According to recent research, over 2.4 million Americans a year, between the ages of 18 and 24 experience panic attacks. Whilst the ways in which people experience such attacks can vary, they are often associated with sensations such as breathlessness, dizziness, heart-palpations, fear and nausea- which can be extremely distressing and debilitating.
A panic attack is possibly best described as a sudden and intense bombardment of fear and apprehension to the senses, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours. During the process, the body becomes overwhelmed with regular adrenaline-surges that trigger the, “fight or flight” response that has informed instinct and human-behaviour since humans first roamed the planet. Whilst this instinct is important in its ability to allow people to recognise and escape dangerous situations, if it becomes a recurring psychological process- it can have a hugely damaging impact on health and wellbeing.
During the worst types of attacks, people can suffer a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including: trembling, sweating, hot and cold flashes, confusion, disorientation and smothering. Whilst attacks can strike suddenly, it is generally assumed that past situations and experiences can trigger them, especially when sufferers revisit a place, situation or thought-process that has distressed them in the past. It is also thought that attacks can be caused by traumatic situations such as the loss or severe injury of a loved one, or by losing a job and finding oneself in terrible debt.
Fortunately the impact of panic attacks can be lessened if sufferers make a concerted effort to understand why certain situations and experiences induce such levels of fear. This can be done by talking to mental-health experts or even friends and loved ones about your inner most anxieties and what you feel causes them.
Above all, you should not feel alone. Millions of people suffer from panic attacks on a regular basis, and millions have been able to overcome them.
Comments are closed.