PANIC ATTACKS and AGORAPHOBIA
Ms. C feels
anxious when she leaves her house, so much so that it seems paralyzed.
She dizziness, his
legs stiffen and his body tenses. She printing not be itself and that the world
is unreal. It started two years ago at a party at the restaurant. Since it
avoids crowded places, not only restaurants but also cinemas and department
stores. She no longer takes the bus or train. She is afraid of losing
consciousness and could not be rescued in these various locations. His way of
life is limited.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Panic attacks are
characterized by intense anxiety attacks. They manifested by various symptoms:
tightness of breath, palpitations, pain in chest, tingling, dizziness,
unreality printing faintness, trembling, fear of dying, going crazy. These
attacks occur without cause apparent and unpredictable and sudden.
Seizures may also
be referred to as hyperventilation, tetany or seizures hyperventilation.
Sometimes develops
agoraphobia, which is the fear of being in places where it is difficult to
escape and where help is not available in case of panic attack. These
places are
eliminated (public places, cinemas, department stores, bus, car ...). Sometimes
Similarly, panic attacks occur when one is alone.
Complications can
occur and create a deteriorating quality of life: depression, drug addiction,
social and family problems (we can out unless accompanied, we do not travel
...)
WHAT IS THE THERAPY?
After an analysis
of situations, thoughts, emotions and behaviors that are a problem, The
following techniques will be applied, in a collaboration between the patient
and his Therapist:
• information to
understand what is happening and dramatize, which allows recover a sense of
control over what was incomprehensible and uncontrollable
• learn relaxation
and breathing control to understand that breathing
too fast
(hyperventilation) may cause symptoms similar to those experienced in Panic
Attack
• catastrophic
change negative thoughts and develop hazard perception safety signals
(cognitive restructuring)
• The objective is
to achieve exposure to feared situations are avoided. It is progressively
(first in imagination, then in reality), while practicing relaxation. We can
verify that control is possible and nothing terrible happens.
• relaxation
• exposure
imagination
