Contents
The anxiety attack: how to calm your anxieties?
Definition of anxiety attack
One of the possible manifestations of anxiety disorders is an anxiety attack or panic attack. It is an acute anxiety attack that appears suddenly and lasts from a few minutes to a few hours. The person will feel a intense fear (to die, to go mad), a feeling of immediate danger and unpleasant physical sensations (palpitation, sweating, tremors, chest pain, etc.).
The physical symptoms that accompany the panic attack are going to be more or less dramatic and will fuel and worsen the fear felt by the person who feels like they are totally lose control.
Note: It would be wrong to say that breathing difficulties or tetany problems are always synonymous with anxiety attack. Many diseases can cause this type of symptom (asthma, for example), and it is important to consult your doctor in any case to get the correct diagnosis. |
Causes
The mechanisms of anxiety attacks are not very well known, but they involve many factors of a biological, psychological, genetic, and cardio-respiratory nature.
According to some theories, this is an inappropriate or excessive reaction to stress.
So different situations of fear and anguish (including that of not being able to breathe) can triggerhyperventilation, which itself can cause certain symptoms, especially dizziness, numbness in the limbs, tremors and palpitations1.
In turn, these symptoms aggravate fear and anxiety. So this is a vicious circle that is self-sustaining.
Finally, research has shown that the administration of certain substances (sodium lactate, nitrogen dioxide, etc.) acting on the regulation of certain neurotransmitters would trigger panic attacks.
In the psychoanalytic approach, the anxiety neurosis of which panic disorder is part, would find its origin in an accumulation of sexual arousal. The sexual drive would turn into nervous tension.
Associated disorders
In the context of panic disorder, there are mainly associated psychopathological disorders. However, it is unclear whether it is the onset of panic disorder that will lead to these disorders or whether the presence of these disorders will lead the person to develop panic disorder.
According to some studies, the main psychological disorders associated with panic disorder are:
- the Depression
- social phobia (anxiety induced by social situations)
- generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (trauma-induced anxiety)
Prevalence
It can be estimated that 21 in 100 people will experience a panic attack at some point in their lifetime, while only 1 in 100 people will develop panic disorder. Finally, panic attacks occur most often in young people (between 15 and 45 years old) and they are more common in women than in men.
The people most affected by panic attacks are:
- the women (they are 1,5 to 2 times more affected than men)
- the jeunes (between 15 and 20 years old)
- people with a family history of panic disorders
- people with anxious personality
- people with depression and anxiety disorders
- people with a history ofsexual abuse or abuse
Course and possible complications
Anxiety and panic attacks are not serious on their own, but they can be overwhelming and even traumatic for the person and those around them.
Some people will develop what is called anticipatory anxiety, meaning that between two panic attack attacks, they will live in fear of having a panic attack again. This fear that the panic attack will reappear anywhere, anytime can lead to a significant decline in a person’s quality of life.
Certain psychiatric disorders (agoraphobia, depression) can appear secondarily to the repetition of panic attacks. The fear of being invaded by a new attack in a public place without the possibility of being rescued can induce new fears such as the fear of going out, of being in the presence of strangers or of participating in various social or professional activities.
Finally, in some people, the frequency of attacks is very high (several per day), this is called panic disorder. The risk of depression, suicidal thoughts, suicidal action, drug or alcohol abuse is increased in frequent panic attacks2.
However, with proper management, it is possible to control this anxiety and reduce the frequency of seizures.
Our doctor’s opinion
As part of its quality approach, Passeportsanté.net invites you to discover the opinion of a health professional. Dr. Céline Brodar, psychologist, gives you her opinion on the anxiety attack :
It is important to consult quickly if you are prone to panic attacks. In fact, only the doctor will be able to distinguish between an episode of acute anxiety and a somatic pathology having a fairly similar symptomatology. Pharmacological treatment (antidepressants and anxiolytics) associated with psychotherapy can get out of this vicious circle of anxiety. In today’s world, where stress is everywhere, our body tries to adapt and sometimes sends us signals of distress. For some back pain and for others panic attacks. These acute anxiety attacks are very taxing physically and psychologically. Do not hesitate to talk about it and to be accompanied. Céline Brodar, Clinical psychologist specializing in neuropsychology |