What are panic attacks - written by Thomas Bronson

When we think about fear, we know that it is a natural instinct of the humans when we are facing dangerous and threatening situations. The fear will trigger the adrenaline flows that prepare our bodies to fight for our survival or to escape from the danger. This is what normally termed as the fight or flight reaction. This is almost inherent in our normal lives that the reaction will kick in during times of danger or fear of threats. Nevertheless, when this reaction leads to a prolonged state of fear that cannot be removed, it suggests possible panic attacks occur.

An extremely intense and disabling psychological distress and fear, panic attacks bring terrifying feelings to flee the particular place in its fight or flight response. The fear associated with panic attacks is distinguished from the ordinary fear and panic by its extreme level of intensity and the sudden and periodic nature of the attacks. The apparently unprovoked panic attacks are stimulated with little or nothing dangerous and impending to bring the body into such fight or flight situation. When the attacks hit, the experience can be intense, frightening and very little or nothing can be done to alleviate it.

Several physical symptoms of panic attacks can be identified which include heart racing, pounding or skipping heartbeat, tightness or discomfort in chest region, choking sensation, sweatiness, shaking and trembling, butterflies and nausea, hot flashes or chills, numbness in certain parts of the body, erratic breathing or shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness and so forth. The psychological emotions felt by these victims can be very damaging and frightening that they, who suffer panic attacks, can feel that they are dying or losing their minds. Things seem unreal to them or may even feel that they are detached from their bodies while some are so fearful that they must escape and flee the situation altogether.

In fact, the symptoms mentioned above are the sensations and feelings that one experiences whenever they are facing impending threats or dangers. As reinstated earlier, these symptoms occur to sufferers of panic attacks in circumstances without presence of danger even in safe environment and under no logical explanation. There is no surprise at all that the panic attack can occur even when the victim is at sleep.

As panic attacks can occur suddenly and with no warning signs, there is really no way that they can be stopped once started. The amounts of stress hormones and adrenaline that is released and the level of fear that we experience in a panic attack is out of proportion to the actual situation. The only thing we can do is to try and control our excessive emotions through various means and treatments.

The sudden surge of overwhelming fear that is experienced by the person hit with panic attack can be so extreme and devastating that even few minutes into the attack feels like forever to him or her.

Terror, to the normal people living normal lives, is part and parcel of our lives and the evolution. To victims of panic attacks, they are constantly and relentlessly facing the fear and terror everyday of their lives. There are a great variety of treatment techniques and therapies available in the marketplace for curing the panic attack and disorder. Do not give up on yourself and start visiting professionals to seek treatment and get rid of the panic attack forever for your lifetime.