More On Panic Disorder

By Author: Steven Johnson
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Panic disorder is a health problem that can affect anyone in their adult age. It is described by uncontrollable panic that occurs for no apparent reason or in specific circumstances. Quite often patients with panic disorder report having physical symptoms like limb numbness and chest pain during panic attacks. The episode of panic usually onsets very quickly and reaches maximum intensity in about 10 minutes, after which the panic will get weaker and will fade off completely in about 30 minutes after the beginning of the attack. It was observed that women become the victims of panic disorders far more often than men. However, medication treatment is quite effective in relieving the symptoms, with up to 66% success rate after the first treatment course. Still, only about 10-20 percent manages to be cured completely from this condition.

In order to get diagnosed with panic disorder the person has to comply with specific criteria. If you had an episode of panic attack and within a month had the following issues then you are very likely to suffer from panic disorder:

* serious concern with the cause of the attack ...
... and its nature
* anticipation and fear of consequent panic attacks
* shift in behavioral patterns after the attack has occurred

A person suffering from panic disorder is very likely to experience panic attacks on a regular basis, which are characterized by the following symptoms:

* fast heartbeat
* excessive sweating
* chest pain
* nausea and feeling light headed
* breathing problems
* numbness or tingling in the hands, face, feet or mouth
* flushing in the face and chest
* feeling surreal
* intense fear
* vision problems
* crying
* extreme fatigue
* heightened senses

These symptoms usually stay between two and eight minutes at their peak, while it may take up to thirty minutes to feel completely relieved of them.

Sometimes panic disorder may be caused by thyroid gland issues or substance abuse, however such cases are not diagnosed as true panic disorder and are usually treated by eliminating the problem at cause. In other cases panic attacks can be caused by other forms of anxiety disorders such as social phobia. In such situations potent drugs like Xanax can help relief most of the symptoms, but you will have to consult with your doctor regarding the correct dosage.

Quite often panic disorder onsets during the early adulthood and lasts from a few months to many years. Depending on the intensity of symptoms, doctors usually prescribe medications such as Xanax and psychological therapy in order to alleviate the symptoms or address the actual cause of the problem.

While it is quite hard to completely eliminate panic disorder, by using an adequate treatment it is possible to reduce the frequency of panic attacks and relieve the symptoms in up to 90% of patients. If starting the treatment earlier it is possible to get relief in just a couple of weeks.

Panic disorder can seriously affect a person's social activity and make many simple tasks really hard to perform. That is why it is very important to get adequate treatment as soon as you observe the first symptoms of the disease. Consult with your doctor if you suspect having panic disorder and ask if Xanax or any other medications can help you.