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What are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks can be very frightening especially when a person starts to experience them. They are physically, cognitively and emotionally exhausting and are very common.
What are the symptoms?
Panic attacks are a severe attack of anxiety, which can occur very suddenly and often for no apparent reason. The DSM Criteria of symptoms for a diagnosis of panic are as follows:
A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which 4 (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within ten minutes:-
1) Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate.
2) Sweating
3) Trembling or shaking
4) Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5) Feelings of choking
6) Chest pain or discomfort
7) Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed or faint
8) Derealisation (feelings of unreality) or depersonalisation (being detached from oneself)
9) Fear of losing control or going crazy
10) Fear of dying
11) Numbness or tingling sensations
12) Chills or hot flushes.
You may have panic disorder if you have recurring panic attacks. In panic disorder there is often an initial event that causes a panic attack but after this they may strike suddenly with no obvious trigger. People with panic disorder often develop intense anxiety between episodes. They may worry about when the next attack will be and fear the symptoms that they experience. People often worry that they will lose control, go crazy or have a heart attack and die due to the intensity of symptoms.
What’s the Solution?
Cognitive behavioural therapy is an effective and preferred treatment for panic attacks. The CBT model explains that people experience panic due to a misinterpretation of bodily sensations. They catastrophise the symptoms of normal anxiety responses and also other bodily sensations and so may predict they will have another panic attack, lose control, have a heart attack or die. The catastrophising here of normal anxiety responses leads a person to experience intense fear, which results in increased symptoms of anxiety. These more intense symptoms reinforce the idea that something catastrophic will happen and they then experience more extreme anxiety. This cycle can quickly result in a panic attack.
The initial anxiety can be triggered by external cues such as places or situations that a sufferer has already experienced a panic attack in. This can lead to avoidance of situations and activities, which promotes anxiety. A person who suffers from panic attacks can also become hypersensitive to bodily changes and may repeatedly scan their body to see if they are okay. They are apprehensive and more likely to fixate on changes within their body and any changes can be misinterpreted in a catastrophic way, leading to anxiety and the panic cycle.
If you would like a consultation to understand what is maintaining your panic attacks/ disorder and to plan treatment iRise Psychology would be more than happy to help. Our Service is confidential and we always work collaboratively with our clients to ensure the best results. We aim to foster a safe environment, where you can feel positive and empowered.
A Panic Attack Case Study
A Panic Attack Case Study
What are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks can be very frightening especially when a person starts to experience them. They are physically, cognitively and emotionally exhausting and are very common.
What are the symptoms?
Panic attacks are a severe attack of anxiety, which can occur very suddenly and often for no apparent reason. The DSM Criteria of symptoms for a diagnosis of panic are as follows:
A discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which 4 (or more) of the following symptoms developed abruptly and reached a peak within ten minutes:-
1) Palpitations, pounding heart or accelerated heart rate.
2) Sweating
3) Trembling or shaking
4) Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
5) Feelings of choking
6) Chest pain or discomfort
7) Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light headed or faint
8) Derealisation (feelings of unreality) or depersonalisation (being detached from oneself)
9) Fear of losing control or going crazy
10) Fear of dying
11) Numbness or tingling sensations
12) Chills or hot flushes.
You may have panic disorder if you have recurring panic attacks. In panic disorder there is often an initial event that causes a panic attack but after this they may strike suddenly with no obvious trigger. People with panic disorder often develop intense anxiety between episodes. They may worry about when the next attack will be and fear the symptoms that they experience. People often worry that they will lose control, go crazy or have a heart attack and die due to the intensity of symptoms.
What’s the Solution?
Cognitive behavioural therapy is an effective and preferred treatment for panic attacks. The CBT model explains that people experience panic due to a misinterpretation of bodily sensations. They catastrophise the symptoms of normal anxiety responses and also other bodily sensations and so may predict they will have another panic attack, lose control, have a heart attack or die. The catastrophising here of normal anxiety responses leads a person to experience intense fear, which results in increased symptoms of anxiety. These more intense symptoms reinforce the idea that something catastrophic will happen and they then experience more extreme anxiety. This cycle can quickly result in a panic attack.
The initial anxiety can be triggered by external cues such as places or situations that a sufferer has already experienced a panic attack in. This can lead to avoidance of situations and activities, which promotes anxiety. A person who suffers from panic attacks can also become hypersensitive to bodily changes and may repeatedly scan their body to see if they are okay. They are apprehensive and more likely to fixate on changes within their body and any changes can be misinterpreted in a catastrophic way, leading to anxiety and the panic cycle.
If you would like a consultation to understand what is maintaining your panic attacks/ disorder and to plan treatment Mentis Psychology would be more than happy to help. Our Service is confidential and we always work collaboratively with our clients to ensure the best results. We aim to foster a safe environment, where you can feel positive and empowered.
