anxiety disorder Archives - KOAP ~ Kentucky Online Adult Psychiatry

What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a psychiatric condition that’s characterized by a diverse clinical presentation.

If you ask a patient who’s having a panic attack about their feelings, they will describe their symptoms as physical entities rather than psychological.

In other words, these patients may be aware that their symptoms are caused by mental illness, but they cannot control what they’re experiencing since it feels more organic.

Some patients may even think they’re dealing with a cardiovascular issue due to the similarities between a panic attack and myocardial infarction (heart attack).

The difference between a panic attack and panic disorder

People often confuse panic attacks with panic disorder; however, these two conditions are different.

According to the DSM-V, a panic disorder is defined as having at least one panic attack followed by one month of constant worry about the consequences of the attack and/or considerable behavioral modifications.

In simpler terms, a panic attack might be a one-time thing, while panic disorder is a chronic psychiatric illness.

The symptoms of a panic attack

Regardless of the nomenclature, the symptoms of a panic attack include:

Tachycardia (accelerated heart rate)
Palpitations (pounding heart)
Profuse sweating
Trembling
Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
Numbness and tingling sensations
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea and dizziness
Fear of dying

Treatment of panic attacks

The treatment of panic attacks consists of pharmacological drugs and psychotherapy.

For the acute phase, doctors often prescribe medications from the benzodiazepines family, which act immediately to reduce anxiety and stress.

However, if you are diagnosed with panic disorder, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are warranted to prevent future panic attacks.

Aside from these two approaches, here are some self-help tips to reduce the severity and frequency of panic attacks:

Accept that you have a problem

The first step towards treating this issue is to admit that you have one! Acknowledge that you are someone who is fighting back this condition rather than suffering from it.

This action will help you take further steps in your treatment journey.

Inform your friends

Choose a family member or a friend that you trust and tell them how you feel. Their support will play a major role in controlling your panic attacks.

Avoid bad habits

Learn to stay away from unhealthy habits, such as drinking too much alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs. These substances will not heal you; on the contrary, they will worsen your situation even further.

Takeaway message

As you can see, panic attacks present with diverse signs and symptoms that are difficult to manage.

Unfortunately, many patients are unable to visit a psychiatrist due to psychological and/or socioeconomic reasons. Add to that the global quarantine caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the result is patients are suffering in silence.

However, it is not all doom and gloom!

We at KOAP have started offering our services online via videoconferencing (telepsychiatry) to help patients from the comfort of their homes. To schedule your appointment today click this link.

What is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is a common mental disorder that presents with a constant and irrational fear of unknown origin.

Patients with GAD express constant worry about every aspect of their lives, including money, health, family, and work. The worst part about GAD is anticipating fear all the time, which constantly puts patients on their toes.

Perhaps the best analogy to understand what GAD patients go through is by picturing yourself on a roller coaster. Once the train reaches the peak of the track, the vehicle starts to slow down, which makes you experience anticipatory fear –a fear of what’s coming–.

In short, that’s how GAD patients feel; only in their cases, the fear is almost constantly present.

Symptoms of GAD

Symptoms of GAD include:

Extreme, persistent, and generalized fear of everything, including people, animals, and objects
Trembling while crying
Social isolation
Objectively realizing that the fear is irrational
Decreased self-esteem, self-confidence, and feeling useless
Rapid heart-beat
Fast breathing (hyperventilation)
Profuse sweating
Nausea
Vomiting
Palpitations
Dizziness
Loss of consciousness

Patients with GAD might require hospitalization, especially if they start isolating themselves from society or become a danger to themselves.

Note that the frequency and severity of these symptoms vary greatly from one patient to another.

Causes of GAD

The exact reason that some people can handle a lot of pressure and don’t develop any mental issues while others do is still unclear, and more research is being conducted.

Nevertheless, scientists have successfully identified a list of risk factors, which include:

A family history

In the world of psychiatry, mental disorders tend to run in families. This suggests the involvement of a genetic component; however, we are unable to pinpoint it.

This is true for all other mental diseases.

Being constantly in stressful situations

Prolonged psychological stress can be a trigger of GAD. Whether it’s at home, work, or community, chronic stress is an important risk factor of GAD.

In particular, the workplace is one of the most toxic environments that increases your risk to develop many psychiatric disorders, including depression, GAD, and panic disorder.

Excessive use of stimulants

Researchers found that the chronic consumption of stimulants, such as coffee and energy drinks, is associated with a higher risk of developing GAD.

Childhood abuse

This is a common risk factor for several psychiatric disorders.

The abuse of a child creates a state of constant alertness and terror. At first, this fear is perfectly understandable; however, and as you grow, it starts to cover more aspects of your life and might lead to GAD.

Conclusion

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common condition that’s becoming more prevalent with our new stressful lifestyle.

Patients with GAD should not be left untreated, as seeing a professional can reduce their symptoms in a short period of time.

We, at KOAP, offer online videoconferencing appointments for all adult patients with mental health issues to ease up their suffering, especially with the current outbreak of COVID-19.

Check out our services and schedule an appointment by clicking on this link.

Everything You Need To Know About Panic Attacks