Are Panic Attacks Normal?

In the contemporary world anxiety has become the most common disease in almost every country owing to the unhealthy lifestyles we follow. And when this anxiety reaches heights, it triggers panic attacks. Panic attacks are unpredictable onset of fear and distress which are accompanied by physical painful symptoms and last for a very short time. We see a number of people around us having panic attacks and they go on a completely different level of discomfort at that time. Shaking, perspiration, crying, biting nails are some physical symptoms.

Doctors receive a number of cases relating to panicdisorders . Yoon Jeong Jang,a South Korean, has shared her experience of panic disorder which she developed after her marriage. She says that her panic attacks started with palpitations and thanatophobia. Having less information about panicattacks, she declared that she had some heart problem and decided to cope up on her own. But things turned bitter for her and she developed insomnia;her mind was always filled with negativity until one day she happened to see a psychologist who then counselled her.Another case is that of a teen from America, who expressed the sufferings she goes through during a panic attack in an interview. She says that on the onset of panic attack she is blank and gets a piercing headache. She can hear her heart beating and it seems like someone is banging a drum. She starts crying and biting her nails. These are just two cases but we do have millions of cases with severe symptoms.

Dr David Brendel, a known psychiatrist in US, says that “Panic disorder is a real illness for which there are successful treatments. Symptoms of panic disorder include sudden attacks of terror usually accompanied by a pounding heart, sweatiness, weakness, faintness, or dizziness. People may experience chest pain, a smothering sensation or nausea. Patients sometimes say that they have a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom or a fear of losing control.” Dr Roxanne Dryden says that “ panic attacks are very sudden and often unexpected, appear to be unprovoked, and are often disabling.” Thus there is no need tofeel shy about them and feel like one has some psychological disorder. However, one needs to maintain his cool whenever panic attack is felt.These are ephemeral and are not even fatal.Another thing is that while getting an attack, we must keep working on the stuff we’re doing and not stop as it may increase the symptoms. A number of lifestyle changes can also be incorporated like aerobic exercise, avoiding alcohol ,caffeine and illicitto keep the stress at bay.

Some celebs too went public about their panic attacks and said how they feel when it hits. Actress Amanda Seyfried says that she regularly visits a therapist to cope up with her panic attacks. John Mayor, a singer, says that "I would get anxiety attacks too, and we would talk each other down. It was heart palpitations, shortness of breath, coldness and shivers, strange stuff. So we don't need to hide this social anxiety or be afraid of it. Face it, because we are strong enough.