Myth #1 – Panic Attack Sufferers Have A Heart Disorder

Although a sufferer may indeed have a heart disorder for any number of reasons, it isn’t as a direct result of suffering from panic attacks. Rather, during an attack, the symptoms are such that the sufferer actually ‘feels’ as though they are having a heart attack.

Some of the symptoms of a panic / anxiety attack — tightness across chest, rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, sweating, tingling fingers, etc. — are similar to those of a heart attack, and so the sufferer can be forgiven for believing that they are having one. But they aren’t.

The symptoms of a panic or anxiety attack are due to your body’s primeval response to a perceived ‘danger’ so that it sets you up mentally and physically to be able to fight or run away; what we call your body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.

To your subconscious mind, a simple thing like a spike of very high anxiety can be perceived as a ‘danger’ sign, so it very quickly resorts to a fight or flight response. It doesn’t take time to figure out if there is indeed physical danger present, it just assumes there is, as this quite naturally is the safest assumption in order to protect you.

In a fight or fight response there are almost instantaneous changes in your mind and around your body. But, you are unaware of any ‘danger’ (because there isn’t any), so these changes are confusing to you. The result is that the total effect of the changes appear as the symptoms of a panic / anxiety attack, which is often confused with having a heart attack.

Myth #2 – People Who Suffer From Anxiety and Panic Attacks Are Nuts

Absolutely not! There is no doubt that we can say that the symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks are so frightening that they ‘drive one crazy’ but of course we don’t mean that literally. It’s just that the symptoms of an attack, incl. nausea, stomach cramps, hyperventilation, dizziness, a feeling of being detached from reality, as well as those shown above, are indeed terrifying.

So if you suffer from anxiety and anxiety / panic attacks you are not crazy, loco, off you head, nuts, mental, loopy, or any other term you care to mention. You are quite sane, just scared of having another attack. And who can blame you? Not anyone who has ever suffered an attack, that’s for sure.

Now here’s the key; that very fear of another attack is the thing that is stopping you getting to grips with your anxiety and preventing further attacks…

You see, the fear — which can be a conscious or unconscious fear — builds your already higher-than-normal anxiety levels even higher. This on its own, or, in conjunction with an everyday stressful event, can push your overall anxiety so high that your unconscious mind perceives this as a dangerous situation that requires a ‘fight or flight’ response. The result? You’ve guessed it — another panic attack!

You need to break this vicious cycle — anxiety > panic attack > fear > increased anxiety > panic attack > fear > increased anxiety > panic attack > fear, etc., etc. — in order to prevent panic attacks and cure your general anxiety.

To discover the simple ‘ONE MOVE’ technique that will eliminate your fear factor and so break your vicious cycle of anxiety at last, go here now http://eliminatepanicattacks.blogspot.com and prepare to get your old self back again.

The author constantly researches health issues then writes reports on his findings so that you are perhaps more aware of the facts, and then, better able to make an informed decision on your choice of treatment and cure. Remember to always consult your doctor first. Please go here now http://eliminatepanicattacks.blogspot.com and prepare to get your old self back again.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/panic-attacks-myths-debunked-1648324.html

Symptoms of Panic Attacks

First you should get to recognise the main symptoms of panic attacks. These are; tight chest and / or throat, racing heart, palpitations, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, shaking, dizziness, tingling fingers, nausea, a feeling of detachment, a fear that something terrible is about to happen, e.g. death.

These symptoms are truly frightening, and to the victim, very real. However, they aren’t real, but just the body’s primeval reaction to a perceived dangerous situation which doesn’t in fact exist, but occurs through the sufferer’s irrational fear or fears. In other words, there’s no foundation to the symptoms, they are just symptoms, and can’t harm you.

Causes of Panic Attacks

Everyone suffers from a certain level of anxiety in their lives, this is natural in today’s world. And they handle both the anxiety and the stress that can occur due to certain events or situations. But someone who has severe anxiety on a daily basis over a prolonged period of time, may have difficulty handling these stressful events.

In this case, an everyday stressful event like being stuck in an elevator, held up in traffic, a job interview, an exam, etc., can trigger a panic attack. So you have two things going on; heightened anxiety and resultant panic attacks.

Now the causes of the general anxiety may be one or more of several things; genetics (family history of anxiety and panic attacks), gender (women are 50% more likely to have anxiety and panic attacks), medical conditions (e.g. mitral valve prolapse), medications (e.g. Ritalin), fears & phobias, and a traumatic event or events earlier in life.

7 Things to Help Prevent Panic Attacks

Apart from mainstream medications like tranquilizers and antidepressants, which can have some nasty side effects, there are several natural things that you can do to try to stop panic attacks happening again. Here are 7 things you can do to help stop panic attacks…

1. Get to know the symptoms: You’ve already made a good start by getting to know what the symptoms and underlying causes are, and, you now know that panic attacks cannot cause you harm. But continue with your research and also talk to your doctor.

2. Get plenty of sleep: It’s very important to get 8 hours uninterrupted sleep during the night, so that your body can recover and recharge after your energy-sapping days. Here are some tips to help; don’t go to bed on a full stomach; don’t take caffeine before bed; don’t drink alcohol before bed; don’t read too long in bed; ensure your mattress is the most comfortable for you; ensure the bedroom is completely darkened; shut out all extraneous noise, etc.

3. Use known techniques to help relax: Learn how to meditate, attend yoga classes, what about self-hypnosis? Practising these techniques can reduce stress and improve your sense of overall well-being.

4. Cut-out stimulants: Stimulants are believed to be a trigger for panic attacks. So anything with caffeine in it, e.g. coffee, tea, etc., should be avoided. Avoid, or seriously reduce, smoking and alcohol too.

5. Eat a healthy diet: Cut-out preserved and processed foods. Stick to natural and organic if you can. Eat your 5 portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. A healthy, well balanced diet, is conducive to your overall health and helps to build-up your immune system to ward off illnesses and infections. If you know you are overweight, this may be playing a part in your anxiety, so a well balanced diet can help here too.

6. Exercise daily: This helps to improve your overall health position both in body and mind. Choose the exercise that suits you best and that you will enjoy, it shouldn’t be a drudge: for example running, power walking, walking the dog, swimming, pilates, dancing, home workouts, etc.

7. Reduce stress wherever you can: With higher levels of anxiety, a relatively small stressful event can trigger a panic attack. So get to recognise typical stressful situations that affect you, and either avoid them or learn how to deal with them better. Many times it’s just about putting value on your health above other things.

For example; don’t take more work on than you can reasonable handle; do take more time off, but use it to relax, not to take on other stressful stuff; if driving to work everyday is stressful, can public transport take the strain?; when shopping, can you go outside the busy times when there are less crowds? etc.

All of the above can help to prevent further panic attacks. However, a key determinant in recurring panic attacks is the very ‘fear’ of having another one. This fear is imprinted in your psyche because the panic attack symptoms you experienced were so terrifying.

The fear builds on your already heightened anxiety so that a relatively small stressful event can trigger another panic attack.

This is the ‘cycle of anxiety’ (anxiety > fear > panic attack > anxiety > fear > panic attack, etc.) that has to be broken if you are to stop panic attacks and cure your general anxiety.

To discover just how you can break this vicious cycle of anxiety in order to stop panic attacks and cure your anxiety, please go to http://eliminatepanicattacks.blogspot.com and get your life back on track again.

Everybody feels stress and anxiety most every day. Things like going for a job interview, an exam, driving in traffic, running late for an appointment, shopping in a crowded supermarket, etc. But these feelings never rule most people’s lives. They are usually able to overcome these daily 21st century stresses.

But when these normal levels of anxiety are unnaturally elevated, they start to impact on your ability to lead a normal life. And the result is that a relatively small increase in stress, above an already higher level of general anxiety, can trigger a dreaded panic attack. And once having suffered a panic attack you are more likely to suffer another.

The typical symptoms of panic attacks are; a racing heart, sweating, tightness in chest, tightness in throat, dizziness, a feeling of detachment, tingling fingers, nausea, and, the feeling of impending doom. Many sufferers truly believe they are having a heart attack. Around 25% of people admitted to emergency rooms in hospitals thinking they have had a heart attack, find out that it has been a panic attack.

And once having had a panic attack, the experience is just so frightening, that many folks withdraw into themselves. For example, if their attack happened while driving, they are scared to get into a car again. If it happened in the crowded supermarket, they stop going there again. It can affect work, relationships, and everyday living.

This of course impacts the sufferers’ lives immensely. This then increases their already higher general anxiety levels, which in turn increases their risk of more panic attacks. There is also an increased risk of depression setting in. This is why it’s so very important to seek expert help as soon as possible.

Mainstream treatment usually takes the form of drug-based medication (like tranquilizers, antidepressants and sometimes beta-blockers), psychotherapy, counselling, support groups etc. Other therapies are things like yoga, meditation, and self-hypnosis, etc. These either work on the brain chemistry, or, help you to cope with your anxiety and panic attacks.

But one of the critical factors in the onset of panic attacks, is the ‘fear’ of having another panic attack. This fear is imbedded in your psyche, raising the levels of anxiety, so that a relatively small spike in stress can cause another panic attack. It’s a vicious cycle of anxiety that you must break out of in order to be free from anxiety and eliminate panic attacks. But this is unlikely to happen with drugs, lifestyle changes and / or ‘coping’ therapies. You need to find a proven way to get rid of your psychological fear of having another panic attack.

To discover just how you can break your vicious cycle of anxiety in order to prevent future panic attacks please go to http://eliminatepanicattacks.blogspot.com and get your life back, totally free from anxiety and panic attacks.