Types Of Panic Attacks

Types of Panic Attacks and Some Natural Treatments that Work Best

        The feelings of apprehension are something all people know to be natural and self-protective. When threat is sensed, adrenaline pumps into the bloodstream to prepare the body for flight or fight response. The activation of this alarm system leads to a series of unpleasant symptoms and frightening sensations such as dizziness, lightheadedness, intense palpitations, shallow breathing, tensed muscles, cold extremities, and tingling toes and feet.

        As terrifying as these symptoms may feel, these are necessary to help fight off imminent danger. The hyped senses help to keep the body alert and focused. The surge in adrenaline helps to lead one into the action and protect the self and all its limbs from infirmity. However, there are cases when these attacks strike for no apparent reason. Aside from that, they can be more intense as if one is experiencing a heart attack. This kind of anxiety attack is called a panic attack.

Panic Attacks Defined

        Panic attacks are described as episodes of extreme feelings of apprehension and terror that appears unexpectedly but lasts for a short period of time. Experiencing this kind of attack may often call for an emergency service. This is because experiencing its symptoms gives a sense of dying, going crazy, or losing control.

        Panic attacks are further narrowed into different types. Knowing these types is important in order to help better understand its accompanying complications and determine the appropriate ways to manage these conditions.

1. Spontaneous / Uncued / Unexpected Panic Attacks

       This type of panic attack happens "out of the blue." They occur without warning and may come day or night regardless if one is awake or asleep. As shared by those people suffering from spontaneous panic attack, a jolt of panic is felt all of a sudden, particularly at times when they are most relaxed.

       There are times when these attacks occur in the middle of the night while one is sleeping. These attacks are termed as nocturnal panic attacks. Though less common than those attacks that occur during the day, these panic attacks still warrant concern as they can greatly affect one's quality of sleep.

       Management:

       Preventing unexpected panic attacks that creep up at night and interrupting one's sleep is possible by alleviating the physical symptoms during the day. Stress, anxiety and their symptoms have to be properly managed and dealt with so that they do not manifest during the night. This can be done by practicing deep breathing exercises.

       Deep breathing or diaphragmatic breathing is a simple method of preventing anxious sensations from escalating. It helps to induce relaxation by correcting the oxygen-carbon dioxide imbalance that occurs when anxiety symptoms are experienced.

2. Situationally-Bound / Cued Panic Attacks

       As its name properly suggests, situationally-bound or cued panic attacks occur as one is exposed to a specific anxiety-causing situation. Upon experience or contact with them, these particular situations become cues or signals for the panic episode to play. However, when not faced with these specific situations, they would not experience any attack.

       For example, people who have been to a car accident or who have had a previous panic attack inside a moving automobile may experience another episode of panic when entering, driving or thinking about driving a car. And since these situations prompt for panic to attack, people who fear them will do everything they can to avoid being inside cars.

       Management:

       Panic attacks of this type can be overcome through gradual and consistent confrontation or exposure to the cause of fear. Taking the example above, people who have driving-related panic attacks should be encouraged to drive more to shove their fear of driving away. The more they expose themselves to what they fear, the easier it will be for them to overcome them and to be immune to them.

3. Situational-Predisposed Panic Attacks

       There are some attacks of panic that do not always strike as soon as one is exposed to the feared object or the specific situation. This means that the symptoms of panic are not always experienced or that it may be experienced but only after exposure to the feared situation.

       To explain this, a person who fears flying can stand a flight or two without experiencing any panicky sensation. However, as soon as the plane lands or after the trip is completed, the symptoms of panic become evident.

       Management:

       To prevent being overwhelmed by panic symptoms, engaging in yoga is ideal. The poses, the movements and the meditation technique it practices help reach a sense of inner peace that connects the mind and body as one. With the mind and body in harmony, unpleasant sensations of anxiety and stress will then become of little consequence.

       Panic attacks are overwhelmingly terrifying especially for first-time sufferers. Their unfamiliarity with the sensations can further add on to the panic experience. When these attacks become increasingly frequent and intense, it is best that professional help be consulted.

       Ryan Rivera is a former anxiety patient who also experienced bouts of panic. The management techniques provided proved effective in his treatment program. Learn more about these techniques at www.calmclinic.com.