subject: Panic Attack: The Worst Level Of Anxiety Disorder [print this page] Usually used interchangeably, panic and anxiety disorder are two different things. Anxiety is worrying about something that is to come. The anxiety disorder is comprised of different levels which have different responses, manifestations and effects on the person: mild, moderate, severe and panic disorder. Yes, you read it right; panic is actually an anxiety disorder level. It is considered to be the worst case of anxiety disorder.
Panic is a state where a person is feeling intense fear and paralysis. Panic attack usually happens between 15 to 30 minutes. The attack is incorporated with physiological discomfort and intense fear. The physiological discomfort is caused by the different physiological effects that panic attack have. Palpitations, sweating, tremors, shortness of breath, sense of suffocation, chest pain, nausea, abdominal distress, dizziness, chills, hot flashes and paresthesias or tingling sensations.
You are diagnosed to have panic level of anxiety disorder if there is a recurrent on the unexpected panic attacks. Another manifestation is at least one month of persistent worry for future attacks. 75% of the people with panic level of anxiety disorder are initially spontaneous attacks. Moreover, 50% of the people in this level have agoraphobia or the fear of being outside and being in a crowded place. This level is more common with people who haven't graduated yet in college and are not married yet. The risk of having this kind of anxiety level is increased by 18% if a person is in depression.
Panic attack is a normal occurrence for people who are in a life-threatening situation. Most people under his level develop avoidance behavior which results to agoraphobia. With the avoidance behavior, the person diagnosed with this last level of anxiety tries as much as possible to avoid people. This avoidance is brought about by the fear of having another panic attack which might hurt his pride especially when it occurs around many people. And as time passes by that this behavior goes on, the person develops agoraphobia.
The treatment for this disorder first comes with self- motivation techniques. Cognitive behavioral techniques are needed to be used so as to reverse the behavior developed by the person to accord with the disorder. Relaxation and deep breathing is a must especially when the attack starts. Relaxing would be the key for this disorder. However, if the disorder cannot be fixed by these techniques, medications should now be used. Medications like benzodiazepines, SSRI antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants and hypertensives like clonidine and propandol. But before taking these medications, be sure to seek for expert's advice.
