What are Panic/Anxiety Attacks?

The American Psychiatric Association describes a panic attack as 'a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort that is accompanied by at least four of thirteen physical or cognitive symptoms' (APA 1994). The expertise of but four symptoms is understood as a 'limited symptom attack' (APA 1994).

Symptoms include: palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath or smothering, feelings of choking, chest pain or discomfort, nausea or abdominal distress, dizziness or lightheadedness, pins and needles, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, derealisation or depersonalisation, and chills or hot flushes (APA 1994). People normally report a concern of losing management in a way or that they're going crazy or can die. The physical and psychological feature symptoms area unit sometimes followed by a need to flee.

There are three types of panic attack:1) Spontaneous (Uncued) Panic Attacks Are not related to a situational trigger and seems to return 'out of the blue'. They can occur during times of relaxation or once sleeping.

2) Situational (Cued) Panic Attacks Occur either Associate in Nursing exceedingly|in a very anticipation of a scenario or in a scenario wherever an attack has antecedently been fully fledged.

3) Situationally Pre-disposed Panic Attacks While being pre-disposed to having a panic attack in a certain situation, the person may or may not have an attack either in the situation or immediately afterward. The Fight-Or-Flight Response When someone is extremely anxious or fearful the Fight-or-Flight Response is activated. This response is that the body's survival mechanism to organize USA to either stand and face the supply of a threat, or to run away.

When this response is triggered, the hormone adrenalin coarses through the body. All systems not necessary to either escape or fight area unit clean up. This all makes excellent sense if confronted with AN external threat to our safety. It offers USA the capability to run from a bush fire, the strength to keep off AN offender and also the ability to maneuver quickly out of harm's method.

Many of the symptoms individuals feel as a part of their disorder are often attributed to the Fight-Or-Flight Response. This response is often felt in Anticipation of a concerned scenario or the fear of getting an attack. In the same method, the fear which arises from a spontaneous or uncued panic attack will trigger the Fight-or-Flight Response. The extra symptoms of the Response result in additional distress and extend the attack over an extended amount. Even when the initial fear has subsided, someone will still feel terribly frightened that successively will activate the FFR, generally for hours.

Typical symptoms of the Fight-Or-Flight Response:Racing heartbeat, heart palpitations, rapid breathing, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of bladder control, trembling, excessive perspiration, flushed face, pins and needles, light headedness, dizziness and feeling faint, lump in the throat.