A panic attack means a symptom of a psychological problem, an anxiety, manifested apparently for no particular reason, with a high intensity, being often confused with the symptoms of heart attacks.

It manifests suddenly and unaccountable in the shape of fear, restlessness, palpitation, uncontrollable quivering, excessive sweating, asphyxia, fast breathing, feeling like fainting, terrible fear of something dreadful happening and not being able of controlling it. All the symptoms mentioned above vary in time, lasting from 5 to about 20 minutes.

It is said that all people manifest panic attacks, most of them with a reduced intensity, thus being neglected; that doesn’t mean all people have psychological problems. The symptoms of panic attacks must not be mistaken with the thrills before an exam, interview or an important meeting, the anxiety displayed here having a real motive.

Experts sustain that the panic attack may be genetically passed on from one generation to another; children with parents diagnosed with this psychological problem have 8 times bigger chances to develop this disorder. Also an increased risk emerges to the children with parents suffering from bipolar disorder or clinical depression. Panic attacks happen more frequently in crowded and stressful urban arias.

People with repeated panic attacks subsequently have problems in their social life, isolating themselves from others. Shutting of their relationships interferes with their job, career and their personal life, mostly family and friends.

Disorders induced by panic may be medicated or treated with different kinds of psychotherapy. The efficient treatment reduces the frequency of panic attacks, diminishes the anxiety and improves life’s quality.

Different psychotherapies are efficient in treating panic attacks, such as:

• cognitive behavioral therapy: specialists confirm it is the most efficient one;
• family systems therapy: helps relatives to understand what panic attack means and to maintain good relations with the affected one;
• group therapy: it is a good place for sharing and understanding, helping each other and developing more adaptive coping styles;
• aromatherapy: can be useful in reducing stress and anxiety;
• hypnosis: prepares the human brain for suggestions that eliminate stress;
• music therapy: helps the client to improve or maintain his/her lifestyle.