Body: There may be a genetic
predisposition to anxiety disorders; some sufferers report that a family member
has or had a panic disorder or some other emotional disorder such as
depression. Studies with twins have confirmed the possibility of 'genetic
inheritance' of the disorder.
Panic Disorder could also be
due to a biological malfunction, although a specific biological marker has yet
to be identified.
All ethnic groups are
vulnerable to panic disorder. For unknown reasons, women are twice as likely to
get the disorder as men.
Mind: Stressful life events
can trigger panic disorders. One association that has been noted is that of a
recent loss or separation. Some researchers liken the 'life stressor' to a
thermostat; that is, when stresses lower your resistance, the underlying
physical predisposition kicks in and triggers an attack.
Both: Physical and
psychological causes of panic attacks work together. Although initially
attacks may come out of the blue, eventually the sufferer may actually help
bring them on by responding to physical symptoms of an attack.
For example, if a person with
panic attacks experience a racing heartbeat caused by drinking coffee,
exercising, or taking a certain medication, they might interpret this as a
symptom of an attack and , because of their anxiety, actually bring on the
attack. On the other hand, coffee, exercise, and certain medications sometimes
do, in fact, cause panic attacks. One of the most frustrating things for the
panic sufferer is never knowing how to isolate the different triggers of an
attack. That's why the right therapy for panic disorder focuses on all aspects
-- physical, psychological, and physiological -- of the disorder.
Can People with Panic
Disorder lead normal lives?
The answer to this is a
resounding YES -- if they receive treatment.
Panic disorder is highly
treatable, with a variety of available therapies. These treatments are
extremely effective, and most people who have successfully completed treatment
can continue to experience situational avoidance or anxiety, and further
treatment might be necessary in those cases. Once treated, panic disorder
doesn't lead to any permanent complications.
The immediate danger with
panic disorder is that it can often lead to a phobia. That's because once
you've suffered a panic attack, you may start to avoid situations like the one
you were in when the attack occurred.
Many people with panic
disorder show 'situational avoidance' associated with their panic attacks. For
example, you might have an attack while driving, and start to avoid driving
until you develop an actual phobia towards it. In worst case scenarios, people
with panic disorder develop agoraphobia -- fear of going outdoors -- because
they believe that by staying inside, they can avoid all situations that might
provoke an attack, or where they might not be able to get help. The fear of an
attack is so debilitating, they prefer to spend their lives locked inside their
homes.
Even if you don't develop
these extreme phobias, your quality of life can be severely damaged by
untreated panic disorder. A recent study showed that people who suffer from
panic disorder:
Answers to your Questions about Panic Disorder
You are in "Understanding"
|
