Hyperventilation Treatment

Dr. Jagadeesan M.S.MD - PsychiatryPsychiatrist

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Yes. Hyperventilation can arise due to anxiety. You need to be evaluated by a psychiatrist and treatment planned. All the best. 

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Dr. Jigar ParekhDM - NeurologyNeurologist

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Epilepsy has multiple causes. Most cases with normal MRI And EEG are of genetic origin .and not all genetic epilesies have family history. 

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Dr. Jagadeesan M.S.MD - PsychiatryPsychiatrist

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You seem to be suffering from classical anxiety with panic symptoms, kindly cosnult a psychiatrist for detailed evalutaion and remedy. It can be easily treated. All the best. 

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Ms. Rachna MishraM.A.(H)Psychology, PG Diploma in Child Guidance and Family TherapyPsychologist

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Hello USer, Generalized anxiety disorder tip 1: Connect with others Support from other people is vital to overcoming GAD. Social interaction with someone who cares about you is the most effective way to calm your nervous system and diffuse anxiety, so it’s important to find someone you can connect with face to face on a regular basis. This person should be someone you can talk to for an uninterrupted period of time, someone who will listen to you without judging, criticizing, or continually being distracted by the phone or other people. That person may be your significant other, a family member, or a friend. How GAD can get in the way of connecting with others While the more connected you are to other people, the less vulnerable you’ll feel, but the catch-22 is that having GAD can lead to problems in your relationships. For example, anxiety and constant worrying about your close relationships may leave you feeling needy and insecure. Identify unhealthy relationship patterns. Think about the ways you tend to act when you’re feeling anxious about a relationship. Do you test your partner? Withdraw? Make accusations? Become clingy? Once you’re aware of any anxiety-driven relationship patterns, you can look for better ways to deal with any fears or insecurities you’re feeling. Build a strong support system. Human beings are social creatures. We’re not meant to live in isolation. But a strong support system doesn’t necessarily mean a vast network of friends. Don’t underestimate the benefit of a few people you can trust and count on to be there for you. Talk it out when your worries start spiraling. If you start to feel overwhelmed with anxiety, meet with a trusted family member or friend. Just talking face to face about your worries can make them seem less threatening. Know who to avoid when you’re feeling anxious. Your anxious take on life may be something you learned when you were growing up. If your mother is a chronic worrier, she is not the best person to call when you’re feeling anxious—no matter how close you are. When considering who to turn to, ask yourself whether you tend to feel better or worse after talking to that person about a problem. Tip 2: Learn to calm down quickly While socially interacting with another person face-to-face is the quickest way to calm your nervous system, it’s not always realistic to have a friend close by to lean on. In these situations, you can quickly self-soothe and relieve anxiety symptoms by making use of one or more of your physical senses: Sight – Look at anything that relaxes you or makes you smile: a beautiful view, family photos, cat pictures on the Internet. Sound – Listen to soothing music, sing a favorite tune, or play a musical instrument. Or enjoy the relaxing sounds of nature (either live or recorded): ocean waves, wind through the trees, birds singing. Smell – Light scented candles. Smell the flowers in a garden. Breathe in the clean, fresh air. Spritz on your favorite perfume. Taste – Slowly eat a favorite treat, savoring each bite. Sip a hot cup of coffee or herbal tea. Chew on a stick of gum. Enjoy a mint or your favorite hard candy. Touch – Give yourself a hand or neck massage. Cuddle with a pet. Wrap yourself in a soft blanket. Sit outside in the cool breeze. Movement – Go for a walk, jump up and down, or gently stretch. Dancing, drumming, and running can be especially effective. Tip 3: Get moving Exercise is a natural and effective anti-anxiety treatment. It relieves tension, reduces stress hormones, boosts feel-good chemicals such as serotonin and endorphins, and physically changes the brain in ways that make it less anxiety-prone and more resilient. For maximum relief of GAD, try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. Exercise that engages both your arms and legs—such as walking, running, swimming, or dancing—are particularly good choices. Add mindfulness to your workout Mindfulness is a powerful anxiety fighter—and an easy technique to incorporate into your exercise program. Rather than spacing out or focusing on your thoughts during a workout, focus on how your body feels as you move. Try to notice the sensation of your feet hitting the ground, for example, or the rhythm of your breathing, or the feeling of the wind on your skin. Not only will you get more out of your workout—you’ll also interrupt the flow of constant worries running through your head. Tip 4: Look at your worries in new ways The core symptom of GAD is chronic worrying. It’s important to understand what worrying is, since the beliefs you hold about worrying play a huge role in triggering and maintaining GAD. Understanding worrying You may feel like your worries come from the outside—from other people, events that stress you out, or difficult situations you’re facing. But, in fact, worrying is self-generated. The trigger comes from the outside, but your internal running dialogue keeps it going. When you’re worrying, you’re talking to yourself about things you’re afraid of or negative events that might happen. You run over the feared situation in your mind and think about all the ways you might deal with it. In essence, you’re trying to solve problems that haven’t happened yet, or worse, simply obsessing on worst-case scenarios. All this worrying may give you the impression that you’re protecting yourself by preparing for the worst or avoiding bad situations. But more often than not, worrying is unproductive—sapping your mental and emotional energy without resulting in any concrete problem-solving strategies or actions. How to distinguish between productive and unproductive worrying? If you’re focusing on “what if” scenarios, your worrying is unproductive. Once you’ve given up the idea that your worrying somehow helps you, you can start to deal with your worry and anxiety in more productive ways. This may involve challenging irrational worrisome thoughts, learning how to stop worrying, and learning to accept uncertainty in your life. Tip 5: Regularly practice relaxation techniques for GAD Anxiety is more than just a feeling. It’s the body’s physical “fight or flight” reaction to a perceived threat. Your heart pounds, you breathe faster, your muscles tense up, and you feel light-headed. When you’re relaxed, the complete opposite happens. Your heart rate slows down, you breathe slower and more deeply, your muscles relax, and your blood pressure stabilizes. Since it’s impossible to be anxious and relaxed at the same time, strengthening your body’s relaxation response is a powerful anxiety-relieving tactic. Relaxation techniques for GAD Deep breathing. When you’re anxious, you breathe faster. This hyperventilation causes symptoms such as dizziness, breathlessness, lightheadedness, and tingly hands and feet. These physical symptoms are frightening, leading to further anxiety and panic. But by breathing deeply from the diaphragm, you can reverse these symptoms and calm yourself down. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you release muscle tension and take a “time out” from your worries. The technique involves systematically tensing and then releasing different muscle groups in your body. As your body relaxes, your mind will follow. Meditation. Research shows that mindfulness meditation can actually change your brain. With regular practice, meditation boosts activity on the left side of the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for feelings of serenity and joy. Try the Ride the Wild Horse meditation, part of HelpGuide’s free EQ toolkit. Tip 6: Adopt additional anxiety-busting habits A healthy, balanced lifestyle plays a big role in keeping the symptoms of GAD at bay. In addition to regular exercise and relaxation, try adopting these other lifestyle habits to tackle chronic anxiety and worry: Get enough sleep Anxiety and worry can cause insomnia, as anyone whose racing thoughts have kept them up at night can attest. But lack of sleep can also contribute to anxiety. When you’re sleep deprived, your ability to handle stress is compromised. When you’re well rested, it’s much easier to keep your emotional balance, a key factor in coping with anxiety and stopping worry. Improve your sleep at night by changing any daytime habits or bedtime routines that can contribute to sleeplessness. Limit caffeine Stop drinking or at least cut back on caffeinated beverages, including soda, coffee, and tea. Caffeine is a stimulant that can trigger all kinds of jittery physiological effects that look and feel a lot like anxiety—from pounding heart and trembling hands to agitation and restlessness. Caffeine can also make GAD symptoms worse, cause insomnia, and even trigger panic attacks. Avoid alcohol and nicotine Having a few drinks may temporarily help you feel less anxious, but alcohol actually makes anxiety symptoms worse as it wears off. While it may seem like cigarettes are calming, nicotine is actually a powerful stimulant that leads to higher, not lower, levels of anxiety. Eat right Food doesn’t cause anxiety, but a healthy diet can help keep you on an even keel. Going too long without eating leads to low blood sugar—which can make you feel anxious and irritable—so start the day right with breakfast and continue with regular meals. Eat plenty of complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, and vegetables), which stabilize blood sugar and boost serotonin, a neurotransmitter with calming effects. Reduce the amount of refined sugar you eat, too. Sugary snacks and desserts cause blood sugar to spike and then crash, leaving you feeling emotionally and physically drained. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy If you’ve given self-help a fair shot, but still can’t seem to shake your worries and fears, it may be time to see a mental health professional. But remember that professional treatment doesn’t replace self-help. In order to control your GAD symptoms, you’ll still want to make lifestyle changes and look at the ways you think about worrying Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of therapy that is particularly helpful in the treatment of GAD. CBT examines distortions in our ways of looking at the world and ourselves. Your therapist will help you identify automatic negative thoughts that contribute to your anxiety. For example, if you catastrophize—always imagining the worst possible outcome in any given situation—you might challenge this tendency through questions such as, “What is the likelihood that this worst-case scenario will actually come true?” and “What are some positive outcomes that are more likely to happen?”. 

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Ms. Sukanya BiswasMasters in Clinical Psychology & Certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Practioner, Certified Neuro linguistic programming Practioner, Masters in Clinical Psychology, Post Graduate Diploma in Child and ADolescent CounsellingPsychologist

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Determining the Extent of Your Fear Analyze your symptoms. Specific phobias, including cynophobia (the fear of dogs), may include some of the following symptoms. Do you need to be in the presence of a dog, or can a photo or story of a dog trigger your symptoms? And, is it the dog itself that causes the fear, or something the dog is doing? For example, some people are fearful of barking, but are okay if a dog is silent. •Feeling an imminent sense of danger. •Feeling the need to escape or flee. •Heart racing, sweating, trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, or chills. •Feeling like what is happening is unreal. •Feeling like you’re losing control or going crazy. •Feeling like you might die. Determine if you change your life because of your fear. Unfortunately fears can be so severe that we feel the best way to make them go away is to avoid them completely. While a fear of flying, for example, may be quite easy to avoid by simply never flying, dogs are another story. Ask yourself if you do the following things in order to avoid being around dogs. If you do, there’s a good chance you have cynophobia. •Do you avoid hanging out with specific people because they have a dog? •Do you change your route specifically to avoid a house or neighborhood that has a dog? •Do you avoid speaking to certain people because they talk about their dogs? Understand there is a way to overcome this fear. While it is possible to overcome your fear of dogs, keep in mind that you need to be patient. It won’t go away immediately, it will take work on your part. You may want to consider seeking professional help from a therapist who can walk you through the process of overcoming your fear. Consider writing about your fear in a journal. Write down specific past memories that you have about dogs, and how you felt during those experiences. Learn relaxation and meditation techniques to help keep your calm and help control your anxiety. Break your fear into smaller sections to overcome; don’t think you need to tackle the whole thing all in one go. Have faith in yourself that you will get over your fear of dogs. And accept any mistakes you make along the way. Conducting Cognitive Restructuring Understand what cognitive restructuring is. Many phobias, including cynophobia, are based on how your brain comprehends a specific situation, rather than the actual situation itself. For example, you’re not likely afraid of the actual dog in front of you, but rather, you’re brain is interpreting the dog as being a threat which is then causing you to be fearful. Cognitive restructuring helps you to identify these thoughts, understand that they are irrational, and slowly help you to rethink (or reframe) your thoughts about a specific situation (i.e. Dogs). It is important to go into cognitive restructuring with an open and willing mind. You need to accept the fact that your fear is probably not based on rational thought, and as such, means that you can train yourself to think differently. If you go into this type of treatment pessimistically or with the belief that you’re being completely reasonable in your fears, you will make the process much harder to overcome. Think about events that trigger your fearful thoughts. The first step to overcoming your fear is to identify what is causing the fear in the first place. This may include thinking and talking about your past experiences with dogs, and trying to figure out what may have started the phobia in the first place. It may also include narrowing down the exact trigger that causes your fear. Is it dogs in general that cause you to be fearful, or do you become fearful when a dog does something specific (i.e. Growls, barks, jumps up, runs, etc.). Analyze your existing beliefs about your trigger events. Once you have a solid understanding of the specific events that trigger your phobia, you need to evaluate what you are thinking when this fear occurs. What are you telling yourself? How are you interpreting the trigger event in your thoughts? What are your specific beliefs about that event the moment it is happening? Continue writing your memories and thoughts in your journal. At this point start recording the reasons why you think the events triggered your fear. Write down as many of your beliefs as you can remember. Analyze your beliefs and thoughts to determine if they include any of the following: •All or Nothing — do you view ALL dogs as bad, no matter what? Or do you categorize dogs differently depending on some type of feature? E.g. ”I can’t be friends with anyone who has a dog.” •Should, Must, Ought — do you see a dog and automatically assume you have to be afraid of it? Do you feel like you have no other choice in the matter? E.g. ”My mom said I should never trust a dog.” •Overgeneralizing — have you tried to overcome your fear before and weren’t able to, and now you assume you’ll never be able to overcome your fear of dogs? E.g. ”I tried to be near dogs before and it didn’t work. I have no choice but to be afraid of dogs.” •Mental Filter — do you automatically draw conclusions about dogs based only on one or two previous experiences with dogs? E.g. “That dog attacked me when I was 3, all dogs are bad and will attack people if they get the chance.” •Discounting the Positive — do you ignore something good that happened because you can’t believe it’ll happen again? E.g. ”Sure, I was able to sit beside that one dog, but he was old and sick and didn’t look like he could walk, let alone attack me.” •Jumping to Conclusions — do you see or hear a dog and automatically draw a conclusion about what’s going to happen? E.g. ”That’s a pit bull, they’re awful and nasty dogs that can’t be trained properly.” Look at the feelings and behaviours that result from your beliefs. At this point you should have a better understanding of what triggers your fear of dogs, and the thoughts and beliefs you have about dogs when that trigger happens. Now it’s time to analyze how these thoughts and beliefs actually make your feel and behave. In other words, what are the consequences of your fear? What is the fear ‘making’ you do? Continue writing in your journal. At this stage you’ll want to include your reactions (both internally and externally) to the events that triggered your fear, and the beliefs that contributed to that fear. Examples of reactions might be: •You were walking down your street and encountered a dog in the yard of a specific home. Afterwards you never walked down that street again. •Your neighbour has a dog that they let into the backyard to play, so you never go in your own backyard in case your neighbour’s dog is outside. •You refuse to go to a friend’s house because they got a dog, and you can’t hang out with them if they bring the dog along. Investigate if evidence exists to back-up your beliefs. You should now be at the point where you’ve analyzed what triggers your fear, why your fear is triggered, and how you react to that fear. Now it’s time to analyze if there’s any actual proof to back-up the reasons why you’re fearful of dogs. Think of this part of the process as you needing to be able to prove to your therapist (or yourself) that your fears are perfectly rational. Use your journal to write down each of your beliefs and the associated evidence you have as to why that belief is reasonable and rational. If you’re a really logical person, can you find any scientific proof to back up your beliefs? For example, you have the belief that all dogs are going to attack you no matter what. Why do you think this is true? Have you been attacked by every single dog you’ve ever encountered? Does everyone else get attacked by every dog they encounter? Why would people own dogs as pets if they were constantly attacked? Develop a rational explanation for the trigger event. At this point you have tried to prove your fear of dogs is perfectly reasonable and found that you can’t find any evidence to back-up your beliefs. In fact, you’ve probably found evidence of the complete opposite. You now need to think about the beliefs that are causing your fear and work with your therapist to develop rational explanations for your beliefs. These rational explanations will start to make sense, and make you realize that your resulting fear doesn’t make sense. While this may sound easy, this is going to be the hardest step in your process to overcome your fear of dogs. Our beliefs can be entrenched in our minds so deeply that it can take some time (and convincing) that they make no sense. After all, your irrational beliefs may have helped you avoid bad situations, so what’s wrong with them? For example, you have a belief that all dogs attack. You weren’t able to find any evidence to back up that belief, so why do you have it? Maybe your belief is based on the fact that you saw a movie when you were 7 (that you shouldn’t have watched) that had dogs attacking and killing people. After you watched that movie you started to fear dogs based on the assumption that the movie was 100% accurate. In reality, it was just a movie, and there was no truth to it. And if you think about it, you’ve never actually seen a dog attack anyone. Move to the next step in your recovery. While you’ve come a long way at this point, you’re not finished. Even if you’re able to convince yourself that your fears have no rational explanation and there’s no good reason to feel the way you do, you’re not actually “cured. In a way you’ve completed the theoretical aspect of your therapy, now you have to complete the practical aspect of your therapy. At this stage you need to practice being around dogs. First, you need to learn how to relax when your fear or anxiety occurs so you don’t set yourself back. Second, you need to gradually expose yourself to dogs (in different ways) until you can feel relaxed when they’re around. Learning Relaxation Techniques Understand the different types of relaxation techniques. There are quite a few different types of relaxation techniques that you can learn to help with your fear and anxiety. They include, but are not limited to, the following: autogenic relaxation; progressive muscle relaxation; visualization; deep breathing; hypnosis; massage; meditation; tai chi; yoga; biofeedback; and music and art therapy. •Autogenic relaxation is a technique where you use visual images and body awareness, while repeating words or terms, to help relax and reduce muscle tension. •Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique where you tense and relax each muscle in your body in order to get a sense of what each one feels like in both a tense and relaxed state. •Visualization is a technique where you visualize specific settings that make you feel relaxed and calm (i.e. Forest, beach with waves, etc.). •Deep breathing is a technique where you purposely breathe deeply from your abdomen in order to release tension and reverse hyperventilation. •Biofeedback is a technique where you learn to control each of your body’s functions, like your heart rate or breathing. Practice deep breathing relaxation. When you’re anxious or afraid you may react by breathing too quickly and hyperventilating. Hyperventilating can intensify your feelings of anxiety and fear and make the situation worse. Breathing deeply can help you relax, reduce your tension, and make you feel less anxious. Follow these steps to relax using deep breathing: •Sit or stand somewhere where you’re comfortable and keep your back straight. Put one of your hands on your chest and put your other hand on your stomach. •Take one slow deep breath in through your nose while counting to four. The hand on your stomach will rise while the hand on your chest shouldn’t move very much. •Hold your breath while counting to seven. •Exhale through your mouth while you count to eight. Push out as much air as you can using your abdominal muscles. This means the hand on your stomach should move downwards, and the hand on your chest shouldn’t move very much. •Repeat these steps until you feel calmer and relaxed. Perform progressive muscle relaxation. Anxious people also tend to be tense, even when they think they’re relaxed. Progressive muscle relaxation can help you distinguish between relaxed and tense muscles so you actually know what it feels like to relax. Practice the following steps twice a day until you really feel it working. •Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably with your eyes closed. Remove your shoes. •Allow your body to go as loose as you can and take 5 deep breaths. •Select a specific muscle group to begin with (i.e. Your left foot) and focus on those muscles. •Work each of these muscles groups: individual feet; lower leg and foot; entire leg; individual hands; entire arm; buttocks; stomach; chest; neck and shoulders; mouth; eyes; and forehead. •Take one slow, deep breath while tensing the muscles you’ve selected for 5 seconds. Make sure you can feel the tension in your muscles before you move on. •Allow all the tension to leave the muscles you’ve selected while exhaling. •Pay close attention to how these muscles feels when tense and when relaxed. •Stay relaxed for 15 seconds, then select another muscle group and repeat the same steps. Try guided visualization. Using visualization to relax is exactly what it sounds like — you visualize something that you find extremely relaxing in order to reduce your anxiety and reduce your fears. A guided visualization is where you listen to a recording where someone talks you through the process step-by-step. There are many free guided visualizations available online, some with background music or sound effects to help make the process seem more real. Guided visualization recordings will provide the instructions on how to prepare yourself and what to do. They will also vary in length, so you can select the ones that work best for you. Working with Exposure Therapy Develop an exposure plan. The reason you learned relaxation techniques was to keep yourself calm while slowly building up your exposure to dogs. But before you start allowing dogs to be in your presence, you need to develop a plan. This plan should include each step you’re going to go through between now (no dogs) and actually being in their presence. Your plan should be customized for your particular type of fears, and the fearful situations you personally experience. The list should be written in order of least fearful to most fearful so you work your way up to conquering your most fearful situation. An example of a plan to overcome your fear of dogs is as follows: •Step 1 - draw a dog on a piece of paper. •Step 2 - read about dogs. •Step 3 - look at photos of dogs. •Step 4 - look at videos of dogs. •Step 5 - look at dogs through a closed window. •Step 6 - look at dogs through a partially opened window. •Step 7 - look at dogs through an open window. •Step 8 - look at dogs through a doorway. •Step 9 - look at dogs from outside the doorway. •Step 10 - look at a dog (who is on a leash) in the next room. •Step 11 - look at a dog (who is on a leash) in the same room. •Step 12 - sit beside a dog. •Step 13 - pet a dog. Create and practice using an anxiety distress scale. Use the scale to measure your level of anxiety, with 0 being totally relaxed and 100 being the most fear/anxiety/discomfort you have ever experienced. This is a helpful tool for measuring how your distress levels change over time. The anxiety distress scale can also help you decide when it's time for you to move to the next step of your exposure plan. Be patient and take your time. Don't move to the next step too quickly. Engage the help of a trusted friend with a dog. At some point in your plan you will have to place yourself in the presence of an actual dog. You need this dog to be handled by a competent and trustful person, and the dog needs to be predictable and well-trained. Talk to the dog’s owner in advance of executing your plan and explain to them what you’re trying to accomplish. They should be patient and understanding as they may need to simply sit there with their dog for a while as your acclimatize to the dog’s presence. It is not a good idea to use a puppy, even if you think they’re cuter and not as violent. Puppies are not well-trained and can be quite unpredictable. This can cause them to do something unexpected in your presence which may only exacerbate your fear. Eventually, if you’re able to, have your friend teach you basic commands for the dog so you can control the dog yourself. Being in control of the dog may further help you to alleviate your fears once you realize you have the ability to direct their actions. Start facing your fear of dogs. Start with the first item on your plan and carry it out. Repeatedly carry it out until you feel less anxious and fearful doing it. If the step you’re doing allows you to stay in one place (i.e. Watch dogs though a window), slowly expand the length of time you perform the activity as well. Use the relaxation techniques you practiced to help keep yourself calm. Use your journal to keep track of your progress. Write down each attempt you make and how it went. Rate your level of anxiety and fear before and after each attempt. Remember that your exposure to dogs should be planned, prolonged and repeated. Don’t feel you need to rush. Take your time on each step of your plan until you feel comfortable moving onto the next step. Practice regularly. This part of the recovery process is going to be the hardest you’ll have to go through, but the only way it’s going to be successful is if you keep it up. Make a schedule where you practice on a regular basis. If at all possible, practice daily. Reward yourself for the progress you make. If needed, build rewards into your plan so you have an extra goal to work towards for each step. Should you need any further assistance. Please feel free to contact. Regards, Sukanya Biswas. 

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Dr. Juhi ParasharMasters in Clinical PsychologyPsychologist

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Hi Mr. Lybrate-user. I can understand, if you really want to cure your anxiety forever, you need to have a long term treatment plan that takes into consideration your anxiety symptoms, what you're suffering from, how badly you're suffering, and your specific anxiety disorder. First and foremost, don't let your anxiety cause you to make poor decisions about anxiety treatments. The reality is that most" rapid" treatments don't work. You'll find many people that claim that they have an extract or a medicine that can cure your anxiety immediately, and unfortunately it's never the case - it's people taking advantage of you in your time of need, and hoping the placebo effect will be enough to cure your anxiety. Even prescription medications have a" false" component. Prescription medicines can give you some help with anxiety, but that help is only temporary, and your mind and body can actually become dependent on these medications. As soon as you stop taking them, your anxiety may not only come back - it could even be worse than before. Curing your anxiety is a process - it's a process that can happen, for everyone, but those that hope they can get instant anxiety help are going to be disappointed, and possibly taken advantage of. Your symptoms define your anxiety if you really want to cure your anxiety forever, you need to have a long term treatment plan that takes into consideration your anxiety symptoms, what you're suffering from, how badly you're suffering, and your specific anxiety disorder. Imately effective treatment. Setting up a long term plan - making realistic goalsi possible to reduce your anxiety every day. There are countless tips to learn to manage it. But you need to do two things: you need to make sure that you're giving yourself realistic goals. You need to make it a long term plan. You can get anxiety help now - help that will genuinely reduce your experience with anxiety. But it will only reduce it so much. You'll still need to keep at it, and commit to it in a way that will guarantee short and long term results. Realistic goals will ensure that you don't give up. You're bound to have setbacks, because life isn't stress free. A long term plan will also make sure that you keep at it - you'll not only have something to do next, you'll also know what to do next. For example, let's look at several strategies you can do right now that will reduce your anxiety: start jogging jogging isn't just for your health. Jogging releases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that improve mood. It also tires muscles, and there is evidence that extra energy in muscles becomes converted to a feeling of anxiety. Sleep better getting more sleep will fight anxiety right away. Far too many people are allowing themselves to be sleep deprived, but sleep is one of the most important and easy tools your mind has for coping with stress. Breathing training many anxiety symptoms, particularly for those with anxiety attacks, are a result of inadequate breathing techniques. Anxiety can actually train your body to breathe poorly, leading to hyperventilation and a variety of related symptoms. Exposure therapy exposure is a cognitive behavioral technique that trains you to get used to things that used to cause you anxiety. For example, if you often get anxiety when you feel dizzy, you spin around in a chair and use a variety of techniques to calm your mind. Lifestyle changes many lifestyle changes that you will need to make in order to live with anxiety also require long term changes. For example, who you spend time with may need to change, as will how you react at your workplace. These strategies take longer, and require more effort and planning on your part. They're also not immediately successful, and there are often setbacks. Realistic goals and an effective and healthy plan can reduce the effects of these setbacks. You'll also need to be okay with admitting to yourself that you have an anxiety problem that needs to be solved. If you continue to try to fight the truth about your anxiety, you'll struggle to overcome it. Anxiety and stress are very real problems that affect people every day, and there's nothing wrong with you if you suffer from them. As soon as you can come to terms with your anxiety, you'll be on the right path towards treating it. Consult for psychotherapy for anxiety you can consult with me for same. All the best. 

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Dr. Sushil Kumar S VMBBS, MD - Psychiatry, MBA (Healthcare)Psychiatrist

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Hi there ~ I will give you some information regarding the disorder. Signs and symptoms of a panic attack Panic attacks often strike when you’re away from home, but they can happen anywhere and at any time. You may have one while you’re in a store shopping, walking down the street, driving in your car, or sitting on the couch at home. The signs and symptoms of a panic attack develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than an hour. A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the following signs and symptoms: Shortness of breath or hyperventilation Heart palpitations or a racing heart Chest pain or discomfort Trembling or shaking Choking feeling Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings Sweating Nausea or upset stomach Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint Numbness or tingling sensations Hot or cold flashes Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy Is it a heart attack or a panic attack? Most of the symptoms of a panic attack are physical, and many times these symptoms are so severe that people think they’re having a heart attack. In fact, many people suffering from panic attacks make repeated trips to the doctor or the emergency room in an attempt to get treatment for what they believe is a life-threatening medical problem. While it’s important to rule out possible medical causes of symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, or difficulty breathing, it’s often panic that is overlooked as a potential cause—not the other way around. Signs and symptoms of panic disorder Many people experience panic attacks without further episodes or complications. There is little reason to worry if you’ve had just one or two panic attacks. However, some people who’ve experienced panic attacks go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is characterized by repeated panic attacks, combined with major changes in behavior or persistent anxiety over having further attacks. Signs and symptoms of panic disorder You may be suffering from panic disorder if you: Experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks that aren’t tied to a specific situation Worry a lot about having another panic attack Are behaving differently because of the panic attacks, such as avoiding places where you’ve previously panicked While a single panic attack may only last a few minutes, the effects of the experience can leave a lasting imprint. If you have panic disorder, the recurrent panic attacks take an emotional toll. The memory of the intense fear and terror that you felt during the attacks can negatively impact your self-confidence and cause serious disruption to your everyday life. Eventually, this leads to the following panic disorder symptoms: Anticipatory anxiety – Instead of feeling relaxed and like yourself in between panic attacks, you feel anxious and tense. This anxiety stems from a fear of having future panic attacks. This “fear of fear” is present most of the time, and can be extremely disabling. Phobic avoidance – You begin to avoid certain situations or environments. This avoidance may be based on the belief that the situation you’re avoiding caused a previous panic attack. Or you may avoid places where escape would be difficult or help would be unavailable if you had a panic attack. Taken to its extreme, phobic avoidance becomes agoraphobia. Panic disorder with agoraphobia Agoraphobia was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces. However, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks. With agoraphobia, you’re afraid of having a panic attack in a situation where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. You may also be afraid of having a panic attack where you wouldn’t be able to get help. Because of these fears, you start avoiding more and more situations. For example, you might begin to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls or sports arenas. You might also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home. Situations or activities you may avoid if you have agoraphobia: Being far away from home Going anywhere without the company of a" safe" person Physical exertion (because of the belief that it could trigger a panic attack) Going to places where escape is not readily available (e. G. Restaurants, theaters, stores, public transportation) Driving Places where it would be embarrassing to have a panic attack, such as a social gathering Eating or drinking anything that could possibly provoke panic (such as alcohol, caffeine, or certain foods or medications) Adapted from: American Academy of Family Physicians Although agoraphobia can develop at any point, it usually appears within a year of your first recurrent panic attacks. Causes of panic attacks and panic disorder Although the exact causes of panic attacks and panic disorder are unclear, the tendency to have panic attacks runs in families. There also appears to be a connection with major life transitions such as graduating from college and entering the workplace, getting married, and having a baby. Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can also trigger a panic attack. Panic attacks can also be caused by medical conditions and other physical causes. If you’re suffering from symptoms of panic, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out the following possibilities: Mitral valve prolapse, a minor cardiac problem that occurs when one of the heart’s valves doesn't close correctly. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Stimulant use (amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine) Medication withdrawal Treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder Panic attacks and panic disorder are treatable conditions. They can usually be treated successfully with self-help strategies or a series of therapy sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally viewed as the most effective form of treatment for panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors that are sustaining or triggering the panic attacks. It helps you look at your fears in a more realistic light. For example, if you had a panic attack while driving, what is the worst thing that would really happen? While you might have to pull over to the side of the road, you are not likely to crash your car or have a heart attack. Once you learn that nothing truly disastrous is going to happen, the experience of panic becomes less terrifying. Exposure therapy for panic attacks and panic disorder In exposure therapy for panic disorder, you are exposed to the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled environment, giving you the opportunity to learn healthier ways of coping. You may be asked to hyperventilate, shake your head from side to side, or hold your breath. These different exercises cause sensations similar to the symptoms of panic. With each exposure, you become less afraid of these internal bodily sensations and feel a greater sense of control over your panic. If you have agoraphobia, exposure to the situations you fear and avoid is also included in treatment. As in exposure therapy for specific phobias, you face the feared situation until the panic begins to go away. Through this experience, you learn that the situation isn’t harmful and that you have control over your emotions. Medication treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder Medication can be used to temporarily control or reduce some of the symptoms of panic disorder. However, it doesn't treat or resolve the problem. Medication can be useful in severe cases, but it should not be the only treatment pursued. Medication is most effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy and lifestyle changes, that address the underlying causes of panic disorder. The medications used for panic attacks and panic disorder include: Antidepressants. It takes several weeks before they begin to work, so you have to take them continuously, not just during a panic attack. Benzodiazepines. These are anti-anxiety drugs that act very quickly (usually within 30 minutes to an hour). Taking them during a panic attack provides rapid relief of symptoms. However, benzodiazepines are highly addictive and have serious withdrawal symptoms, so they should be used with caution. Self-help tips for panic attacks and panic disorder When it comes to panic attacks, professional treatment and therapy can make a big difference. But there are many things you can do to help yourself, too: Learn about panic. Simply knowing more about panic can go a long way towards relieving your distress. So read up on anxiety, panic disorder, and the fight-or-flight response experienced during a panic attack. You’ll learn that the sensations and feelings you have when you panic are normal and that you aren’t going crazy. Avoid smoking and caffeine. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in people who are susceptible. As a result, it’s wise to avoid cigarettes, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages. Also be careful with medications that contain stimulants, such as diet pills and non-drowsy cold medications. Learn how to control your breathing. Hyperventilation brings on many sensations (such as lightheadedness and tightness of the chest) that occur during a panic attack. Deep breathing, on the other hand, can relieve the symptoms of panic. By learning to control your breathing, you develop a coping skill that you can use to calm yourself down when you begin to feel anxious. If you know how to control your breathing, you are also less likely to create the very sensations that you are afraid of. Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly, activities such as yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation strengthen the body’s relaxation response—the opposite of the stress response involved in anxiety and panic. And not only do these relaxation practices promote relaxation, but they also increase feelings of joy and equanimity. So make time for them in your daily routine. I hope this helps 

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Dr. Juhi ParasharMasters In Clinical PsychologyPsychologist

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Hi lybrate-user wazib, panic attack comes under anxiety disorder. For anxiety disorder first episode you have to take medication for 1 n half year or so as directed by psychiatrist and complete the full course. If you do not complete it and leave it on your own will you will have a relapse which you had and symptoms will come with greater intensity. So have patience and now do not leave your medicine in between complete the full course you will not have to take it life long if you religiously follow it in initial period. Secondly, apart from medication you should consult a psychologist for psychotherapy of these anxiety attacks. The cause of most panic attacks is not clear, so treatment may be different for each person. Medication is used for prevention and/or immediate alleviation of symptoms and is usually the main line of treatment. In addition, psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation, and/or meditation are often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety. First and foremost thing you need to learn is breathing retraining it's so important to control and prevent hyperventilation. You can do this in two ways: slower breathing right when you think you're going to have a panic attack, train yourself to slow down your breathing. Breathe in for at least 5 seconds, hold for 2 or 3 seconds, and breathe out for at least 7 seconds. Make sure you're breathing in through your nose and either out through your nose or out through pursed lips like you're whistling. These won't prevent panic attacks, but they'll make them far less severe. Retraining you should also take time out of your day to practice this type of breathing method even when you don't have a panic attack. Panic attacks and anxiety train your body out of its normal breathing pattern. Taking 30 minutes out of every day to practice this type of breathing can help your body re-learn how to breathe this way, and should make you less likely to hyperventilate in the future. When you have anxiety and panic attacks, your body can learn to breathe so poorly that you hyperventilate even without a panic attack. This causes panic attack-like symptoms, which can then trigger an actual panic attack. So teaching yourself how to breathe better is very important. There are many other ways to learn to control panic attacks naturally. You can consult me for same. All the best. 

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Dr. Sushil Kumar SompurMB BS, MD - Psychiatry, MBA - HealthcarePsychiatrist

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Hi there ~ Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Panic Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety and fear. Your heart pounds and you can’t breathe. You may even feel like you’re dying or going crazy. Left untreated, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder and other problems. They may even cause you to withdraw from normal activities. But panic attacks can be cured and the sooner you seek help, the better. With treatment, you can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of panic and regain control of your life. Understanding panic attacks In many cases, panic attacks strike out of the blue, without any warning. Often, there is no clear reason for the attack. They may even occur when you’re relaxed or asleep. A panic attack may be a one-time occurrence, but many people experience repeat episodes. Recurrent panic attacks are often triggered by a specific situation, such as crossing a bridge or speaking in public—especially if that situation has caused a panic attack before. Usually, the panic-inducing situation is one in which you feel endangered and unable to escape. You may experience one or more panic attacks, yet be otherwise perfectly happy and healthy. Or your panic attacks may occur as part of another disorder, such as panic disorder, social phobia, or depression. Regardless of the cause, panic attacks are treatable. There are many effective treatments and coping strategies you can use to deal with the symptoms. Signs and symptoms of a panic attack Panic attacks often strike when you’re away from home, but they can happen anywhere and at any time. You may have one while you’re in a store shopping, walking down the street, driving in your car, or sitting on the couch at home. The signs and symptoms of a panic attack develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than an hour. A full-blown panic attack includes a combination of the following signs and symptoms: Shortness of breath or hyperventilation Heart palpitations or a racing heart Chest pain or discomfort Trembling or shaking Choking feeling Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings Sweating Nausea or upset stomach Feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint Numbness or tingling sensations Hot or cold flashes Fear of dying, losing control, or going crazy Is it a heart attack or a panic attack? Most of the symptoms of a panic attack are physical, and many times these symptoms are so severe that people think they’re having a heart attack. In fact, many people suffering from panic attacks make repeated trips to the doctor or the emergency room in an attempt to get treatment for what they believe is a life-threatening medical problem. While it’s important to rule out possible medical causes of symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations, or difficulty breathing, it’s often panic that is overlooked as a potential cause—not the other way around. Signs and symptoms of panic disorder Many people experience panic attacks without further episodes or complications. There is little reason to worry if you’ve had just one or two panic attacks. However, some people who’ve experienced panic attacks go on to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is characterized by repeated panic attacks, combined with major changes in behavior or persistent anxiety over having further attacks. Signs and symptoms of panic disorder You may be suffering from panic disorder if you: Experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks that aren’t tied to a specific situation Worry a lot about having another panic attack Are behaving differently because of the panic attacks, such as avoiding places where you’ve previously panicked While a single panic attack may only last a few minutes, the effects of the experience can leave a lasting imprint. If you have panic disorder, the recurrent panic attacks take an emotional toll. The memory of the intense fear and terror that you felt during the attacks can negatively impact your self-confidence and cause serious disruption to your everyday life. Eventually, this leads to the following panic disorder symptoms: Anticipatory anxiety – Instead of feeling relaxed and like yourself in between panic attacks, you feel anxious and tense. This anxiety stems from a fear of having future panic attacks. This “fear of fear” is present most of the time, and can be extremely disabling. Phobic avoidance – You begin to avoid certain situations or environments. This avoidance may be based on the belief that the situation you’re avoiding caused a previous panic attack. Or you may avoid places where escape would be difficult or help would be unavailable if you had a panic attack. Taken to its extreme, phobic avoidance becomes agoraphobia. Panic disorder with agoraphobia Agoraphobia was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces. However, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks. With agoraphobia, you’re afraid of having a panic attack in a situation where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. You may also be afraid of having a panic attack where you wouldn’t be able to get help. Because of these fears, you start avoiding more and more situations. For example, you might begin to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls or sports arenas. You might also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home. Situations or activities you may avoid if you have agoraphobia: Being far away from home Going anywhere without the company of a" safe" person Physical exertion (because of the belief that it could trigger a panic attack) Going to places where escape is not readily available (e. G. Restaurants, theaters, stores, public transportation) Driving Places where it would be embarrassing to have a panic attack, such as a social gathering Eating or drinking anything that could possibly provoke panic (such as alcohol, caffeine, or certain foods or medications) Adapted from: American Academy of Family Physicians Although agoraphobia can develop at any point, it usually appears within a year of your first recurrent panic attacks. Causes of panic attacks and panic disorder Although the exact causes of panic attacks and panic disorder are unclear, the tendency to have panic attacks runs in families. There also appears to be a connection with major life transitions such as graduating from college and entering the workplace, getting married, and having a baby. Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can also trigger a panic attack. Panic attacks can also be caused by medical conditions and other physical causes. If you’re suffering from symptoms of panic, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out the following possibilities: Mitral valve prolapse, a minor cardiac problem that occurs when one of the heart’s valves doesn't close correctly. Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) Stimulant use (amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine) Medication withdrawal Treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder Panic attacks and panic disorder are treatable conditions. They can usually be treated successfully with self-help strategies or a series of therapy sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Cognitive behavioral therapy is generally viewed as the most effective form of treatment for panic attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on the thinking patterns and behaviors that are sustaining or triggering the panic attacks. It helps you look at your fears in a more realistic light. For example, if you had a panic attack while driving, what is the worst thing that would really happen? While you might have to pull over to the side of the road, you are not likely to crash your car or have a heart attack. Once you learn that nothing truly disastrous is going to happen, the experience of panic becomes less terrifying. Exposure therapy for panic attacks and panic disorder In exposure therapy for panic disorder, you are exposed to the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled environment, giving you the opportunity to learn healthier ways of coping. You may be asked to hyperventilate, shake your head from side to side, or hold your breath. These different exercises cause sensations similar to the symptoms of panic. With each exposure, you become less afraid of these internal bodily sensations and feel a greater sense of control over your panic. If you have agoraphobia, exposure to the situations you fear and avoid is also included in treatment. As in exposure therapy for specific phobias, you face the feared situation until the panic begins to go away. Through this experience, you learn that the situation isn’t harmful and that you have control over your emotions. Medication treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder Medication can be used to temporarily control or reduce some of the symptoms of panic disorder. However, it doesn't treat or resolve the problem. Medication can be useful in severe cases, but it should not be the only treatment pursued. Medication is most effective when combined with other treatments, such as therapy and lifestyle changes, that address the underlying causes of panic disorder. The medications used for panic attacks and panic disorder include: Antidepressants. It takes several weeks before they begin to work, so you have to take them continuously, not just during a panic attack. Benzodiazepines. These are anti-anxiety drugs that act very quickly (usually within 30 minutes to an hour). Taking them during a panic attack provides rapid relief of symptoms. However, benzodiazepines are highly addictive and have serious withdrawal symptoms, so they should be used with caution. Self-help tips for panic attacks and panic disorder When it comes to panic attacks, professional treatment and therapy can make a big difference. But there are many things you can do to help yourself, too: Learn about panic. Simply knowing more about panic can go a long way towards relieving your distress. So read up on anxiety, panic disorder, and the fight-or-flight response experienced during a panic attack. You’ll learn that the sensations and feelings you have when you panic are normal and that you aren’t going crazy. Avoid smoking and caffeine. Smoking and caffeine can provoke panic attacks in people who are susceptible. As a result, it’s wise to avoid cigarettes, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages. Also be careful with medications that contain stimulants, such as diet pills and non-drowsy cold medications. Learn how to control your breathing. Hyperventilation brings on many sensations (such as lightheadedness and tightness of the chest) that occur during a panic attack. Deep breathing, on the other hand, can relieve the symptoms of panic. By learning to control your breathing, you develop a coping skill that you can use to calm yourself down when you begin to feel anxious. If you know how to control your breathing, you are also less likely to create the very sensations that you are afraid of. Practice relaxation techniques. When practiced regularly, activities such as yoga, meditation, and progressive muscle relaxation strengthen the body’s relaxation response—the opposite of the stress response involved in anxiety and panic. And not only do these relaxation practices promote relaxation, but they also increase feelings of joy and equanimity. So make time for them in your daily routine. 

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Dr. Juhi ParasharMasters in Clinical PsychologyPsychologist

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Hi lybrate-user, if you really want to cure your anxiety forever, you need to have a long term treatment plan that takes into consideration your anxiety symptoms, what you're suffering from, how badly you're suffering, and your specific anxiety disorder. First and foremost, don't let your anxiety cause you to make poor decisions about anxiety treatments. The reality is that most" rapid" treatments don't work. You'll find many people that claim that they have an extract or a medicine that can cure your anxiety immediately, and unfortunately it's never the case - it's people taking advantage of you in your time of need, and hoping the placebo effect will be enough to cure your anxiety. Even prescription medications have a" false" component. Prescription medicines can give you some help with anxiety, but that help is only temporary, and your mind and body can actually become dependent on these medications. As soon as you stop taking them, your anxiety may not only come back - it could even be worse than before. Curing your anxiety is a process - it's a process that can happen, for everyone, but those that hope they can get instant anxiety help are going to be disappointed, and possibly taken advantage of. Your symptoms define your anxiety if you really want to cure your anxiety forever, you need to have a long term treatment plan that takes into consideration your anxiety symptoms, what you're suffering from, how badly you're suffering, and your specific anxiety disorder. Imately effective treatment. Setting up a long term plan - making realistic goalsi possible to reduce your anxiety every day. There are countless tips to learn to manage it. But you need to do two things: you need to make sure that you're giving yourself realistic goals. You need to make it a long term plan. You can get anxiety help now - help that will genuinely reduce your experience with anxiety. But it will only reduce it so much. You'll still need to keep at it, and commit to it in a way that will guarantee short and long term results. Realistic goals will ensure that you don't give up. You're bound to have setbacks, because life isn't stress free. A long term plan will also make sure that you keep at it - you'll not only have something to do next, you'll also know what to do next. For example, let's look at several strategies you can do right now that will reduce your anxiety: start jogging jogging isn't just for your health. Jogging releases endorphins, which are neurotransmitters that improve mood. It also tires muscles, and there is evidence that extra energy in muscles becomes converted to a feeling of anxiety. Sleep better getting more sleep will fight anxiety right away. Far too many people are allowing themselves to be sleep deprived, but sleep is one of the most important and easy tools your mind has for coping with stress. Breathing training many anxiety symptoms, particularly for those with anxiety attacks, are a result of inadequate breathing techniques. Anxiety can actually train your body to breathe poorly, leading to hyperventilation and a variety of related symptoms. Exposure therapy exposure is a cognitive behavioral technique that trains you to get used to things that used to cause you anxiety. For example, if you often get anxiety when you feel dizzy, you spin around in a chair and use a variety of techniques to calm your mind. Lifestyle changes many lifestyle changes that you will need to make in order to live with anxiety also require long term changes. For example, who you spend time with may need to change, as will how you react at your workplace. These strategies take longer, and require more effort and planning on your part. They're also not immediately successful, and there are often setbacks. Realistic goals and an effective and healthy plan can reduce the effects of these setbacks. You'll also need to be okay with admitting to yourself that you have an anxiety problem that needs to be solved. If you continue to try to fight the truth about your anxiety, you'll struggle to overcome it. Anxiety and stress are very real problems that affect people every day, and there's nothing wrong with you if you suffer from them. As soon as you can come to terms with your anxiety, you'll be on the right path towards treating it. 

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