Panic attacks: managing and treating them

Tarana cannot breathe. Her heart is pounding and she is convinced it will stop any minute. She feels faint and dizzy. Her palms are cold and clammy. She is terrified and wants to get up and run. Tarana is having a panic attack.

What is a panic attack?

Most of us will, at one time or another, be stressed and panicky. Life throws us in situations like a major examination or a life-altering interview where we will feel our hearts pounding and feel anxiety overwhelming us. This panic is specifically related to the stress of that particular situation and is therefore understandable.

Some people, however, get these symptoms in unexpected and unprovoked situations. When these symptoms are recurrent and the person is disabled by them, they are called panic attacks. These attacks usually last for more than ten minutes and the person may actually feel she is having a heart attack. About half the people who suffer panic attacks may also have attacks while sleeping. Nocturnal panic attacks tend to cause sufferers to wake suddenly from sleep in a state of sudden fear or dread for no apparent reason. It may take some time to calm down.

What causes a panic attack?

Nature created a ‘fight or flight’ response in us to enable us to deal with stressful situations. When faced with a situation perceived to be dangerous or traumatic, our body pours out adrenaline, which makes us hyperconscious, with all our senses set at high alert.  Adrenaline speeds up the heart rate, slows digestion, shunts blood flow to major muscle groups, and gives the body a burst of energy and strength. Originally named for its ability to enable us to physically fight or run away when faced with danger, the ‘fight or flight’ response is now activated in situations where neither response is appropriate, like in traffic or during a stressful day at work. When the perceived threat is gone, systems are designed to return to normal function.

Unfortunately, some people are unable to control this response. When this response is set off repeatedly without any stimulus, panic attacks result. Women who are prone to anxiety and depression are also more susceptible to panic attacks.

What are the symptoms of a panic attack?

A woman having a panic attack will experience a racing or pounding heartbeat (palpitations), chest pains, stomach upset, dizziness, and nausea. She may have difficulty in breathing and experience a sense of choking. She may feel hot or cold and be covered in cold sweat. She may start shaking or trembling uncontrollably. She may feel terrified and the fear of dying may be overwhelming.