Panic
attacksWhat is a panic attack?
Everyone knows what panic is, and it is common to feel panicky from time to time:
- you get the sense that you are being followed on your way home from a party, late at night.
- you discover you have had your wallet stolen.
- you are sitting an exam. You look at the paper and realise you don't know the answer to any of the questions.
- you hear a noise downstairs late at night.
- someone runs in front of your car and you almost hit them.
It would be normal in any of these situations to feel a sense of panic. The feeling would be understandable and would pass fairly quickly. A panic attack is a bit like "normal" panic, but different in a number of ways:
- The feelings seem to come "out of the blue" and are not usually related to the sort of frightening situation described above.
- The feelings are a lot stronger.
- As the feelings are UNEXPECTED and STRONG they can be experienced as extremely frightening.
Panic attacks affect people in many different ways, but there is usually a frightening feeling that something really awful is about to happen.
THE TRUTH IS: NOTHING AWFUL IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AS PANIC ATTACKS ARE NOT DANGEROUS.
Lots of people have panic attacks, although they can affect people in different ways. Some people have only one, others may have them for many years. Some people have them every day, some people only once in a while. If you were to ask all of your friends if they had ever had a panic attack, it is very likely that at least one or two will have had the same experience. They are quite common and NOT a sign of serious mental or physical illness. Some non-serious physical conditions can cause symptoms similar to panic attacks. For example: certain medicine taken together; thyroid problems; drinking too much caffeine; pregnancy; low blood sugar; etc
If after reading this leaflet you are concerned that there may be a physical cause to your problem and you have not yet had a check-up from your GP, then it may be a good idea to make an appointment.
SUMMARY: Panic attacks are very common. They are NOT dangerous and are NOT a sign of serious mental or physical illness. This leaflet aims to help you reduce your panic attacks by helping you to:
- Recognise whether or not you are having panic attacks.
- Understand panic. What causes it, and what keeps it going.
- Accept that panic cannot harm you.
- Learn techniques to reduce panic.
Some useful organisations and help lines are:
- CRUSE Bereavement Line - help line for bereaved people and those caring for bereaved people, telephone 0181-3327227 (local CRUSE: 01670-353710, Blyth Group). * Mind Northern, telephone: 0191-4900109. * National Debt Line - help for anyone in debt or concerned they may fall into debt, telephone: 0645-506511 (local rate).
- Relate
- Family Link, a befriending scheme offering support and a practical approach to families with young children, telephone: 0191-2323741.
- No Panic - National Self Help Organisation for phobias, anxiety, panic. Help line: 01952-590545. Office: 01942-590005.
- NHS Direct. A free 24 hour helpline. Calls charged at local rate: 0845-1888.