Panic Attack Disorder

What Is Panic Attack Disorder?

What, exactly, is panic attack disorder? Is it really in and of itself a disorder at all? A debate on that question could go on all day, between someone who suffers severe panic attacks and one who doesn't. And both would be right.

You see, in the academic sense, panic attacks are simply the most severe manifestation of anxiety disorder. A symptom or result of an underlying condition. But since they take a person's anxiety condition to a whole new level and bring about a whole new set of debilitating secondary problems, it is seen by many, especially the sufferer, as a separate disorder. 

To use a simple analogy, it would be like comparing a hairline fracture in your leg to a compound fracture. Both are leg fractures but there's a dramatic difference in the severity. They would require different levels of treatment and one is much slower to heal.

We can simplify this argument by saying panic and anxiety disorder come from the same place but the person who suffers sever panic attacks will probably need to use different treatments. He or she would need to eliminate the panic attack disorder to then begin to treat the underlying anxiety disorder. To use another analogy, the tree service starts at the top to take down a tree (when there's no room to just drop it) and then they work their way down, to eventually getting rid of the roots (root cause, in the case of panic disorder).

Panic Disorder Causes

Okay, we've already established that the root cause of panic disorder or panic attacks is an underlying anxiety disorder. But what actually brings a person to the point of being disabled by these terribly frightening experiences? The answer: a feedback loop. Or "vicious cycle" if you prefer. You could say the panic disorder causes the panic attacks or the panic attacks create the panic disorder - either way, it's self-perpetuating.

A panic attack is so scary that just thinking of one or feeling the barest beginnings of one can trigger a full-blown attack. It's easy to see what this then does to the underlying anxiety condition, and the higher the anxiety level, the more likely it is a panic attack is just around the corner. The possibility or probability of an attack becomes the number one fear for the sufferer and he or she becomes constantly anxious, knowing there will be another one coming, without warning and usually at the most inopportune time. So, the fear of an attack ends up being the cause of the attack. It loops around, out of the person's control. Unless all perceived possible attack-provoking circumstances are avoided.....or so the sufferer thinks, anyway.

Secondary Problems Arising From Panic Disorder

A person who suffers a panic attack will often associate the episode with where they are or what they're doing at the time it strikes. Consciously or unconsciously. A very common example would be driving on the freeway. There might or might not be an actual triggering event but a panic attack hits and the person's mind then associates driving on the freeway with the terror of an attack. The result is a freeway phobia and an inability to drive on one.

A similar chain of events could involve a grocery store, gas station, airport, flying - even just crossing a street. And things that other people normally do in the course of their lives become impossible for the panic sufferer. It can even lead to agoraphobia and a fear of simply walking out the front door!

It's easy to see then how a life so limited can lead to depression, even suicide. It becomes impossible to function in our world or maintain any kind of personal relationships.

Overcoming Panic Disorder

As I mentioned previously, the underlying cause is anxiety and that needs to be addressed to forever eliminate the problems brought on by panic disorder. However, addressing the anxiety might be difficult without first overcoming the panic disorder. And in the most severe of cases, this may require the use of medications. But only as a last resort, in my opinion.

I believe it's prudent to try other options before submitting to a course of side-effect producing meds. And the most proven option available today is guided Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - re-training the mind to react differently and see life in a new light. This can be done with a mental health professional if you can find one in your area that specializes in this form of treatment or by using a program like Easy Calm that will guide you through the process with helpful hints and exercises (mental, not physical exercise).

In the Easy Calm Video Coaching Series the creator, Jon Mercer, tells in detail how he managed to overcome his phobia of grocery stores, which was begun by his experiencing a panic attack while shopping. It's amazingly simple, really. If you live your life plagued by frightening panic attacks and the fear of them, I'd strongly suggest giving Easy Calm a try before resorting to medications.

To your recovery,

Owen
owen@helpwithanxietydisorder.com 

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