
In order to prepare yourself to fight back against anxiety and panic attack disorders, you will have to come to terms with any underlying fear and that can be a long process. You also need to relieve the stresses that come along with it too. While traditional methods of medication and therapy are still very common, natural and holistic routes to control anxiety and panic disorders are becoming more main stream. Treatment cam e lead to overcoming the disorder, unfortunately some are just too frightened to get help they need. Some actually don’t realize they have fallen victim to something that can be treated. Sadly, some sufferers of anxiety and panic disorders feel they just must be crazy and they retreat from society.
In the majority of cases, treatment of the symptoms and disorder works with proper meds. While psychological counseling is sufficient for some, the extra security of medications makes them feel like they are winning the fight. A relapse can happen with treatment too. However, with a good support system anxiety and panic disorders can be overcome.
