Panic Attack

The signs of a panic attack

A panic attack can be terrifying. It may seem to you that:

• You are dying
• You are fainting
• You are losing control
• You are having a heart attack
• You are detaching from your mind, your body or your surroundings

All of this happens inside your head — there is no real danger — yet in that moment it truly feels real to you!

When a panic attack strikes, these physical signs may appear:

• Difficulty breathing
• A racing heartbeat
• Nausea or dizziness
• Raised blood pressure
• Heat or cold
• Chest pain

To people who have never “had” a serious panic attack, it can look like “child’s play” or some “imaginary bogeyman” — when in reality panic attacks can affect life and everyday functioning very seriously.

How long does a panic attack last

A panic attack lasts (on average) 10 minutes and then begins to fade. A severe panic attack may last longer, or you may be struck by several panic attacks in a row (this happens rarely). If you experience many panic attacks, you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Panic attack — what is it?

When the body notices that danger looms, it switches on the “fight or flight” state. Hormones, neurotransmitters and so on are released. And this is extremely useful if, at dusk, in an abandoned old building site, you spot a drunken repeat offender striding briskly towards you… with a sword in his hands! Then the “fight or flight” state is very useful indeed (I do hope you would choose the “flight” part…).

A panic attack strikes when the “fight or flight” state is switched on even though no real danger threatens us.

At that moment the balance of neurotransmitters and hormones suddenly shifts. The calming ones (GABA) decrease and the stimulating ones (adrenaline, dopamine) increase.

When do panic attacks strike?

A panic attack can strike anyone at a different time — it can even strike at night, during sleep. Panic attacks occur at varying frequency and may recur once a month or several times a day… or even one after another! We may notice that certain places, situations or activities seem to trigger panic attacks. For example, they may happen before a tense meeting, after alcohol, after certain food (such as poor-quality or fast food) and so on.

Our body always tries to protect us from danger, so when a panic attack strikes, the body “remembers” where and when (the danger to us) happened, or with which people it happened, and so on. So it is normal for the mind to “help” us avoid those things in future… Say a panic attack caught you while driving a car… already twice. What does the mind do? Well, you begin to fear or feel uneasy while driving… and you start avoiding driving… until eventually you no longer drive. It can be anything: a place, an action or certain people. A panic attack at night is no exception. Then, again, anxiety can begin to torment you at the very thought of going to sleep. Some people may withdraw into themselves instead of looking for ways to treat panic attacks. And ways to fight panic attacks really do exist!

Panic disorder

If you experience many panic attacks at unpredictable times and seemingly for no obvious reason, you may be diagnosed with panic disorder. Panic disorder and certain phobias often appear together. You will understand more about this disorder of neurotransmitter balance by reading what anxiety is.

How to bring panic attacks under control

There are several strategies we can call on to bring panic attacks under control.

When a panic attack strikes, you will already know what to do:

• Remind yourself: this will soon pass. Recognise that it is a panic attack, not a heart attack.
• If you can, stay where you are. If you retreat to a calmer place, you may start to fear that place and begin avoiding it in future.
• If you feel you are losing connection with your body, do “grounding” exercises: put your hands in cold or hot water, splash your face, touch or firmly grip some object nearby.
• If a friend is beside you, tell them what is happening. They can help you calm down and reassure you that it will all soon pass.

The most important and fundamental rule during a panic attack:

• Concentrate on your breathing. On your breathing alone. Breathing is the most powerful of all the exercises. To any attempt by the mind to frighten you further, answer by directing your attention to the out-breath. Breathe deeply and slowly. Breathing directly influences the activity of neurotransmitters. The golden rule of breathing during an attack: the out-breath must be longer than the in-breath. Inhale slowly and exhale even more slowly [1]. The in-breath promotes stress, the out-breath promotes calm [2].

Treating a panic attack

The necessary lifestyle changes can cure, or at the very least greatly reduce, panic attacks and anxiety. Chemical drugs for panic attacks are not always the way out, since they cause dependence and a whole string of other side effects — before taking them, be sure to consult your doctor. Glycine for anxiety can calm a “racing” mind, but it is not a long-term solution or the best remedy for anxiety, rather an attempt to fix the situation quickly.

How to truly recover?

Treating your panic attacks will consist of several things. What nutrition, practices and effective (natural) remedies without side effects are recommended, read here.

Vitexin 90 from Zenius Labs™ — vitexin and H. erinaceus polysaccharides act on the GABA-A receptors and promote regeneration of the nervous system. Without dependence, without cognitive side effects.