Naari-Magazine aug edition

HEALTH &
WELLNESS
PANIC
ATTACKS
All descriptions, names and narratives
have been changed to ensure that
confidentiality is strictly observed.
The word Panic Attack can be quite misleading
for those who conceptualise it as being in a
state of a crisis and freaking out! As the situation
abates, the feeling of panic is likely to recede
as well. Context is important here as you may
well have an intense panic attack if your car is
on fire. However, that does not constitute for
panic disorder or a panic attack in the clinical
sense. Many of these panic attacks occur out of
the blue, perhaps even during ordinary activities
such as shopping at the mall, watching a movie,
sleeping, driving or having a meal.
From the standpoint of a psychological
condition, a panic attack is characterised by at
least 4 of any of the listed 14 symptoms, that
must be unexpected, not due to any illness,
medication or psychiatric condition. These
symptoms include:
A pounding and racing heart
Fear of going crazy
Trembling
Chest pain and discomfort
Feeling detached from oneself
Feelings of unreality
Fear of doing something uncontrolled
Fear of dying
Dizziness and light-headedness
Numbing or tingling sensations in the
extremities
Chills or breaking into profuse sweat
Abdominal distress
Shortness of breath
If a combination of any of the above four
have persisted for over a period of at least one
month, and there are no other psychiatric or
physiological conditions such as hypothyroidism,
mitral valve prolapse, inner ear issues or the use
of other medications, then the person may have
panic disorder.
Evidently, it is quite a different condition from
the “common perception” of the terminology.
Kim was a 30 year old mother of two toddlers.
She had experienced a terrifying panic attack out
of the blue while she was at a movie theatre with
her two children. She felt overcome by a gripping
fear accompanied by deep anxiety. She wanted
to run out of the theatre but felt trapped knowing
she had to manoeuvre through the aisles, steps
and passages to the exit. Her heart was pounding
heavily. She felt her hands and feet going numb;
trembling and with a choking sensation, she froze.
Her stomach felt uncomfortable and she felt she
was losing control.
22 | NAARI - THE WOMAN