PANIC
ATTACKS
Panic
attacks are sudden, discrete periods of intense anxiety, mounting physiological
arousal, fear and discomfort that are associated with a variety of somatic and
cognitive symptoms.The onset of these episodes is typically abrupt, and may
have no obvious triggers. Although these episodes may appear random, they are
considered to be a subset of an evolutionary response commonly referred to as
fight or flight that occur out of context, flooding the body with hormones (particularly
epinephrine (adrenaline) that aid in defending itself from harm.Experiencing
a panic attack is said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting
and uncomfortable experiences of a person's life. (Bourne 2005).
Panic
attacks also affect people differently. Experienced or hardcore sufferers may
be able to completely 'ride out' a panic attack with little to no obvious symptoms
or external manifestations. Others, notably first-time sufferers, may even call
for emergency services; many who experience a panic attack for the first time
fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown.(1)
source
(1) wikipedia
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