Have you ever felt an inordinate amount of anxiety about a situation, a feeling of suffocation or a feeling of losing control? This may have been a panic attack, also known as an anxiety attack, panic attack or panic disorder.
No matter what they are called, panic attacks should be taken seriously, especially when they are not isolated events. It is possible to control these attacks, their effects and the consequences that follow, notably by consulting a psychological and mental health professional: the psychologist.
Attack, crisis or panic disorder?
Panic attacks represent distinct episodes, which we will describe in detail below. It is estimated that up to 40% of people experience a panic attack at some point in their lives. However, a panic attack does not necessarily lead to the development of panic disorder. Rather, panic disorder refers to a situation in which a person, because of repeated attacks, will avoid situations because of the fear of having another attack. This is an avoidance of certain situations, particularly in a social context.
Recognizing panic attacks
Here are some elements that define a panic attack and help to identify it:
- Causes a feeling of anxiety: Sudden and brutal;
- Accompanied by physical symptoms: heart palpitations, respiratory symptoms (choking or shortness of breath), nausea, vomiting or stomach pain, dizziness and lightheadedness, etc.; and
- And emotional symptoms: intense fear and anxiety, excessive fears, feelings of detachment (depersonalization), feelings of losing control or going crazy.
- Relatively brief: an attack may last from a few seconds to a few minutes, but never more than half an hour. However, feelings of anxiety may persist.
- Fears of recurrence: Panic attacks can lead to a fear that they will happen again. This can lead to avoidance of situations (panic disorder).
When to consult for panic attacks?
A person may experience a panic attack, but it may be an isolated event due to a particularly intense and stressful situation (personal drama, professional pressure, etc.). However, it is when attacks become more recurrent that there is cause for concern. Indeed, as we have mentioned, a person can go so far as to avoid social situations that cause stress, or even isolate himself because of the fear of experiencing another crisis. For this reason, a real panic disorder can have serious consequences on a person’s life. It is therefore essential to know how to control the disorder, a control that can be developed by consulting a psychologist.
The relevance of the psychologist’s intervention
It is important to mention that the current situation with the pandemic may have acted as a catalyst or amplifier of the anxiety already present in some individuals. In this sense, it is possible that some of them may have faced panic attacks and been caught off guard.
A psychologist can accompany a person who is confronted with this type of problem, in particular by carrying out progressive desensitization work in the face of the situations that provoke the attacks. In addition, the introspective work in which the therapist accompanies his or her client may prove to be most relevant in understanding the triggers of the attacks as well as the issues behind the attacks or panic disorder. Consulting a psychologist therefore represents an opportunity for personal growth. The person who consults can learn to better cope with his or her anxiety, to develop new reference points and to control the disorder through several strategies.
Our psychologists are there to help all people who are dealing with the effects of panic attacks, whether they were already weakened by their personal situation before the pandemic broke out or not. Do not hesitate to consult a psychologist who travels to your home in the greater Montreal area or who offers his psychological services via teleconsultation.
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
