Panic Disorder – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Causes and Risk Factors

Experts aren’t able to point their fingers exactly at one particular cause of the ailment. However, they have identified following as the common causes and risk factors of panic disorders:

• People in the age group of 18 to 35 (teenagers and young adults are more prone to panic attacks than others)

• Imbalances in the functioning of the amygdala (the brain’s part to manage fear)

• Imbalances in the neurotransmitters, serotonin, and cortisol

• Previous cases of panic disorders in the family (especially close relatives like parents, children, and siblings)

• People with past trauma or troubled childhood (such as victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence)

• Someone with an already existing mental health condition (like anxiety disorders, depression, etc.)

• Individuals with an already existing phobia (i.e., fear or something)

• Major situations during a particular stage in life, such as the loss of a close family member, trouble in marital life, loss of a job, and childbirth

Symptoms of Panic Disorder

The pain and symptoms one can experience during a panic disorder are almost similar to those experienced during a heart attack. Symptoms of a panic disorder include:

• Pain in the chest

• Feeling of nausea

• Repeated and extreme sense of fear all of a sudden or as a reaction to a particular situation

• Severe palpitations

• The feeling of being choked

• Difficulty in breathing, known as hyperventilation

• Profuse sweating

• Shivering of the body

• Fatigue

• No sensation in the toes and fingers

• Fear of death

• A sense of aloofness from yourself and your loved ones

These symptoms need immediate medical attention. Otherwise, it can develop into severe panic attacks, making treatment a very long and complex process.

Diagnosis

How do the doctors find out if you are having a panic disorder? Here are the steps they follow:

• Checking on the frequency and intensity of your panic attacks

• Understanding your emotions during the period following panic attacks to see if you were scared of more attacks

• Studying your medical history in detail to check if you have an existing mental ailment (like anxiety disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder) or if you are a victim of substance abuse

• Ascertaining whether you have developed any avoidance behaviours (called phobias) to assess your condition

These steps will help your doctor understand your panic disorder accurately and advise the right treatment.

Types of Panic Attacks

Panic attacks may be sudden or triggered by a particular situation. They are of two types:

• Expected panic attacks –

Happens when a person has to face something he/she is scared of

• Unexpected panic attacks –

Happens all of a sudden without any warning or triggers

Treatment

Doctors resort to psychotherapy and/or medicines to treat panic disorders in patients.

1. Psychotherapy

This is a popular and successful treatment for panic disorder. Patients undergo different forms of psychological and talk therapies in this mode of treatment to get the fear out of their minds. The three types of therapy included here are:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) –

Professional therapists work with patients closely. They help patients to identify the fear in their minds and approach the situation differently and realistically.

• Exposure Therapy–

Therapists expose patients to a situation or object that triggers their attacks. They guide the patients to face these with a relaxed mind so that they stop acting as triggers in the future.

• Panic-focussed Psychodynamic Psychotherapy–

Therapists encourage patients to talk about their trauma and internal conflicts that result in panic attacks. This way, they understand the patients’ subconscious thoughts and work on them to treat the condition.

2. Medications

The medicines for panic disorder broadly fall into two categories:

• Antidepressants–

Mental health experts prescribe these medications to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and bipolar disorders. The most common type of antidepressant used to treat panic disorders is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

• Anti-anxiety medicines–

Also known as anxiolytics/tranquilisers, these bring a sense of calmness to your mind. These medicines make a person feel less afraid and anxious. Doctors prescribe Benzodiazepines, a class of anti-anxiety medicine, to decrease the severity of an individual’s panic attacks.

3. Lifestyle and Coping Strategies

You can cope with panic disorder better if you introduce these lifestyle changes as quickly as possible.

• Try to engage in active physical exercises and relaxing techniques (like deep breathing) every day (at least 30-60 minutes).

• Regulate your sleep cycle, and seek help to correct sleep disorder issues.

• Opt for a healthy, balanced diet every day.

• Quit alcohol and smoking.

• Record the occurrence of panic attacks and your reaction in a diary to keep track of your progress.