Panic Attack Disorder - Panic Attack On A Regular Basis

Is there a difference between a panic attack and a panic attack disorder? There is and it's important to know the difference.

A one off panic attack may occur following a stressful situation in your life and these can still be frighteneing for first time attack sufferers. A panic attack disorder is basically a persistent condition which can present a disruptive scenario in a person's life.

In other words, people suffering from the disorder version will be experiencing attacks on a more regular basis. This has a ricochet effect in the fact sufferers of panic attack disorder virtually have their lives "turned upside down" revamping areas such as social contact, their home life and work life.

Cause And Effect Of Panic Attack Disorder

A one off attack which could be caused by anything from a relationship break up to work stress is considered in some circles as normally associated with a stressful existence.

The development of a panic attack disorder is usually associated with a lack of proper coping skills more than it is a brain function or a biological illness as the idea behind panic is a poor management of stressful situations.

Therapy can come in various shapes and sizes. Identifying the triggers of a person's attacks is usually the first thing tackled when a sufferer visits a doctor.The next step is coming up with a plan to cope with the disorder.

In some of the more serious cases various medications can also be prescribed to aide in the balancing of brain chemicals that the stress and the poor reactions to it may have unbalanced.
What Are The Symptoms

There are a long list of symptoms associated with panic attacks. Here are just a few:
- shaking and trembling
- heart palpitations and chest pains
- sweating
- shortness of breath
- nausea and dizziness

These are just a small sample of symptoms with the severity of the symptoms sometimes dependent on each individual sufferer.

What To Do?

Seeking professional help is of utmost importance. A one off attack may not be the cause for major concen but if you experience attacks on a regular basis it's pointless trying to cope with them on your own.

Remember, getting on top of the reason why panic attacks are becoming a part of your life is vital because once you've lapsed into the "regular sufferer mode" without any help, then more seriopus problems could develop.