What are Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are the most extreme manifestation of an underlying anxiety disorder.

Extreme anxiety causes the release of the hormone Adrenalin, which is responsible for preparing the body in times of danger. If this adrenaline is not then used to combat danger, for example when someone experiences high anxiety inappropriately, the adrenalin can cause the body to react by producing a panic attack.

Panic attacks can present many symptoms, all of them harmless, but very unpleasant indeed in many cases. Panic attacks cause the sufferer to experience extreme fear even when nothing threatening is present.

The symptoms of panic attacks can vary from person to person, however, many experience a group of symptoms which are common to most panic attack sufferers. Symptoms such as breathlessness, shaking, sweating, dizziness and pins and needles are very common.

Panic attacks can occur at any time with any regularity. Most sufferers tend to experience panic attacks during times of increased anxiety, for example during an argument, when confronted with a phobic catalyst (dogs, spiders etc.) However, some sufferers can experience a panic attack with no external stimulus.

Most sufferers find that their panic attacks tend to last between 5 minutes and 1 hour, however, some sufferers may find that one panic attack blends into the next. Unfortunately, panic attacks don't follow a set pattern, everyone is different.

What must be understood is that anxiety and panic attacks evolved for 'self preservation', not to cause us harm. Although highly unpleasant, they are simply the result of producing more adrenalin than is useful to us in times of stress.

As anxiety sufferers produce Adrenalin when it isn't required, the body reacts, using up the adrenalin by having a panic attack.

So, to eliminate panic attacks, all you have to do is remove the inappropriate anxiety. Sounds simple doesn't it? Well it is!