Manage Panic

Sudden anxiety panic attacks are seemingly out of the blue and unprovoked. They can be terribly upsetting and frightening. Many sufferers say that they feel like they’re going crazy and losing their mind during an attack.

Disturbing sensations such as derealization and depersonalization often occur during attacks. Dread and fear of something bad happening is a common symptom too.

Panic attacks are usually linked to panic disorder and specific phobias such as agoraphobia. Agoraphobia can vary in severity and many people can live their lives quite normally without too many limitations.

Agoraphobia sufferers may avoid places that are difficult to escape from like a crowded mall or an elevator. They dread a panic attack may come on and that they’ll go crazy for all to see.

Attacks are the result of the fight or flight response, also known as the stress response. Back thousands of years ago when humans were hunting and gathering, this response system was man’s most powerful weapon.

During the stress response the pupils dilate, the heart pumps faster and adrenaline is released. Essentially this would make the hunter ready to stand and fight or flee. Our brain chemistry has remained mostly unchanged even after thousands of years.

Many scientists believe that the stress response is redundant in the modern world. The argumentation is that the fight of flight response is frequently and unnecessarily activated.

In modern day society getting mauled by a lion is pretty unlikely but the stress response could save you from danger such as a car accident. The negative is that excessive production of hormones such as adrenaline can be damaging for the mind and body. This may lead to anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia make life difficult to manage. Luckily there are treatments available for anxiety disorders. What’s more, there are therapies and techniques to help deal with anxiety and depression.