Get A Free Report at www.aboutpanicattacks.net Anxiety disorders can be extremely scary to live with. They keep you in a state of fear in anticipation that something terrible might happen, a feeling that youre under threat. Though the sense of being under threat can be real or imaginary, the effects are devastating. Most people who havent experienced extreme anxiety or a panic attack, cannot understand how terrifying the experience is. Theres a sensation of losing control, the heart throbs violently, the chest tightens leading to breathlessness, dizziness takes over and you dont feel all there… Its as if part of you is present, while another part of you is absent!

Without any real cause, a panic can occur. Increased heartbeat, difficulty in breathing, chest pains, nausea, dizziness, tingling or numbness of the hands, hot flashes or chills are some of the symptoms experienced by the body of the individual suffering in responding to an irrational fear. Some symptoms may also be experienced in a cognitive or mental manifestation. A person suffering might feel extreme terror and anxiety on losing control. These individuals might also feel extreme fear of possibly being embarrassed or of dying.

Individuals who suffer from the disorder also feel anxious that they might also experience another panic soon. Individuals who have history of attacks are also more prone to suffering another one. Thus, people tend to avoid specific stimulus because they are afraid that another panic may occur again because of that particular stimulus. These stimuli that have already been associated with the attack may become the focus of an arising phobia.

The sudden and unexpected onsets of a panic serves as the primary distinction between a panic attack and other anxiety disorders. These onsets can disable the individual, even without any provoking cause. An anxiety disorder is often manifested by episodes of panic. A panic disorder is also indicated by signs of extreme anxiety and avoidance levels. Effective and appropriate treatment is necessary to alleviate the serious consequences and effects of attacks on the individual. These attacks threaten approximately 1.7% of adult Americans. Individuals with ages 15 to 19 years old are more prone to experiencing panic.

Although an attack only lasts for minutes, the distress that it can cause an individual cannot be ignored. The fear of a potential recurrence of it can be attributed to its close resemblance to heart attacks, which are considered fatal. Even while a person is sleeping, he or she is still not immune or safe from panic. Though less common than daytime panic, nocturnal panic attacks also threaten 40% to 70% of those individuals who have had daytime attacks. When a person experiences an attack while sleeping, he or she awakens quickly and exhibits the usual manifestations. These nocturnal panics can occur without any apparent cause. The time a person needs to stay calm after the attack is often much longer than the actual duration of the attack itself.

The symptoms of panic attacks may affect each individual in a different intensity or level. However, despite these individual differences, such basic symptoms are still considered common and prevalent.

Alex J Schneider is an avid panic attacks researcher and expert. For more in depth information on panic attack symptom, visit www.PanicAttacksSolutions.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/how-to-spot-a-panic-attack-1696191.html

Causes of Panic Attacks

The short and obvious answer: panic attacks are caused by high anxiety. But, what exactly is anxiety? Understanding how anxiety crops up will help you defeat panic attacks.

One of the biggest myths surrounding anxiety is that it is harmful and can lead to a number of various life-threatening conditions.

Definition of Anxiety

Anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension or fear resulting from the anticipation of a real or imagined threat, event, or situation. It is one of the most common human emotions experienced by people at some point in their lives.

However, most people who have never experienced a panic attack, or extreme anxiety, fail to realize the terrifying nature of the experience. Extreme dizziness, blurred vision, tingling and feelings of breathlessness—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg!

When these sensations occur and people do not understand why, they feel they have contracted an illness, or a serious mental condition. The threat of losing complete control seems very real and naturally very terrifying.

Fight/Flight Response: One of the root causes of panic attacks?

I am sure most of you have heard of the fight/flight response as an explanation for one of the root causes of panic attacks. Have you made the connection between this response and the unusual sensations you experience during and after a panic attack episode?

Anxiety is a response to a danger or threat. It is so named because all of its effects are aimed toward either fighting or fleeing from the danger. Thus, the sole purpose of anxiety is to protect the individual from harm. This may seem ironic given that you no doubt feel your anxiety is actually causing you great harm…perhaps the most significant of all the causes of panic attacks Once the symptoms become evident we must lookout for Natural Treatment for Panic Attacks and find out how to cure panic attacks naturally.

However, the anxiety that the fight/flight response created was vital in the daily survival of our ancient ancestors—when faced with some danger, an automatic response would take over that propelled them to take immediate action such as attack or run. Even in today’s hectic world, this is still a necessary mechanism. It comes in useful when you must respond to a real threat within a split second.

Anxiety is a built-in mechanism to protect us from danger. Interestingly, it is a mechanism that protects but does not harm—an important point that will be elaborated upon later.

The Physical Manifestations of a Panic Attack:
Other pieces of the puzzle to understand the causes of panic attacks. Nervousness and Chemical Effects…

When confronted with danger, the brain sends signals to a section of the nervous system. It is this system that is responsible for gearing the body up for action and also calms the body down and restores equilibrium. To carry out these two vital functions, the autonomic nervous system has two subsections, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

Although I don’t want to become too “scientific,” having a basic understanding of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system will help you understand the causes of panic attacks.

The sympathetic nervous system is the one we tend to know all too much about because it primes our body for action, readies us for the “fight or flight” response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is the one we love dearly as it serves as our restoring system, which returns the body to its normal state.

For More Information on How to Cure Panic Attacks Naturally .i.e. Natural Cure For Panic Attacks Visit: Natural Treatment For Panic Attacks

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/how-to-cure-panic-attacks-naturally-natural-cures-for-panic-attacks-1660425.html

Many people describe anxiety attacks as a lightning bolt out of a clear blue sky due to the sudden onset of extremely uncomfortable symptoms. Their breathing become rapid, they start gasping for air while their heart starts pounding madly, they feel numb and dizzy. These symptoms can be so intense that they feeling like dieing – literally.

For most, anxiety attacks often occur without warning and with no apparent reason. A person who have no anxiety problems in his whole life may simply start to have one suddenly.

The main problems comes when it start interfering with normal daily activity. For instances, a person may never have difficulties shopping alone, taking a bus or eating in public when they unexpectedly have an “attack” during one of those situation. After that episode, he could be so traumatized by it that he start associating that situation with extreme anxiety and avoid it.

For others, the thought of being alone is enough to trigger another attack itself. They seek security in the company of others and is convinced that their personal safety depends on having someone nearby at all times.

I am sure you will agree that neither situation can be deemed acceptable. You cannot lead this kind of life forever.

The good news is that anxiety attacks can be controlled and stopped forever. The biggest hurdle is in understanding the myths and facts about it. A large part of their fear of anxiety attacks stem from the thinking that it will kill them – which is totally untrue.

Myth: The attacks are caused by my medical problems.

Facts: Anxiety attacks are rarely caused by medical problems. BUT the way you REACT to your medical problems CAN induce anxiety attacks.

Myth: I am having a heart attack!

Facts: Unless you have an existing heart condition, such attacks DO NOT pose any threats to the heart. You CANNOT have a heart attack due to anxiety.

Myth: I REALLY feel like dieing, its so real, what if its true?

Facts: No matter how great that feeling is or how bad the symptoms are, it doesn’t change this fact – you are NEVER going to die from anxiety attacks. Not convinced? Seek out the emergency room physician who have seen thousands of people who sincerely believes that they are going to die from anxiety attacks, NONE of them died when they left the hospital.

Does any of these myths applies to you?

To control anxiety attacks and stop it forever, you need to tackle its roots – fear. This irrational fear is the main culprit. The fear of having another attack, constantly dreading that it will happen again. Its this feeling that causes it to occur again and again.

Know that you cannot be harmed, you will ALWAYS be fine. You feel like having a heart attack, you feel like fainting and dieing. But will it happen? NO! It NEVER happen. Convince yourself of this fact. Know that anxiety attacks can never harm you and you have nothing to fear!

Never Suffer From Anxiety Attacks Again!

Get the FREE Anxiety Attack Report Now and Get Rid Of Anxiety Attack Forever!

Article Directory: EzineArticles http://ezinearticles.com

Panic attacks can happen for many reasons. For some people, a stressful or traumatic experience as a child can trigger panic attacks. There are some who experience such extreme anxiety that they are unable to think clearly or function normally when the feelings hit them. Emotional problems, stress or anxiety can also trigger panic attacks.

The good news is this: medications are not required to cure panic attacks. There are methods to follow to cure panic attacks in a wholesome, natural way. Although there are those who choose the route of medication or drugs to cure their symptoms, the panic attacks may not cease altogether if the root of the problem is not addressed. Medications can sometimes simply mask the problem instead of solving it. Unfortunately, many become addicted to the very drugs that are supposed to help them overcome or cure their panic attacks. One problem might seem better, but another has developed.

You’ve heard it before, balance is key in our lives. Proper diet, daily exercise and healthy habits are essential for keeping our bodies and minds in tip-top shape. Curing panic attacks is no different. When we allow panic attacks to rule our lives, other areas are neglected, such as proper nutrition and exercise.

Caffeine can be problematic for a lot of people, even when they don’t suffer from panic attacks. Those who do however, are more prone to the effects of caffeine. Avoid coffee, sodas, caffeinated herbal teas, energy drinks, and alcoholic beverages. These cause the heart to increase its palpitations and can cause a panic attack. Keep track of what you are eating as much as possible so you can possibly pinpoint what foods might be triggering a panic attack. Once those foods are identified, stay away from them and make other healthy choices.

Stay active! Walking, swimming, dancing, strength training, jumping rope or just playing soccer in the back yard with your children will have great benefits to your overall health and physical and emotional well-being. It’s all connected! If exercising daily is a challenge for you, find a friend to exercise with you and then keep each other accountable. Exercise as a family by taking hikes together or simply by taking a bicycle ride on the local bike path. Anything we do physically will help to prevent and eventually cure panic attacks altogether.

Are you a smoker? Try to quit completely. Even though many people who smoke will tell you that smoking helps them relax, studies have shown there is no relation between smoking and relieving panic attacks. Plus, your body benefits immensely too!

Proper rest is vital to keeping our minds and bodies healthy. Everyone is different as far as how much sleep they need. However, it is recommended for most to get 7-9 hours of sleep a night in order to refresh our minds and bodies. If you are exhausted, everything else in your life is affected, so make sure to allow time for sleep, no matter what projects need to be completed.

Other natural methods to consider would be aromatherapy and decaffeinated chamomile tea before bed. A daily intake of vitamins such as vitamin B, magnesium and calcium has been shown to calm the nervous system and help to cure panic attacks. Don’t forget your minerals which are also important for overall health.

For more information on natural cures for panic attacks visit About Panic Attacks at http://aboutpanicattacks.blogspot.com/

Article Directory: EzineArticles http://ezinearticles.com