Symptoms and causes of panic attacks
Sudden heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, breathing difficulties, feeling that something terrible is about to happen – classic symptoms of a panic attack.
Generally, panic attack is triggered by a terrifying thought or image, and the body responds to an imaginary danger as if it was real. Life-saving reflexes activate immediately, putting the whole body to the fight/flight defense mode.
This is natural and highly useful when you are attacked by a robber. However, quite painful and exhausting, while happening at home or work with no real threat.
It is worth mentioning that not all panic states are caused directly by mental images. The general burnout of the nervous system causes misbalance of the psychic energy. It makes us particularly vulnerable to any traumatic situation. Also an unconscious thought or emotion can trigger panic attack.
Panic attack can also be caused by a reminder of the painful moments by something from the environment – a place, person, an object.
Wherever the starting point is, panic states are always only symptoms. At some point in the past, your psyche suffered a trauma. Haven’t fully identify the original trauma, your whole being starts fighting the imaginary dangers. This trauma could be physical or emotional, including your unfulfilled needs and desires, that were repressed to the subconscious for whatever reason. Women suffer from the panic attacks more frequently as they were more conditioned to sacrifice themselves for the good of others.
Working on panic attacks consist of two major stages
First – learning to manage a panic attack, if it has already occurred, and second – becoming conscious of the causes of your anxiety.
Remember, if you are having a panic attack, the most important thing is to fully realize this fact and move your attention to something else. The more attention you pay to a panic attack, the stronger it becomes. You can visualize a nice place where you feel safe and relaxed, or any other vivid positive memory, and to stay there for some time. Look at the objects and people around you, realize that you are safe Here and Now. Eastern breathing and meditation techniques are extremely efficient in Handling panic attacks, so you might want to get some training in it.
To restore the normal functioning of one’s nervous system, it is important to figure out the ways you can fully relax. Usually these are small activities that you truly enjoy, that excite you while in the process and make you feel satisfied once accomplished. Canalizing energy into those nourishing activities is the great way to bring your being back to the harmony and tranquility.
In my practice I use various “emergency” techniques of coping with panic attacks and, of course, offer a comprehensive work on discovering the roots of anxiety and ways of overcoming it.