| People actually present to the emergency department | | | | help you. You may think that marijuana calms your |
| convinced they are having a heart attack, when in | | | | anxiety (and it might -- in states where it is legal to |
| reality they are experiencing a panic attack, which are | | | | have a prescription for it, some doctors are writing |
| quite serious, as well. The Mayo Clinic reports that | | | | prescriptions for people who suffer from anxiety), but |
| panic attacks were once dismissed as stress or | | | | you should know that marijuana, along with drugs like |
| nerves, but have now been accepted by the medical | | | | psilocybin mushrooms can, in reality, cause you to have |
| community as a real illness, so it's really not all in your | | | | an attack. |
| head. | | | | There are some other, not so well-known, factors that |
| The vicious, seemingly unbreakable cycle of panic | | | | can cause attacks, as well. Having tapeworms lowers |
| attacks is that having one leads to anxiety about | | | | your levels of Vitamin B, and this can cause attacks. |
| having another, and that anxiety can cause you to | | | | Additional factors that are more well-recognized as |
| actually have another one. Take heart, however, there | | | | triggering attacks can include relationship issues and |
| are proven methods for controlling panic attacks, and | | | | breakups, illnesses, and, of course, phobias of one sort |
| you, too, can cast off those demons and live free | | | | or another. |
| from worry that another attack is on its way. | | | | If you can maintain a journal or diary that keeps track |
| Is It a Panic Attack? | | | | of your attacks, you may gain a better understanding |
| The first step in controlling panic attacks is to assure | | | | of what is causing them. Options for Treatment There |
| that you are having a panic attack versus something | | | | are several medications that are currently in use for |
| else. This can be more easily said than done, though, | | | | treating panic attacks these days, and most of them |
| as symptoms of a panic attack can resemble many | | | | focus on what is considered to be the underlying |
| other issues. You can easily confuse panic attacks | | | | cause - stress and anxiety. These medications include |
| with other issues, especially if you have never | | | | Prozac and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and |
| experienced one before. Panic attacks can cause you | | | | they are not without side effects. |
| to feel dizzy or lightheaded; make your throat tight and | | | | Individuals who don't take their medications regularly |
| cause you to have shortness of breath. Vomiting and | | | | can experience fairly high instances of relapse, so it is |
| diarrhea, headaches, hot flashes, chills, and even an | | | | extremely important to continue to take any such |
| increased heart rate are all things you might | | | | medicine as it is prescribed. Understand that it may be |
| experience. Panic attacks can be serious enough to | | | | necessary to try different medications before you find |
| make you feel like death is imminent. | | | | the one that works the best for you, so be prepared |
| Sometimes attacks can last only seconds, but other | | | | to experiment a little with the help of your doctor. |
| times they can last up to thirty minutes. If you think you | | | | Aside from medications, there are other things that |
| have experienced your first attack, it is important to | | | | can be incorporated into your regimen, either with or |
| seek medical attention before you start trying to treat | | | | without medications for controlling panic attacks. For |
| it yourself, to make sure that it is not something else. | | | | instance, there are breathing and relaxation exercises. |
| Your doctor, in an effort to rule out other medical | | | | Breath control for controlling attacks works on the |
| issues, will probably subject you to a physical | | | | same principle as Lamaze breathing for childbirth. In |
| examination and laboratory tests, including blood tests, | | | | addition to cleansing your lungs, maintaining focus on |
| to make sure you don't have a thyroid issue or | | | | how you are breathing prevents you from focusing on |
| something else. | | | | the panic that you feel. Take a deep breath in, and |
| After the physical part of your examination, it will not | | | | then slowly let it out and repeat - there is no other |
| be unusual to be referred to a psychologist or | | | | exercise that is as effortless. You can practice |
| psychiatrist who is trained to help figure out if there is | | | | relaxation techniques on your own, or you can learn |
| something else they can pinpoint as the cause of your | | | | them from a professional. Tai Chi and Yoga teach |
| attacks. You should not allow yourself to worry about | | | | relaxation techniques, and a warm bath is one you |
| any stigma attached to seeing a mental health | | | | probably already practice. Almost always, though, |
| professional, especially since this is such an important | | | | relaxation techniques incorporate breath control, so |
| part of determining the best way to keep you from | | | | learning to control your breathing should be the first |
| having additional attacks. | | | | step. |
| It does not mean that you're crazy or that you are | | | | Making a Plan |
| having mental health issues. More than six million | | | | Controlling panic attacks is not going to happen without |
| Americans suffer from panic disorder, and you have | | | | some effort on your behalf, and you should |
| nothing to feel ashamed about if you get help. (Would | | | | acknowledge that up front. Those who suffer from |
| you feel the same way if you had a heart attack?) | | | | panic attacks know how worth it would be to get rid |
| Gaining an Understanding of Why You Have Panic | | | | of them, even if it is not easy. You have to be willing to |
| Attacks The first step in preventing panic attacks is to | | | | see your health care professional when you need to, |
| try to get a handle on why you have them. | | | | to take your medications as they are prescribed and |
| There can be obvious triggers for your attacks, things | | | | to practice breathing and relaxation techniques |
| like flying in a plane, visiting a doctor for tests, or even | | | | faithfully. Making a plan that is comprised of all these |
| public speaking, but many times your triggers may not | | | | different things, and then dedicating yourself to |
| be so clear. One theory derived from studies of | | | | following it is the only way. You can greatly increase |
| attacks maintains that passive personalities suffer | | | | your chances of controlling your attacks, rather than |
| more from attacks than assertive personalities, so | | | | allowing them to control you, by doing so. |
| maybe just learning to be a little more assertive will | | | | |