Panic Disorder: What Is The True Meaning Of Panic Disorder?
The word "panic" comes from the Latin word “panicus”, which is derived from Greek god, Pan. The Greeks and Romans believed that bad omens and evil spirits caused people to panic. With the rise of Christianity in ancient Rome, they believed this led to human sinfulness and questioned whether humans had free will or if God was determining our destinies.
Athenian and Roman philosophers also believed that panic was an actual poison that caused people to clam up in times of danger. They sat there paralyzed with fear until death came, as the heart simply stopped beating and the muscles turned to stone. In ancient Greece, women were not permitted to use a bath located near the septic tank because of the stench from this poison (one theory is that some ancient Greeks thought that women’s menstrual periods were due to the “stench of their pussies”).
Historical speculation aside, modern science has more concrete evidence that panic disorders are actually caused by physical rather than supernatural causes. It is believed that the brain is actually experiencing a release of chemicals called neurotransmitters when the body experiences danger. These chemicals relay signals to other parts of the body, which results in physical reactions. For example, when a person feels trapped and there is little way out they may have increased heart rate and sweaty palms. It is also believed that the brain itself actually produces adrenaline and other chemicals in times of emergency.
Panic attacks are the sudden experience of panic and fear. Panic attacks can occur when there is a threat or danger (real or imagined), such as running out of time in a lecture, meeting with your boss for a promotion, or finding out that your ex-boyfriend is dating someone else (post-traumatic stress disorder). Panic attacks are usually preceded by physical symptoms, such as stomach upset or feeling a bit dizzy. These physical symptoms may appear almost instantly and last for a few minutes.
People who experience panic attacks often try to avoid the situations that trigger them; they may also avoid people who trigger their anxiety. The anxiety experienced during an attack can make it harder for a person to exercise control over their bodies and mind and may cause great distress.
Panic disorders may also occur suddenly, if an individual has been under a lot of stress. A person who suffers from panic disorder will experience unpleasant symptoms such as a pounding heart and shaking. The person suffering from panic disorder may think he or she is dying, or having a heart attack. Most of the time, though, panic attacks are not life-threatening; they are just uncomfortable and distressing.
A panic disorder may accompany other mental health conditions, such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. These mental health disorders often require treatment in order to effectively manage the symptoms of panic.
There is no cure for panic attacks and sudden episodes of extreme anxiety, but there are many helpful self-help techniques that can be practiced to help control the episodes and their frequency. A self-help group may also be helpful for sufferers of panic attacks and general anxiety disorders. These groups may be offered by some hospitals, and they are especially useful for those who are new to the disorder. Educating oneself on the condition is important in order to control it, and a doctor may be able to help identify further problems if a treatment has not helped.
Reflecting on the causes of panic disorder, some believe that because there are no rational reasons for panic attacks, it must be caused by genetic factors such as psychotic genes or chemicals in the brain like dopamine or serotonin. It is also possible that some mental illnesses might cause panic attacks in their sufferers, or that an overactive fear response triggered by continued stress may lead to panic attacks.
Some patients do not realize they suffer from the disorder and are often misdiagnosed with depression or other disorders. The symptoms of panic attacks resemble those of many other disorders, such as phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Depression can cause symptoms similar to those of panic disorder, and drugs used to treat depression or anxiety may lead to further panic attacks.
Other than the physical symptoms of panic attacks, the emotions experienced are often just as distressful. Panic disorder sufferers often experience a high level of emotionality; they startle easily, may be easily angered or upset and do not have a good sense of reality.
The anxiety caused by panic attacks can be so intense that the patient will do anything they can to avoid having them. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be prescribed, but these drugs may also cause unpleasant physical side effects and also lead to addiction. Some people find that benzodiazepines are helpful in coping with symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks, but they should not be used long term due to their highly addictive nature.
Conclusion
It is important to know the symptoms of panic attacks and how to control them, so that individuals can recognize if their panic disorder is causing them problems or not. Panic attacks are highly distressing and debilitating and can last for minutes or even hours at a time, depending on the individual. It is important for sufferers of panic disorder to talk about these feelings with their doctors to ensure a diagnosis as well as treatment. The sooner an individual can strike down these negative thoughts and receive help from their doctor or psychiatrist the better off they will be.