Question:
Is there a simple cure for panic disorder?
Answer:
Sure there is. I am sure you will hear many different ways to cure
panic. I like using regression to the cause of the panic and changing
the perception of the cause so the panic is gone and never returns..
I'd hesitate to say 'yes' because there might be underlying causes for
this which are other than simple.
The actual physiology of a panic attack is not mysterious. I'm sure there
are plenty of people here who will correct me if I err, but here goes:
There is a part of the unconscious mind which is responsible for monitoring
your environment for danger. When danger is detected, the central nervous
system begins to prepare the body for action even before the danger signal
enters conscious awareness. The adrenal glands are stimulated to produce
adrenaline which raises the heart rate and breathing rate. Blood vessels in
the skin and gut constrict to send blood to the muscles etc.
This is an excellent system for preparing the body to escape physical
threats, and running or fighting uses up the adrenaline. In modern times,
though, a lot of the things we feel threatened by are not physical and
cannot be bitten, kicked or run away from, like shyness or embarrassment.
Sometimes too, the 'threat detector' can be oversensitive.
What happens then? The increased respiratory rate causes carbon dioxide to
build up in the blood (strange as that may seem at first) which can actually
cause fainting and a sensation of impending harm. There may be nausea
associated with the rush of adrenaline as blood leaves the stomach. It is
very unpleasant which leads to greater fear and so on. Imagine then if
someone who has had one panic attack begins to fear that they will have
another. The fear of having a panic attack can actually bring one on and so
the cycle is perpetuated.
The simplest approach to controlling attacks is first to understand their
physical aspect and take control of whichever aspects are under conscious
command. Most important is breathing. It is much more difficult to
hyperventilate through your nose, so firmly closing the mouth helps. With a
little practise, breathing can be made both slower and deeper and this in
turn slows the heart. Try breathing in for e.g. 6 heartbeats and out for 8
or whatever is more comfortable. In a sense, by making the body behave as if
it is not scared, it stops feeling scared.
Fear of fainting can be overcome by simply sitting down where possible. A
crowded shop is a classic location for an attack. It is easy enough to say
to an assistant: "I feel a little faint, could I have a chair, please?"
Ideally, once someone learns to believe that a panic attack is not the
serious threat to life that it seemed to be, they will become less
frightening, hence less frequent.
Remember, though, that you can't force a cure on anyone. Some sufferers
almost need their attacks for the reasons above mentioned which may be other
than simple. Overcoming that may require a period of personal exploration
which may not happen overnight.
Slight wrinkle on one point: Some persons suffering panic attacks report a
temporary loss of hearing (along with time distortion - the world around them
is perceived in slow motion). The hearing loss would impair their ability to
converse with those around them.
Interesting debate about the oxygen/carbon dioxide issue, too. I've been
advised NOT to employ a paper bag, as increasing the CO2 intake exacerbates the
panic attack.
Simple? More like case by case, I'd say. At least with respect to finding the
underlying cause. Some will be simple, others not so.
