subject: Panic Attacks - Brain Disorder Facts [print this page] People suffering from panic seizures often ask themselves this question that leaves them at loss, are panic attacks symptom of brain disorder? To understand this question, first we have to find out about the causes of a panic seizure and what influences it. Feeling fear or panic can be explained as a normal reply of the body towards the feeling of impending danger. The problem however, is when this escalates to a severe state. Let us know more about the distinction between panic attacks - brain disorder.
Usually the shortness of breath in a panic attack is considered to be the fight or flight response of the body to a perceived threat. The mental activity of a person during a panic attack is suddenly moving to the mid brain, which results to the sudden escalation of panic and fear. Medical research show that during a panic attack, the activity of the brain moves from the front section to the mid section.
Once panic episodes happen, the person going through it may have a tough time of calming himself, in able to restore and recover a relaxed state. Brain activity should tone down, because in a panic seizure the brain is working in overdrive. Exercising control over it is the only way to turn it back to thinking rationally, this shows that one symptom of a panic seizure is losing an attachment to reality.
The first panic attack is usually the worst; this will measure out any succeeding attacks. The brain is usually wired to fear any other upcoming attacks, being consumed with thoughts that an impending panic attack is about to happen can be enough cause to give rise to the body's adrenaline levels.
The hormone adrenaline is produced when a person feels a sudden feeling of anxiety and fear. Adrenaline is the hormone that is responsible in activating the fight or flight reply of the body. This can also cause a sudden increase in heart beats, and cause the body to sweat a lot that may indicate an impending panic seizure.
A panic episode can hit anyone, anywhere and at anytime, this can be bothersome when a panic episode begins to interfere with your daily activities. It doesn't matter if you are sickly or healthy, a panic episode can strike anyone and this can usually start to act up in adolescence.
Traumatic experiences and stress are often the reason for a panic attack. There are also other factors that may cause it like phobias, genetic inheritance, medication side effects and even drug or alcohol abuse.
Brain disorder on the other hand happens because of lack of oxygen that goes to the brain; this can usually cause stroke or brain damage. Lack of medication for panic seizures may result to changes in the functions of the brain but these are not major causes for brain disorder.
Panic seizures and panic disorders can be stopped, the triggers that cause a panic seizure to happen can also be known and intervention can be done. This can also be prevented by extensive psychotherapy and taking medications. People who are exposed to too much stress can suffer from recurrences even if undergoing treatment.
Panic attacks and brain disorder are two different medical problems that should be given treatment separately. Panic attacks and their symptoms do not cause brain disorder and it does not make a person clinically insane.
