Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder suffer from recurrent episodes of sudden and intense, overpowering fear for no apparent reason (panic attacks). Their fear may be accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations, sweating, hot flashes and cold chills, shaking, dizziness, breathlessness or choking and gasping for breath. Some people are consumed by fear or think they are crazy. Panic attacks usually occur suddenly, for no apparent reason. They can arise at any time, even during sleep. Just because they can not predict when a panic attack them in the grip gets many people live in constant fear that at any moment a new attack may arise. Most panic attacks last only a few minutes, but some may persist 10 minutes, and there are rare cases where the attack lasted one hour. For the patient, but it seems an eternity.
The symptoms of such panic attacks often resemble the symptoms of a heart attack or a life-threatening medical condition. Often people rush into a panic attack to the hospital in the belief that a heart attack, respiratory problems, neurological disorder or a gastrointestinal illness. They are also afraid of losing control or going crazy. The result is that people with panic disorder accustomed to 10 different doctors to end, many unnecessary tests to do and suffer years before the correct diagnosis. The diagnosis of panic disorder is often not mentioned earlier than after extensive and expensive medical procedures that ultimately no diagnosis or no relief can bring.
Many people with panic disorder develop intense anxiety between episodes by. It is not uncommon for a person with panic disorder, phobias develop} {see below for locations or situations where he had a panic attack, such as in supermarkets or in everyday situations. If the number of panic attacks increases, the person may begin to avoid situations where he feared a new attack or where help is not readily available. Such avoidance may possibly lead to agoraphobia, or inability to focus on unknown and unsafe places to go because of intense fear and anxiety.
If someone had repeated panic attacks and very afraid of another attack, he or she is diagnosed as a person with panic disorder. Panic disorder is likely to worsen with time if not treated effectively.
Annually, approximately 2% of adult panic disorder.
Women are twice as likely as men to develop panic disorder.
Panic disorder usually occurs in young adults. Half the people with panic disorder develop the disease before the age of 24 years.
Panic disorder may coexist with other disorders, usually depression and drug or alcohol abuse. Approximately 30% of people with panic disorder are addicted to alcohol and 17% of drugs such as cocaine and marijuana in a futile attempt to reduce the discomfort that their illness brings. A correct diagnosis and treatment of other disorders such as drug or alcohol abuse or depression, are important for successful treatment of panic disorder.
The correct causes of panic disorder are unknown, but heredity and stressful life events can be of great importance. The thinking in a way that exacerbates the relatively normal bodily reactions, probably an influence on the occurrence of panic disorder.
The importance of treatment
Repeated panic attacks can have a devastating effect on people. Left untreated, the attacks, or try to avoid it, a person's life completely in the grip.
Without treatment, patients for years continuously panic attacks. That the relationships with family, friends and collegaapos;'s very affecting.
Their life is so much to be restrained. For example, a person may begin avoiding situations where he feared that a panic attack could be coming. That could also normal, everyday activities like grocery shopping or even driving a car. In extreme cases, people with untreated panic disorder afraid their house is no longer true: a condition called agoraphobia.
Some people find it hard to be productive at work. The symptoms prevent them from traveling to their work, or somewhere to stay there once when they arrived. They point promotions or appointments on the job because they think this will cause even more panic attacks. Some people with panic disorder even show their work. Those who continue to work, rarely leave their home for a reason other than to the work.
Many people become very depressed. They try in vain the symptoms of panic disorder or depression with alcohol or drugs to reduce. They even begin to think about suicide.
Treatment for panic disorder 
The treatment of panic disorder can consist of taking a drug that the levels of chemicals in the brains back to normal will, just as you take a drug to an imbalance in the thyroid to recover. The treatment can be complemented by collaboration with a psychotherapist, you learn how you can keep fear under control, just as some people work with specialists who teach them techniques to control migraine or low blood pressure increase. The type of psychotherapy that is used is known as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). People can learn how else to deal with their panic attacks, and suggests ways to reduce anxiety. Both medication and psychotherapy can be very efficient. For many patients, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is even more efficient than one of these treatments alone. Specific treatment by a professional person, the panic attacks at 70 to 90% of people with panic disorder reduction and prevention, and this usually within 6 to 8 weeks.
Most patients show a remarkable improvement after a few weeks of therapy (for some, however, may take longer before a noticeable effect is obtained). Relapse can occur, but they can often be effectively treated. Early treatment helps to prevent worsening of panic disorder. Unfortunately, getting only one person in three with panic disorder an appropriate treatment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of conversation / talk therapy and teaches people how the situations and bodily sensations that trigger panic attacks, can anticipate and prepare: CBT usually involves the following elements:
The therapist helps the person to identify patterns of thinking and exaggerations that lead him to the erroneous interpretation of sensations and to the belief that the worst happens. These thinking patterns are deeply ingrained and it takes some practice to get them to notice and to change them. 
The therapist can teach relaxation and breathing person who can calm him, so he goes one avoids hyperventilation (fast breathing). This is common in panic attacks.
The therapist helps the person to gradually become less sensitive to the frightening bodily sensations and anxiety. This is done by the person to help themselves gradually and safely test for the places and the situations he or she has avoided.
To achieve a successful outcome in CBT, the patient must be motivated and specially trained therapist. CBT has generally not take effect until after 8 to 12 weeks, but some people have a longer treatment to the skills and practice them to convert. Most patients with panic disorder succeed in following their treatment with CBT their panic attacks to control or prevent.
Medication
Different types of medication that alter the way chemicals act on the brains, can reduce or prevent panic attacks and anxiety to a minimum. Both antidepressants and benzodiazepines were effective in the treatment of panic disorder and were generally well tolerated by patients. Every drug works differently. Some work faster and others more gradually. They should all be taken on a regular basis. Usually it takes a treatment medication for at least 8 months to one year, but after about 8 weeks were patient and doctor should be able to judge whether the treatment reduces the panic attacks.
For many patients with panic disorder is a combination of CBT and medication, the most successful approach.
Treatment until a successful conclusion 
From the outset it is important for the patient that he gets full information about treatment, he can ask questions and problems can be. Every patient reacts differently, but it is important to note that no treatment for panic disorder works instantly, so important that a certain treatment for at least 6 to 8 weeks continued to see if it works. If no improvement occurs within that time, the treatment program accordingly. The best treatment is found experimentally, patience is the key.
If the treatment also includes medication, it should be clear how often and how the dose is adjusted. Regardless of the type of medication, the doctor begins best with a low dose to gradually increase to maximum dose. Every medication has side effects, but they are usually well tolerated or diminish after a while. If side effects become a problem, the doctor may suggest medication to stop and wait one week before a new drug to try. If treatment is nearing its end, the doctor will gradually decrease the dosage.
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