How to Survive a Panic Attack

Panic attacks affect many Americans everyday. Most people will only have one or two panic attacks their whole lifetime. Others, like myself, suffer from panic attacks on a daily basis. These panic attacks can happen at any given time and can last for up to three to four minutes. I have heard of rare cases of people suffering the symptoms for up to ten minutes. Symptoms for panic attacks usually include the following: shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, hyperventilation, dizziness, cold chills, a feeling of helplessness, choking, smothering, and a fear of dying. Most of these symptoms do not happen at the same time. One persons panic attack can have completely different symptoms from another persons panic attack.

During my treatment for panic attacks I have learned that stress is a huge factor in the occurrence of these attacks. I did not realize at first that I was experiencing panic attacks. I assumed it was a more serious condition such as lung failure and at one point I thought I was suffering from a heart attack. I was hospitalized numerous times for them to do tests only to find out that I was perfectly healthy. One trip to the emergency room proved very educational. The doctor on duty told me I was suffering from a panic attack. I have spent thousands of dollars on emergency room visits just to find out my life threatening illness wasn't all that life threatening. That doctor changed my whole outlook from that point on. Now I know I am not suffering from a heart attack or lung failure or a chronic undetectable rare disease. I knew panic attacks could be treated. Shortly after that emergency room visit I found a psychiatrist that knew about panic attacks and how to treat them.