Panic Disorder

PANIC DISORDER 5

PanicDisorder

Institutionaffiliation

PanicDisorder

Individualswho experience sudden intense anxiety or fear are often diagnosedwith panic disorders. The physical symptoms associated with thedisorder include sweating, chest pain, numb hands, and breathingdifficulty. Panic disorders develop during early adulthood, and ifleft untreated, the conditions resultin mental health disorders, which ultimately lower the quality oflife of an individual. In this regard, it is important to understandthe factors that leadto panic disorders and therapy approaches used to control thecondition. Accordingly, the essay expounds on panic disorder withclose reference to its causes and treatment interventions.

Panicdisorder is a condition, which causes an individual to have numerousepisodes of substantial anxiety that happens suddenly in absence ofwarning signs and lasts from minutes to hours (NHS Choices). Womenare more prone to the risk of panic attacks than men. The disorder isoften accompanied by other physical and mental conditions includingdepression and asthma. “NHS Choices” ascertains that theoccurrence of panic attacks together with other conditions such asirritable bowel syndrome complicates the process of diagnosis.Nevertheless, the disorder responds positively to treatment if wellmanaged through effective exercises and techniques.

Causesof s

Panicattacks are associated with a combination of psychological andphysical elements. Traumatic life experiences are often cited as themain factor accelerating the occurrence of panic disorders. Accordingto “NHS Choices”, bereavement and other traumas initiate feelingsof anxiety and panic, which ultimately results in attacks. In thisregard, environmental factors have a substantial role in influencingthe prevalence of panic attacks. The condition is more pronounced incertain family members than other, alluding that panic disorders arein awayrelated to the geneticmakeup of an individual. “NHS Choices” argues that individualswho have a closefamily member, who experiences panic attacks, are at a higher risk ofdeveloping the condition just like in the cases of asthma anddiabetes.

Catastrophicthinking is also a causative factor of panic disorder. This elementis tied to a theory, which ascertains that individuals who experiencepanic disorders tend to focus on insignificant physical symptoms andperceive them in a catastrophic approach. In this light, the thinkingapproach initiates a nervous system response that results in symptomsassociated with panic attacks (NHS Choices). Environment factorsspecifically amplified sensitivity to carbon dioxide increases therisk of an individual developing panic attacks condition. Inhalingair with high quantities of carbon dioxide triggers panic attacksthat can be remedied through breathing attacks (NHS Choices).Breathing in airwith lots of dust particles may also resultin the condition if other risk factors are present. Imbalance ofneurotransmitters found in the brain also increases the risk of anindividual developing panic disorder conditions.

Diagnosisand Treatment of s

Physiciansrecommend that individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety such asadrenal tumors, thyrotoxicosis, and carcinoid syndrome should seek adiagnosis.“NHS Choices” ascertains that individuals may be diagnosed withpanic disorder if they often encounter unforeseen panic attacksaccompanied by at least three weeks of unceasing concern about havingrecurring attacks. An individual is expected to describe the symptomsto a personal doctor with an objective of aiding the physician toarrive at acorrectdiagnosis and thus, recommend effective therapy based on evidence.According to “NHS Choices”, a physician also needs to carry outphysical examination with a goal of linking the observed symptoms tovarious causative factors. In this perspective, the health carepractitioner will be in a position to exclude any existing medicalconditions and a make a precise diagnosis.

Theprimary objective of treating panic disorder is to minimize thenumber and severity of panic attacks. According to “NHS Choices”,medication and psychological therapy are the commonly adoptedapproaches of mitigating the symptoms of panic disorders. Thetreatment interventions are individual specific and thus, a personmay need one or a combination of the two. Cognitive-behavioraltherapy is the most recommended form of psychological therapy thatrequires the victim to visit a panic disorder profession regularly.The objective of the visits is to enable the therapist to identifyall negative beliefs and thoughts present in the patient andultimately, work towards replacing them with more balanced andrealistic ones.

Medicationsin the form of antidepressants are also used to control panicdisorders. “NHS Choices” ascertains that these drugs takes two tofour weeks before achieving the intended goal and therefore, patientsare encouraged to continue using them even if they depict minimalsigns of improvement. The commonly adopted antidepressants includetricyclic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The later workby boosting the level of serotonin in the brain while the formerregulates the amounts of noradrenaline, which has apositive impacton moods and feelings.

Inconclusion, panic disorders have a substantial impact on the qualityof life of an individual and thus, should be remedied after correctdiagnosis. The disorder is caused by either psychological or physicalfactors that can be mitigated through medication and cognitivebehavioral therapy. The approach used for treatment depend on theseverity of panic attacks as well as personal attributes.

References

NHSChoices. Retrieved 1 April 2017, fromhttp://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Panic-disorder/Pages/Introduction.asp