Agoraphobia and It’s Relationship to Panic Attacks

Agoraphobia and It’s Relationship to Panic Attacks

Perhaps one of the most debilitating disorders is that of agoraphobia. While some suffer silently others become so fear stricken that they decide their safe zone is the only place they be exist comfortably. Agoraphobia is a fear of open spaces, public places, and crowds. The intensity of the fear varies from one sufferer to the other.

Many times the sufferer will become so worried about the potential of having a panic attack at a place or time that would be intolerable that he decides staying home is a safer option. This can result in a person becoming a virtual prisoner in his own home.

Stress or high anxiety is thought to be the cause of panic attacks. These attacks occur without warning and cause the sufferer to feel intense fear and a sense of dread. Outward reactions to this internal stimulus vary.

Some people seem to ‘lose it’ and others are better at masking the emotional turmoil they are experiencing. But most have extreme feelings of wanting to escape, and some complain that they fear they are dying or going crazy.

Obviously it would be difficult to manage such emotions and keep a calm demeanor. These sufferers become terrified that they will suffer an attack and behave inappropriately at the worst time.

That is how the cycle begins; a fear (related to the panic attack itself), the body responds, eventually the person is able to determine which places or situations seem to provoke the anxiety attacks, so will tend to avoid such situations.

As time goes by these people seem to completely isolate themselves from the world. But it is not because they want to - it is out of a need for freedom from the panic attacks that they suffer when they let their guard down.

Fortunately new techniques have been found that can help with such anxiety related disorders and the sufferers often are able to completely eradicate the disorder from their life. There is hope for all! For more information click any link in this blog.

Panic Attacks: An Internal War

I used to suffer from panic attacks. They began in my early twenties and I suffered with the attacks for almost twenty years. Panic attacks are not understood by the general population as most people have not experienced the way they can change your life.

I never knew when this was going to happen – that was the really scary part…I think if I could have been prepared for the attacks it wouldn’t have been so bad. Then I could’ve made certain provisions for it – LIKE HIDING IN BED UNDER A BALNKET – until it was over!

Okay, if you’ve had a panic attack you can relate to that and if you haven’t, well you may never understand what it’s really like to be out shopping and suddenly – for no apparent reason you feel an intense fear. You scout around your surroundings and cannot find any validation for this feeling but you cannot pretend it’s not there.

As the tension mounts you feel your throat start to close and breathing becomes difficult. You can feel your heart racing. You know you need to get out of there – NOW – but you also know you’re being ridiculous, but guess what, your fear wins out – who cares if your fears are unfounded – you know what you feel!

So you hurriedly leave the store with your companion wondering what the hell is going on. Your only thought is to get out – get out to safety. And within minutes the worst of the feelings are gone and you begin to slowly feel better.

What just happened????

Well to begin with, you experienced a feeling of fear or anxiety (side note here: panic attacks are thought to be caused by excessive anxiety). Your body responded like it’s supposed to.

Remember the “Fight or Flight Response”? That’s what’s happening to your body during an attack. You sense fear, your brain sends a message to the nervous system. The sub-category of the nervous system – sympathetic nervous system goes to work speeding up your heart rate, which is getting blood to all areas of your body, and compensating in all ways possible.

The other category of the nervous system is the parasympathetic nervous system. This system will work to calm things down again and although it may not happen immediately it will happen. You won’t die from a panic attack.

Essentially you have too extreme forces battling it out inside you. The good guy always wins....but you have to suffer through the battle. Sometimes you come out a little dazed and confused and sometimes you just want to cry. It all depends on how bad that particular attack was. Even the ones that 'aren't so bad' are not pleasant ! For more information visit any of the links in this blog.