What is Panic Disorder?
Published May 9th, 2024
4 min read
Signs, symptoms, and treatment for panic disorder.
Written by Simon Spichak
Panic disorder is a mental health condition affecting three to five percent of the population, that causes regular panic attacks. Panic attacks have intense physical symptoms that can be confused with a heart attack. The disorder can be treated with a combination of therapy, medications, and other symptom-management strategies.
Symptoms of Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder experience panic attacks regularly. They may begin to become afraid of certain places or situations that might trigger panic attacks, like social situations and can make people anxious in anticipation of the next panic attack.
Symptoms of a Panic Attack
The physical symptoms are intense and can even be confused for a heart attack. During a panic attack, you might experience the following:
Pounding or racing heart
Sweating
Chills
Trembling
Difficulty breathing or choking
Weakness or dizziness
Tingly or numb hands
Chest pain
Stomach pain or nausea
What Causes Panic Disorder?
Scientists don’t yet know exactly what causes panic disorder. However, some of these factors might contribute to the condition:
Genetics. If a parent or sibling has panic disorder, then that means you may have a 40 percent chance of developing it.
Chemical imbalances. Some researchers think that people develop panic disorder as a result of abnormal levels of brain neurotransmitters and stress hormones.
Traumatic life events. Early childhood trauma may make you more likely to develop panic disorder.
Other mental health conditions. Some people with mental illnesses like generalized anxiety disorder might be more likely also to develop panic disorder.
How to Treat Panic Disorder?
There is currently no cure for panic disorder. However, some types of treatments do help about four in five patients. Often, the best results come from combining therapy, medications, and other symptom-management strategies.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is a popular form of psychotherapy that is used for treating panic disorder. Over the course of 12 to 15 sessions, patients can learn how to counter the anticipation or fear of a panic attack, practice healthy ways to cope with a panic attack when it does occur, as well as learn ways to overcome some of the triggers.
The therapist may also help you learn breathing strategies and other stress-reduction techniques that may reduce the frequency of panic attacks.
Medications
A psychiatrist may prescribe drugs like antidepressants or benzodiazepines to help treat the symptoms of panic attacks.
Techniques to help calm a panic attack
There are a few strategies that may help you through a panic attack. These strategies are not a replacement for therapy or other treatments:
Speak with someone you can trust. If you have a loved one that you trust, they can sit with you while you experience a panic attack. They can help you with your breathing, distract you, and be there to meet your needs.
The 3-3-3 rule. This is a grounding technique that you can learn with a little bit of practice. When you feel a panic attack coming on, look around you and try to spot three objects, identify three sounds, and move three body parts. This takes the focus away from the panic attack and may help reduce the severity of the symptoms.
Focusing on breathing. Breathe in deep and slowly. Make sure you breathe in through your abdomen, count to four as you let the air in and then slowly exhale again, counting to four.
How Resolvve Can Help?
Whether or not you have a mental health diagnosis, Resolvve’s therapists can help treat your anxiety and panic attacks.
The first 15-minute consultation is always free. Once you have established a relationship with your therapist, Resolvve can also help you access a collaborative appointment with your therapist and a psychiatrist through our partnership with Psychotherapy Matters, with less wait time than a typical referral.
Please note that this post is written for educational purposes; it is not therapy. If you need to talk to a professional, please book a consultation with a psychotherapist through Resolvve.
