Anxiety and panic attacks Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Anxiety and panic attacks

Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

There is more and more talk about anxiety and panic attacks in the world. It has become a common problem, even among young people. Unfortunately, education in this area is very low, so people often only turn to for help if there are other problems, such as the breakdown of the relationship. How to recognize anxiety and panic attacks, why they occur and what can we do to avoid or prevent them?

What is anxiety and why does it occur?

Anxiety is the body's reaction to a real or imagined dangerous situation, explains the psychotherapist. This can be compared to a situation where a fire or security alarm goes off - the human body reacts with a sense of anxiety in the mind and body. The biological function of anxiety is to protect, but if stressful problems are not resolved, the anxiety can become chronic. It can be years of family stress, mobbing at school or work, and other long-term stressful situations.

Prolonged anxiety is very harmful to health - it changes the whole body and becomes an autonomous disease, which is most often not recognized and treated. Also, a person suffers from chronic anxiety psychologically - he develops neurosis, panic, depression and other health disorders.

Main signs of anxiety:

• Fast breathing and heartbeat,
• Muscle tension,
• It can be both temporary and chronic,

Chronic anxiety is characterized by a variety of pain in any part of the body, high blood pressure, headache, abdominal discomfort.

What are panic attacks and what causes them?

During a panic attack, the feeling of anxiety increases dramatically, emphasizes the psychotherapist. 

A person feels indescribable horrors, usually a hard heartbeat, fast breathing, may be dizziness, nausea, feeling unsteady, tingling in the hands and feet. A person with panic also has manifestations of vegetarianism. During a panic attack, a person feels that he will immediately die or become confused and lose control of his body and mind. Often, when experiencing a panic attack for the first time, people call an ambulance.

Panic can become chronic if not treated properly, so a person should be examined by a family doctor after an attack. If no physical illness is found that could cause symptoms, panic is diagnosed by listening to and evaluating what the patient is saying. The main causes of panic attacks are often years of untreated anxiety or a recent unpleasant event - the death of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce.

Tips for preventing and preventing anxiety and panic attacks

• Anxiety in response to a dangerous situation does not have to be eliminated. It will help to mobilize, find a solution. However, to alleviate the symptoms, the psychotherapist recommends:
• Learn to relax. Try relaxing exercises, meditation, awareness training, rest,
• Understand the causes. The causes of anxiety and stress need to be understood and then addressed or reduced,
• Don't be afraid. One must learn not to be afraid of anxiety or fear, to observe, to be aware, to accept these emotions,
• Learn to manage emotions. We have to learn to manage our emotional world every day - to deal with our experiences and external challenges,
• Be physically active. Regular and proper physical activity will help you organize your thoughts and feel better.
• Feel free to consult a specialist. If the feeling of anxiety affects your daily routine, do not wait for it to develop into more serious problems and see a doctor.

When to go to a specialist?

In case of anxiety or panic attacks, it is recommended to consult a specialist - the sooner the anxiety and panic is treated, the better the result. If a person seeks help from a psychotherapist after the first panic attack, it is often possible to help within a few months. If anxiety and panic have been felt for years, then years will also have to deal with the distressing symptoms.

Antidepressants can be a good help in chronic anxiety and panic. However, they usually need to be used for months and definitely under medical supervision.

How to help?

If an anxiety or panic attack is experienced by a loved one, the psychotherapist recommends that you be around and calm down, saying that the panic attack or anxiety is not dangerous, it will go away. It 

is important to encourage people to seek professional help so that they can learn ways to deal with the distressing symptoms.

Pharmacist advice

The pharmacist emphasizes that today high standards have been set in the material, educational, work and other fields, and many spend a lot of energy to achieve them, which in turn causes chronic stress and anxiety. This can lead to increased susceptibility to viral infections, fluctuations in blood pressure, arrhythmias, indigestion, irregular bowel movements, chest and abdominal pain, tension headaches, neck and back pain, thyroid problems and other problems, including unhealthy and unhealthy .

To be more successful at the table with stressful situations, the pharmacist recommends medicinal teas - chamomile, valerian. Soothing baths (such as lavender baths), relaxing music and meditation will also help. It is also recommended to take more vitamin C (up to 1000 milligrams per day) and, if necessary, sedative herbal remedies in the form of capsules and syrups. Magnesium-containing medicines and food supplements will also be on the job.

Lifestyle factors that can help cope with increased stress and anxiety include physical activity (20 minutes three times a week is recommended). Consumption of alcohol, caffeine and sugar should also be reduced. All of these substances cause the body's "fight or flight" reflex, exacerbating the physical symptoms of stress. It is also recommended to quit smoking and other harmful habits.

According to the pharmacist, stress, anxiety and anxiety can be reduced in the long run by planning your time, sleeping qualitatively, evaluating stressful situations and observing a healthy lifestyle. Efforts must be made to find the cause that can cause seizures and these "irritating" factors must be avoided. It is also very important not to ignore these symptoms and see a doctor in time. Your pharmacist will advise you on finding a support person to help you get to your doctor - family doctor, psychiatrist, psychotherapist or neurologist - who will help you find the cause of your seizures.