Panic Disorder Analysis

A common misconception that so many people are under is that panic attacks are the result of someone just "being dramatic". The fact of the matter is that there is a large stigma against getting treatment for mental health issues in America. This is an issue because suicide is the nation's 10th leading cause of death currently and many people wave off serious issues by claiming that someone is being dramatic. Overlooking "small" things like panic or anxiety attacks could be the difference between life or death for some people.

Geller is convinced that panic disorders are caused by a combination of biological and cognitive factors because a panic attack initiates responses from both factors. One of the biological factors of panic attacks is that the arousal that occurs is similar to the fight-or-flight response, and the body produces this response because it believes it is in danger. The cognitive factors include the physiological reactions that the body identifies as dangerous. The individual may think they have a medical condition or that they are out of control. These thoughts can cause the individual to become alarmed and cause greater arousal of the sympathetic nervous system (Gorenstein & Comer, 2015).

Hello, Michelle, while reading chapter 14, I thought that all the disorders where very interesting as well. I agree with you on how symptoms like racing heart, dizziness, breathing difficulties, sense of fear etc. are all a part of a panic disorder. For the most part I also agree that the book was somewhat consistent with the symptoms of a panic disorder because both sources stated that panic disorders are one of four principal anxiety disorders. Both sources also stated panic disorders are characterized by recurrent attacks of overwhelming anxiety that occur suddenly & unexpectedly and due to the severity of some people’s panic disorder several attack victims may develop agoraphobia. Overall I agree with your statement Michelle except when

We all experience fear or some anxiety when faced with a stressful situation. When that fear becomes ongoing, it can be known as panic disorder. Panic disorder occurs when a person suffers from recurrent panic attacks that cause them to live in constant fear. The panic attacks are an unreasonable fear response to a typically non-threatening situation. There is no way to predict these attacks as they can be triggered at any time. Typically they last anywhere from one to ten minutes. The person becomes constantly worried about having another attack which greatly affects their ability to function and disturbs their quality of life. They might avoid certain situations or places in attempt to prevent another attack. There are numerous causes and symptoms for panic disorder and many ways for it to be treated.

One of the most common mental illnesses in the United States is anxiety disorders. It affects 18% of the population (ADAA). "Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure"(Encyclopedia of Psychology). There are numerous kinds of anxiety, ranging from generalized anxiety disorder to obsessive-compulsive disorder. The utmost common forms of anxiety consist of generalized, social, and panic,(ADAA). As for myself, I suffer from all three major forms.

Panic disorder is dissimilar from the normal fear and anxiety reactions to stressful activities that is a serious illness that strikes without any warning. Panic attacks involve a feeling of extreme anxiety or fear that may last for anyplace among for a few minutes possibly to various hours. Symptoms of panic disorder happens with sudden attacks of fear and nervousness. Also, it causes such as sweating and a racing heart. During a panic attack, the fear response for the situation often is not threatening. Over time, a person with panic disorder develops a constant fear of having another panic attack, which can affect daily functioning and in general in their life. Panic attack is a reaction of the sympathetic nervous system. Panic attacks are not permanently threatening. People can or possibly won’t develop a panic attack at any time in their life. Everyone go through panic in a different way.

The eminent psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Hoch, in his classic treatise on differential diagnoses in the field of psychiatry made the observation that symptoms of anxiety and depression were components of every major psychiatric disorder (Hoch, 1972). People without psychiatric disorders also experience episodes of anxiety which is typically defined as a diffuse, unpleasant, and sometimes vague sense of apprehension; however, anxiety disorders, psychological disorders whose main component is anxiety and lead to significant disruptions in a person's everyday functioning, are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in the world (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). Moreover, there is abundant empirical evidence that anxiety disorders when left untreated may increase the risk of cardiovascular-related disorders and other health concerns (APA, 2000). Therefore it is important to be able to distinguish the proper anxiety disorder diagnosis and initiate treatment. One of the most disabling of all the anxiety disorders is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Some factors they may contribute to a panic attack or that can start a panic attack is: having panic attack disorders that were genetically past on, major changes in your life like having a new sibling and having your parents’ divorce, and a traumatic situation that happened to you such as rape or sexual assault and

Certain anxiety producing stimuli begins the reaction on a molecular level. These patients must take prescription medication to normalise their chemical imbalances. The best front on anxiety proves to be through psychotherapy and prescribing sufficient doses of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication. The amount and duration of attacks over time provide key components in figuring out the most effective treatment. In either case, the patient needs to desire normality for the treatment to take

Anxiety disorders may not seem like a problem in the world today, unfortunately, many people suffer from different types of anxiety disorders. They include, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorders, and social disorders. Everyone has experienced a type of anxiety in their lives one time or another and can be bothersome. Anxiety is described as a normal response to stress, defined as a cluster of mental illnesses that causes people to feel scared, distressed, or uneasy during certain situations that others may not experience. In America, anxiety disorders are the most common today, and they affect more than 20 percent of the population. Effective treatment

Panic disorder can be debilitating for an individual. It interferes with every day functioning at work or school and causes its sufferers to feel as if they might be going crazy. This paper explores the history of panic disorder, the nature of panic attacks and panic disorder, prognosis, etiology, assessments and treatment options.

The eminent psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Hoch, in his classic treatise on differential diagnoses in the field of psychiatry made the observation that symptoms of anxiety and depression were components of every major psychiatric disorder (Hoch, 1972). Everyone also experiences anxiety which is typically defined as a diffuse, unpleasant, and sometimes vague sense of apprehension; however, anxiety disorders, psychological disorders whose main component is anxiety and lead to significant disruptions in a person's everyday functioning, are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in the world (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). Moreover, there is abundant empirical evidence that anxiety disorders when left untreated may increase the risk of cardiovascular-related disorders and other health concerns (APA, 2000). Therefore it is important to be able to distinguish the proper anxiety disorder diagnosis and initiate treatment. One of the most disabling of all the anxiety disorders is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

     Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults. These disorders fill people's lives

Anxiety is a disorder in which an individual suffers from the inability to see past their immediate moment, without the fear of the unknown waiting for them. Scientifically speaking, anxiety is brought upon an individual by a chemical imbalance, which is explained by a neural pathway being blocked or disrupted, causing “emotional pain and irrational conclusions” (Richards, 2016). The broad term of anxiety cannot begin to scratch the surface of the disorder, however, it can be broken down into three main types: “general, panic, and social” (“Anxiety Disorders”, 2013). Whether they are conditioned to be anxious, traumatized as a child, or have severe social dysfunction,

This should be the first action taken to attempt to control and treat the disorder. However, in more severe cases, this simple technique is not enough. Psychological therapy involved in treating panic disorder focuses on helping the patient modify behaviors and responses to situations that will ultimately reduce feelings of panic. These types of treatment can involve many sessions with a mental health professional in order to be successful. For example, McGrandles and Duffy (2012) state “there is a large body of research supporting the use of cognitive behavioral therapy across the spectrum of anxiety disorders” and “psychological interventions such as CBT tend to be considered safer than drug treatments” (p. 5). In the event that psychotherapy is not single-handedly successful, pharmacological therapy can come into play. Certain medications can be taken by the patient to help reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks. “At present there are several different types of drugs which could be prescribed for the treatment of anxiety such as anti-depressants, benzodiazepines and beta blockers” (McGrandles & Duffy, p. 6). In the event that medication therapy is used, psychological therapy should also continue to be used in conjunction. The patient and doctor must work together in order to determine the best