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Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia InformationWhat is a panic disorder with agoraphobia? When you have panic attacks and start avoiding situations because you fear having a panic attack, this is a panic disorder. And because you don't want to chance getting attacks, you begin avoiding going out because you are afraid of attacks where there is no help or quick escape. You fear losing control and being embarrassed, so you begin to shut yourself from life. This is a panic disorder with agoraphobia. Panic attacks are periods of intense fear, even terror, that can suddenly appear out of the blue, for no apparent reason. Panic attacks don't bring about normal fear. It is thought that a chemical imbalance triggers panic attacks. Large amounts of adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. You may feel dizzy or think it's a heart attack or feel like you're going to die or that you're going crazy. Panic attacks can also be triggered by facing phobias. Despite the amount of torture it can cause, the irony is that it is physically harmless. The bottom line is, some people are 'programmed' to get them and undergo the suffering while others don't. To look at it another way, the body sends a false danger signal when there is no danger. Without treatment, it could lead to panic disorder with agoraphobia. How long do panic attacks last? It varies. It also depends on whether you have mastered coping skills and strategies. Generally though, panic attacks can last for under a minute to several minutes; longer in extreme cases (diminishing over several hours). Am I going to die? No. The panic attack itself will not kill you. It is physically harmless. It does a lot of emotional damage, but you will not die from it. Am I going crazy? No. A panic attack is a panic attack. It does not make you crazy. Each panic attack is not your fault. You are as sane as the next person and you will never go crazy. Will I ever get well? Yes, but it also depends on each person. It also depends on how long you've had it. Some people feel better than others, some people improve quicker than others. You may still get panic attacks, but they will be less frequent and you won't be troubled by them as you initially were. With proper help and maintenance, you may escape getting a panic disorder with agoraphobia. How long does it take to get better? Again, it depends. There is no clear, black and white answer. It will take time, depending on how long you've had it. Some medications like Celexa could take up to 5 months before you gain the full benefits. You could feel better in days or it could take several weeks before you notice an improvement. Do I need to take drugs for panic disorder with agoraphobia? No, you don't. You have many choices available to you. It all depends on what you want and how bad you feel. You could be helped with just therapy/counseling or you could take an alternate route of using natural methods or using hypnosis.Most people are happy to take drugs, but not everyone will go that route. Can I stop a panic attack? I don't think so. Please contact me using the Contact page and let me know if anyone can. If it is going to come, then it will. The idea is not being afraid of it and letting it be there. Think of a headache. Can you stop it before it starts? Probably not. However, you can control it to a certain extent. Again, just like a headache, it's not pleasant, but you don't fear a headache and you don't like it. A panic attack is not pleasant and you don't like it, but you can eventually gain control so that you don't fear it. Why did it happen out of the blue for no reason? There is very likely a reason. Sometimes, it can happen because of stress or a traumatic experience. It can surface much later. The thing is, if you are vulnerable to it, then it can turn into a panic disorder with agoraphobia and you're always fearing the next attack. This is not your fault. This is the way your body is programmed. Someone who is not vulnerable and programmed this way will react differently and never develop a panic disorder with agoraphobia and it won't ruin their life. Chemical imbalances are very likely the reason. What do I do during a panic attack? You need to practice coping skills BEFORE it happens. It can be difficult to know what to do when it hits you, but practicing certain skills will definitely help. These include proper breathing, listening to relaxation tapes etc. During panic attacks, the best thing you can do is to immediately apply your breathing skills. Are panic attacks dangerous? No. In itself, they are physically harmless. However, if it turns into panic disorder with agoraphobia and depression and someone becomes absolutely helpless and suicidal, then, in that respect, it can be. The panic attack itself is not dangerous at all. That is why it is very important to treat it as quickly as possible. What happens in a panic attack? Panic attacks affect people differently. Some people feel like they are choking, others feel dizzy, your heart pounds, shaking, chills, hot flashes, chest pain; these are some of the things that may happen. In addition, a person may feel that they are going crazy or that they are dying. The problem is that many of the symptoms feel like serious symptoms of the heart, lung, stomach and the nervous system. An imbalance of the neurotransmitter called serotonin can trigger a panic attack. Could it be a heart attack? Though you may feel it is a heart attack, it's very likely that it's not. A heart attack begins with different signs and symptoms. Because panic attacks mimic other more serious conditions, you may think it's a heart attack. Obviously, see your doctor to rule out the serious conditions. If you are given the all clear, then it's very likely a panic attack. Why am I getting panic attacks? Studies show that it can be inherited. Also, if you are vulnerable to panic attacks, in other words, if you were meant to get them, then you will. Think of it like hair loss. If it was written in your body's blueprint, there's not much you can do. Someone in their twenties could be losing their hair, yet someone in their seventies may have a full head of healthy hair. Is there anything to make panic attacks better? Absolutely. Therapy, medication, alternate treatments like herbal remedies, hypnosis and relaxation tapes, yoga - these are all things that will make panic attacks better and help you to gain control and diminish the fear. It's not the panic attack that's the problem - it's your fear and reaction to it that is the problem. It takes time and practice to make it better. You have to find the right method for yourself. Agoraphobia can have different meanings for different people. Generally though, when you develop a fear of panic attacks and start avoiding situations, this is agoraphobia, or panic disorder with agoraphobia. You will not be able to leave home and travel far. You have a 'safe zone'. You cannot go out by yourself and will require a trusted person to accompany you everywhere. In extreme cases, someone may not even leave their own room. You can have a panic disorder with agoraphobia, or you could be lucky enough to escape agoraphobia. What are the most effective agoraphobia treatments? Most of the treatments are effective. Facing your fear and going out is effective, but can be near impossible to even consider. However, each person is different. What works well for one person will have absolutely no effect on you. All that means is that you have to try something else. It does not mean you cannot be helped. Generally, therapy and medication are very effective as panic disorder with agoraphobia are very treatable. Alternate methods for panic disorder with agoraphobia like herbal remedies and hypnosis and relaxation techniques have also proved effective. Here's a great and informative site to learn all about the best relaxation techniques. Certain other programs have also helped many people to recover from panic disorder with agoraphobia. Can alternate treatments help reduce panic attacks? Yes. Again, it's important to realize that if it doesn't work, all that means is that it did not work for YOU. For example, not everyone is a good candidate for hypnosis. In fact, even drugs should be viewed this way. Some may not work or have such long-lasting bad side effects that you may have to try another. It doesn't mean that drug is useless. It just wasn't for you. What are the symptoms of panic attacks? There are several. These include dizziness, feeling lightheaded, racing/pounding heart, chest pain, difficulty breathing, sweating, chills or hot flashes, tingling sensations, fear of losing control, dying or going crazy. To put it in another way: absolute terror. How common are panic attacks? Numbers vary. It is indeed common. It is thought that about 35% of the population will have a panic attack in a year. About 2% will end up with a panic disorder. Although 2% seems insignificant, we are talking about millions and millions people! If I get better from panic disorder with agoraphobia, can I get it again? Yes, it COULD happen again, but because you now know what it is and what needs to be done, panic disorder with agoraphobia should not be as bad again and treatment should be quicker. Some people have spent years going from doctor to doctor to figure out what is wrong with them. Will I have panic disorder with agoraphobia for the rest of my life? It's quite possible, but that does not mean you will feel at your worst all the time. You could get setbacks. But your life can get back to being normal. Again, it depends on your individual situation. If you spent years searching for help, a lot of emotional damage would have been done. If you were lucky enough to pin it down quickly, then it should not trouble you as much as those who suffered for years. Panic disorder with agoraphobia is treatable and you can go back to having a normal life. It is an illness and you may very well be troubled with it on and off for the rest of your life. The main thing is to remain positive and to get help fast. Never put it off.
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