Don’t panic! I’ve been talking about depression recently so I thought it would be good to look at panic attacks, which can happen when you are suffering from depression, anxiety, a fear or phobia. You will be diagnosed with a panic disorder if you are experiencing frequent panic attacks but, fortunately for most of us, we will only experience a few in our lifetime…and for the fortunate ones, none at all.
Symptoms can include:
My first panic attack came out of the
extreme physical activity – to fight
blue as the plane I was on began
and kill the sabre-toothed tiger who
its take-off run. We were taking our
is attacking us or to run back as fast
■ Racing heartbeat
young children on a plane for the first
as we can to the safety of the cave.
time and I had been happily chatting
Unfortunately, they can be triggered
■ Fast, shallow breathing
to them a moment before and I
by perceived threats – things that
■ Feeling faint or dizzy
had really enjoyed flying since I was
we are worrying about in our minds
4 years old. I had three more panic
that either haven’t happened yet or
■ Sweating
attacks and then didn’t fly for ten or
have but there is no action required.
more years but…I’ll leave that story for
So we are left with the symptoms
another blog!
that result from our body’s resources
The point is that I know about panic attacks from first-hand experience – how frightening they can be. I felt totally out of control and scared and I have seen clients who have taken themselves off to A & E, convinced that they are having a heart attack.
being readied for action, with focus on getting oxygen to our muscles as quickly as possible, when there is nothing we can or need to do.
■ Nausea or a churning in your stomach ■ Chest pains ■ Trembling or shaky limbs ■ Dry mouth ■ An urgent need to go to the toilet ■ A feeling of dread or even dying ■ Numbness or a tingling
Do you know the symptoms Panic attacks are a full body experience, they are a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms that can come from nowhere and appear very quickly (as I found out!). Put very simply, they are the result of a flight or fight reaction to a threat and are preparing us for
sensation in your extremities Your panic attack will include several of these symptoms and can last anything from 5-20 minutes and in extreme cases up to an hour! Although having a panic attack is frightening, it’s not dangerous. Having an attack won’t cause you physical harm or
Issue 19 | 47
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The Business Bulletin
