What is an Anxiety Attack?
Anxiety attacks are unexpected bouts of intense fear or discomfort that feel like they could endanger your life. They can occur anytime and usually stem from some trigger or stressful situation.
These symptoms can be intense and last for minutes or more. You may experience a racing heartbeat, sweating and shortness of breath – it may feel like your body is going into fight-or-flight mode.
Panic disorder is a mental health condition characterized by repeated panic attacks. It can be difficult to live with and may impact your ability to work, travel, or carry out daily tasks.
Family History: Your risk for developing panic disorder is increased by 40% if one of your first-degree relatives, such as a parent or sibling, has the condition. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) may also put you at an increased risk.
Medications and Therapy: Panic disorder can be treated with medication and psychotherapy from a trained mental health professional. Common medications used for this condition include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and benzodiazepines.
Talking About What Causes Your Anxiety: A licensed counselor or psychologist can assist in recognizing the triggers that cause panic attacks and providing you with coping techniques. You may also learn to alter your thoughts and behaviors in order to reduce the intensity and duration of these episodes.
Practice Deep Breathing: Take a deep, slow breath in through your nose, then exhale slowly through your mouth. This can help reduce the symptoms of hyperventilating during an attack and relax you.
