Panic Attacks: Resources, Treatment, and Hope

Panic Attacks: Resources, Treatment, and Hope. By Dr. Jason Drwal.

Your chest tightens. At first you try to ignore it, but dread seeps through the cracks in your confidence. You try to distract yourself out of this discomfort; you try to reason with it, but it won’t let go. Your breath quickens but you can’t get enough air. Your heart thumps and you can feel the pulse in your neck. You’re head is hurting and woozy and lightheaded. Your arms are numb and tingly – not a good sign. You just want it to end, but that seems to make it all the worse.

You feel out of control and yet alone. The worst IS happening. Your hearts pounds. Is this a heart attack? Am I going to die? Maybe it’s not, you reassure yourself, but it feels horrible and terrifying and you never want to feel this way again. If this sounds familiar, then you’ve probably had a panic attack. Panic is a terrible feeling, but there is hope for dealing with this challenge (whether for you, a friend, loved one, or family member) and I’ll describe the first steps that you can take in this article.