Identifying the triggers that cause the attacks is one way on the road to recovery
When someone suffers from panic attacks, it takes over their entire body and their mind even as they try and regain control of themselves. Their attacks can range from once a day to multiple times and can be quite severe. The severity of the illness determines what type of treatment a person will end up receiving.
Panic attacks are not only emotional but physical as well. The attacks begin with a mental image or trigger that can produce symptoms, both psychological and physical, leaving the person completely vulnerable to all the problems associated with panic disorder.
When the attack begins, the person’s heart will race, they sweat, feel nervous and have severe anxiety. When these symptoms occur, often times, the person is unable to move and when they do… it is often erratic.
Panic attacks keep people from enjoying life and doing any part of their daily routine. Should an attack occur before any appointments, it is probable that the person would be able to keep such appointment. Sometimes the symptoms will not subside for days, weeks and years and then the person will return back to a normal state.
How panic attacks occur can be different for each person and their level of intensity is quite different too. Depending on the condition and the triggers, anxiety attacks could happen everyday, once a month or even once a year.
No doubt if a person has more than one trigger or even three, four or more triggers than it is possible that attacks will more frequent. Sufferers should try and keep up with their triggers to either avoid them or face them head on.
But the coping skills that are available are typically used for those who keep track with their symptoms. For many others, it will not work when they are put into a stressful position. The symptom may be so severe that coping techniques will not respond well, if at all. Sometimes, a trigger cannot be avoid although it is one option that can be used.
In reality, some sufferers have triggers that must be faced head on all the time. Two common triggers are fear and anxiety in the attacks. It is this fear and anxiety that typically results from an object or event of some sort.
Example: A bridge! How many people are afraid of heights and do not like to be on bridges? Bridges can be safe as long as they are maintained. Things like the Minnesota Bridge collapse are not that common but it things like that that will scare people who already have a fear of bridges. This can send them into a complete panic, lasting for a bit of time or until the vehicle clears the bridge.
For others, it could be speaking in public that sets of the anxiety attack. It is possibly that a combination of triggers will set of the attack too.
Examples: For those who may be terrified of heights and enclosed spaces, they will avoid elevators like they are the plague.
Oddly enough, some people did not even need a trigger to experience distress. One day the person is fine, the next complete attack. The body is responding as if it had been in some kind of fearful situation.
To help with all the symptoms, the use of medication is good along with talk therapy. The medication can help with relaxation and prevent the physical symptoms. The therapy will identify the triggers and find ways to cope.
