Anxiety Attacks

Posted on October 19, 2009
Filed Under Stress Management |

Anxiety panic attacks can be sudden and seem to come without any warning. Often they are very intense and terrifying. Sufferers report that they sense a surging feeling of fear and terror wash all over them.

Disturbing sensations such as derealization and depersonalization often occur during attacks. Sufferers may also feel that something awful is about to happen.

Sufferers of anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia are more susceptible to panic attacks. The severity of agoraphobia is varied and in some cases sufferers are able to lead fairly normal lives.

Sufferers have a fear of something embarrassing happening in an environment where they can’t easily escape. The fear of being seen to have a panic attack is enough to put them off from certain situations.

It can be difficult to understand why attacks occur however they are usually the body’s own stress response system being activated. The stress response played a vital role in man’s survival back when men were hunting prey with spears.

The stress response triggers the adrenal glands releasing adrenaline and cortisol. The hunter would be ready to either run or fight his attacker. Through the ages the human brain function has changed little

Many scientists believe that the stress response is redundant in the modern world. The problem is that in modern day society, the stress response is triggered too often.

In a dangerous situation where you need to react quickly, the stress response is needed. The negative is that excessive production of hormones such as adrenaline can be damaging for the mind and body. This may lead to anxiety disorders.

Mental illnesses can sometimes be debilitating making life diffciult to cope with. Severe cases can be hard to overcome but they are treatable. Moreover, therapies like hypnosis and CBT are effective at treating anxiety and depression.

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