Panic disorder and anxiety,
what is it? ...



Posted 10/09/20





The purpose of the latest blog is to not only acknowledge panic disorder and anxiety as something that 1 in 4 of us suffers, but to highlight training that is free to you as a staff member at PCS. Each month we are giving you the opportunity to gain an accredited certificate of continuing professional development (CPD) in many topics to not only give you more awareness of a topic in general, but something which looks great on your CV.


Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It's a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations. But someone with panic disorder has feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time, often for no apparent reason. There are many symptoms of panic disorder, the most common is anxiety.


Anxiety is a feeling of unease. It can range from mild to severe, and can include feelings of worry, fear and dread. Panic is the most severe form of anxiety. If you are suffering from anxiety you may start to avoid certain situations because you fear they'll trigger another attack. Attacks are not nice and can leave us fearing the worst. This can create a cycle of living "in fear of fear". It can add to your sense of panic and may cause you to have more attacks.


During a panic attack you get a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms. It can come on very quickly and for no apparent reason. A panic attack can be very frightening and distressing, sometimes people fear the worst and may think that they are having a heart attack.



Symptoms include;



A racing heartbeat



Feeling like you are going to faint



Sweating



Nausea and sickness



Chest pain



Feeling like you cant breathe



Trembling



Hot flushes and chills



Dizziness



Numbness or pins and needles in hands



Dry mouth



Feeling of dread or fear of dying



Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes. Some have been reported to last up to an hour. The number of attacks you have will depend on how severe your condition is. Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week. Although panic attacks are frightening, they're not dangerous. An attack will not cause you any physical harm, and it's unlikely you'll be admitted to hospital if you have one.


Be aware that most of these symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions or problems, so you may not always be experiencing a panic attack. For example, you may have a racing heartbeat if you have very low blood pressure.


Here at PCS we have a trained counsellor who you can speak to free of charge if you need to and this month we also have anxiety awareness training which you can also access free of charge. This training will give you an awareness of anxiety, what the triggers can be as well as useful tips on coping with anxiety if you are suffering with it. It will also give you tips on how to support others such as your clients or family members. The training will give you more information regarding what to do during an attack as well as preventing them further which I discuss below briefly. The training only takes 30 minutes and you gain a certificate at the end.



What do do during a panic attack



The next time you feel a panic attack coming on, do not fight it, stay where you are, if possible, breathe slowly and deeply, remind yourself that the attack will pass, focus on positive, peaceful and relaxing images and remember it's not life threatening.



Preventing a further panic attack



It may help to, read a self-help book for anxiety based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) – ask your GP or counsellor to recommend one, try complementary therapies such as massage and aromatherapy, or activities like yoga or pilates or do something to help you relax like a hot bubble bath or listening to music. Try to learn breathing exercises to help ease symptoms and exercise regularly and try to avoid sugary foods, caffeine and alcohol as all of these can make attacks much worse.


The counsellor here at PCS can also discuss with you why you might be feeling this way and work with you to find coping strategies that will enable you to live a full and happy life as well as continue to do your daily tasks. You can self-refer on the number below or speak to the office staff at PCS.



We want you to be assured that the counsellor here at PCS is there to listen to you in a confidential, safe and secure space. If you feel you are worried about the current climate, anxiety or you are worrying about the future, do not hesitate to contact Jaime on 07399809671 or jaime@personal-careservices.co.uk.


This is a confidential service and open to all Staff.


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