Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks – Causes and Symptoms

Those that suffer from agoraphobia have to deal with the fear of being in a place where being able to escape would not be easy for them. They would try to avoid going to places such as theaters, malls and especially airplanes. Anywhere that would make them feel confined and make them unable to escape should they have a panic attack would be avoided if at all possible.

If you have agoraphobia you may be afraid to get into a situation that allows no escape and may find yourself scared to leave your home or move freely about. It is believed that of those with a panic disorder, agoraphobia affects about one out three people.

Causes of a Panic Attack with Agoraphobia

One cause may be stress as many people experience their first attack when dealing with a very stressful period of their life. It could be the death of someone very close to them, the loss of a job or going through a divorce.

Genetics may play a role in whether you have panic attacks or not. Some people that have been diagnosed with this disorder also have a family member who has also been diagnosed, but there are many that do not.

Development of Attacks

Panic attacks can happen without any warning. It is believed that many people had their first panic attack while away from home. As more attacks happen you may be inclined to avoid more and more places you believe are triggers for your attacks. Even if your attacks are now more infrequent you may still become anxious in those situations.

Some of the places you might try to avoid are crowds, planes, high places such as bridges and malls or any other location that makes you feel confined and unable to escape. Other symptoms you may experience are fear of losing control, a detachment from others, helplessness, out of body feeling and not wanting to leave home.

Panic Attack Symptoms

Your panic attack may be at its strongest in the first ten or twenty minutes. There are some symptoms that can linger longer, sometimes up to an hour. When you have an attack your body will react as though it really is in danger. You will feel your heart racing and pounding in your chest and you will be faint, sweaty and dizzy.

You may also feel as if you are choking because of your shortness of breath. You might think you are having a heart attack, especially during your first couple panic attacks. Many have the sensation of losing control of their body.

Diagnosing Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia

It can take time to diagnose a panic disorder because the symptoms of this disorder with agoraphobia are similar to other conditions. You should see your doctor as your first step to rule out any other underlying problems by way of a physical exam. It is important to rule out any medical problems you may have. Conditions that could have some of the same symptoms as panic disorders are hormonal imbalance, heart trouble or even substance abuse.

There are three criteria one must meet to be diagnosed for panic disorder. They are having frequent and unexpected attacks, at least one of which is followed by worrying about another attack happening. Also Illness, alcohol, drugs or any other psychological problems are ruled out so they are not the reasons for the attacks.

Diagnosing agoraphobia has two criteria. One is fear of being someplace difficult to get away from if an attack occurs. Another is avoiding places that you feel might trigger a panic attack due to previous experience.

When you talk to a doctor about your problems be honest with them. They can not help you if they do not have all the facts about your situation. Also check out programs that you can use for self help. You may be able to bring your attacks under control by methods that you can use one your own.

Relieve Your Anxiety With This Exercise

If you feel anxiety start to build up try this simple trick to get yourself to relax. In fact this is great for anyone, anxiety attacks or not. This is a simple exercise that you can do at anytime and anywhere to help settle and calm you down.

Simple to do Exercise to Help Relieve Anxiety from tjar12

Now make use of this technique and see how much it will help. Do not give up on this.

Stopping Your Panic Attack

See how a typical panic attack can begin during your everyday life. And importantly learn how to recognize the sensations that you will experience when you are having a panic attack.

Tips to Avoid Anxiety Attacks When Flying

Unfortunately there are those of us that do have a fear of flying. It can be terrifying thinking of getting on the plane and being so high up or just thinking of what could happen if something goes wrong. Check out this article on for some tips on how you can overcome your fear of flying or at least reduce it. How to Avoid Anxiety Attacks When Flying
By John Cielo
Have a fear of flying? You've landed at the right place. Here, you'll discover lots of tips on how to avoid anxiety attacks while flying, and all without the use of drugs.
The fear of flying is very common. And the fear can be so intense that many people just don't fly if they can help it. Of, course there are others who need to fly for business reasons, and others for more personal reasons, such as not wanting to let the family down on holiday trips, etc.
There are medications that can be taken before a flight to try to help calm the nerves and lower anxiety on takeoff and during the flight. But some of these can have some side effects, and in any case, many people just don't like taking these kind of drugs.
But there are natural ways to avoid anxiety attacks while flying that you can implement to help make your flight stress and anxiety free. To understand how these can work, it's worth looking at what causes anxiety attacks in the first place.
What Causes Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety attacks are the physical and mental manifestation of your body's primeval 'fight or flight' response to a 'perceived' physical threat to itself. Your body only needs to 'think' there is a threat, and it'll trigger chemical changes around your body that set you up to be better able to fight against an aggressor or run away to safety.
But there is no physical threat is there? Remember I said it only needs to 'think' there's one. And this perception can be simply through your own anxiety levels rising, through your fear of flying, to such an extent that your subconscious reads that as being the 'threat' and so triggers the fight or flight response.
When this happens, the changes in your body, to instantly prepare you to stand and fight or run away, manifest as the symptoms of an anxiety attack; rapid breathing, racing heartbeat, tightness in the chest, hot / cold flashes, tingling in hands, nausea, a feeling of detachment, a feeling of impending doom, etc.
You can see, then, that anxiety attack symptoms are just the result of your body's natural response to something that doesn't exist. In other words, you aren't in any danger, and these symptoms cannot harm you. It is all a big mistake!
You need to reduce the stress and anxiety that you build up within yourself before the flight. Because it's your very fear of having an anxiety attack during the flight that will trigger the anxiety attack. You see, your fear of an attack builds upon your already (natural) high stress and anxiety, that nearly everyone has prior to travelling, particularly when flying.
But most people don't suffer anxiety attacks when flying, so don't have that in-built fear of one. But folks - perhaps like yourself - who do suffer anxiety attacks, do have this fear, and it builds on your naturally heightened travel anxiety to trigger an anxiety attack.
How to Avoid Anxiety Attacks When Flying
Okay, you now understand what causes your attacks, so how do you avoid anxiety attacks when flying, without drug-based medication?.
The following are practical things you can do to help prevent your general anxiety levels rising too much when travelling by air:-
(1) When planning your trip, make a checklist of all documents you need and tick them off. Also, anything else you need to do, tick those off as you do them. Ensure you're aware of any luggage or other restrictions. Make sure you tick off everything as you do them, so that you don't need to worry like 'did I switch off the...' and 'did I cancel the...' type issues.
(2) Make sure you keep all your documents safe and for easy access. Arrange to get to the airport check-in in plenty of time. That way you can be through and have plenty of time to relax in the lounge.
(3) Don't drink alcohol before or during the flight. It might be tough, I know, but alcohol is a known stimulant so can actually raise your general anxiety levels, making it easier for your 'fear' of an attack to trigger one.
(4) In the same way don't drink too much coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, energy drinks, etc., because they contain the stimulant caffeine.
(5) Do drink lots and lots of water before and during your flight in order to stay well-hydrated.
Next, the following are techniques to follow should you feel an anxiety attack coming on:-
(1) Important! At the onset, repeat to yourself words along the lines of 'I know what this is now, and, I know that these symptoms cannot harm me. I also know that they will pass very shortly. Go on do your worst!'
(2) Breath slowly and rhythmically, not fast and shallow. And not too deeply either. Breath in through the nose and out through your mouth. You do this to re-balance your carbon dioxide / oxygen ratio.
(3) Use 'distraction' to take your focus off of your attack. Try to engage in conversation, read a magazine, listen to music, study a particular facet of the aircraft cabin, etc. Close your eyes and think of a particularly peaceful / happy event in the past and replay it in your mind, over and over again.
You Must Break the Vicious Cycle of Anxiety
The tips above can be very effective in controlling anxiety attacks when flying. But you need to get to a position where you won't even worry about flying and anxiety attacks anymore. How can you do this? You achieve this by eliminating your fear of always having anxiety attacks every time you fly.
It's not the flight that is worrying you, it's the fear of having an attack whilst flying. This is a vicious cycle of general anxiety >> fear of an attack >> an attack >> general anxiety >> fear of an attack >> an attack >> and so on, and on. You must break-out of this cycle to achieve your goal.
John Cielo researches and writes on how to avoid anxiety attacks. Next, to discover the simple 'ONE MOVE' technique that will eliminate your fear factor and so break your vicious cycle of anxiety, please go here now http://eliminatepanicattacks.blogspot.com and prepare to get your old self back again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Cielo
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Avoid-Anxiety-Attacks-When-Flying&id=4378038