A-Plus Writer Only

Three part 150 words each, follower up response! $20

Describe and contrast the nature of panic attacks as found in a diagnosis of Panic Disorder versus a diagnosis of Social Phobia. Discuss one pharmacological and one psychological treatment for symptoms of panic attacks.

 

Part1

When I saw the title for this week’s forum post I got a little bit excited because I have/had a first hand experience with panic attacks, severe anxiety due to harassment and abuse I received from my last squadron. It’s been one year away from that unit and I still have triggers which someone normal would think is crazy and I am a lot more sensitive to stress now. The video didn’t work for me on my computer. But according to Patient.info a diagnosis of a panic disorder is a severe/disabling illness which is difficult to assess because of the vast amount of symptoms which are experienced with it. Panic disorder is often with agoraphobia which is a fear of panic. “The first panic attack may be associated with a stressful episode but gradually the attacks become dissociated and occur 'out of the blue'. It is a chronic condition with relapses and leads to much distress and social dysfunction[1]. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor dysfunction is thought to play an important role in panic disorder pathophysiology” (Tidy, 2016). So for my past to make a connection with the additives in my history affected my last week for a PT Test. First one since being pregnant in three years. I managed to get so stressed about it that i caused physical pain my body. My stomach hurt, I threw up, I was dizzy, and couldn’t think straight. I did get a high score on my test but I know it is very difficult for me to handle stress and I still haven’t figured out how to cope with it. While Social Phobia is the constant fear of social events, being around people, the fear of humiliation and embarrassment. This thus makes it difficult for them to go to events and be around people to become anxious and panicky.

one pharmacological for panic attacks is SSRIs and therapy. I used therapy for a lot of things which is still helping me with coping mechanisms. One psychological treatment for symptoms of panic attacks would be to use antidepressants, benzodiazepines. I don't believe people truly understand how scary a panic attack is until they experience it. Not only can they be scary but they are incredibly tiring, for me anyway.

 

 

Resources:

Tidy, D. C. (n.d.). Panic Disorder. Anxiety and phobias. Panic disorder treatment. Retrieved October 17, 2017, from https://patient.info/doctor/panic-disorder

Part2

I am convinced that someone made this course just for little ol’ me! 

 

Being in the military and dealing with my fair share of life issues and military issues I’ve suffered from more than enough panic attacks, they suck to say the least.  When I experienced my first panic attack, I thought I was having a heart attack.  I felt like I was taking my last breath, my legs started to buckle, my stomach started to hurt, I felt nauseous to the point where I vomited; I was dizzy, sweating, and hyperventilating all at the same time.  It was an out of body experience to say the least.  Panic attacks often come about out of the blue and without reason.  Thankfully my husband is firefighter (first responder) and knew exactly what to do.  Oddly and probably too much information (TMI), but I experienced my first panic attack in the shower with hot water running.  As a result, I feared going into the shower.  I took baths for months and only used lukewarm water; I was afraid of experiencing another panic attack and didn’t want to risk it.   I didn’t know it at the time but my panic attacks soon morphed into a full on panic disorders, the fear of having a panic attack (Social Anxiety Institute, 2017).  I would often have to use methods I’d learned in therapy in order to try and combat my panic disorder.  When those methods didn’t work I found myself having panic attacks due to my fear of having a panic attack, and also having panic attacks just because.    

Social Phobia or social anxiety disorder come about when an individual has heightened self-consciousness that formulates into anxiety.  An individual with social phobia will have feelings that others are negatively judging them.  Individuals with social phobia will almost always avoid social situations.  Simple things such as being introduced to another person, being teased or criticized, or even being the center of attention can cause heightened anxiety in individuals who suffer from social phobia.  One of the major things that differentiate social phobia from panic disorder is agoraphobia. On the other hand those who have panic disorder do not suffer from avoidant personality disorder as those with social phobia (Social Anxiety Institute, 2017).  Cognitive-Behavioral therapy is often used to treat panic attacks; a therapist will usually customize strategies to fit the patient’s needs.  Lastly, medication is prescribed in accordance with CBT.  Some medications include Diazepam and Buspirone (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 2017).  Do you think that cognitive-behavioral therapy should solely be used to combat anxiety disorders instead of prescribed medication? 

 

Reference

 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder. (2017).  Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361045

Social Anxiety Institute. (2017). Difference Between Social Anxiety and Panic Disorder.  Retrieved from https://socialanxietyinstitute.org/differences-between-social-anxiety-and-panic-disorder

Part3

Panic attacks occur from an individual experiencing the feeling of fear or threat. They can occur any time that the individual has these types of feelings. Some key features of a panic attack within the panic disorder are that the individual has one or more episodes of panic casing significant fear or discomfort (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). The second key feature of a panic attack is when the individual experiences persistent anxiety or worry.

An individual who suffers from social phobia or social anxiety disorder will typically experience panic attacks. Social Phobia is when the individual has a fear of being judged by other people in a social setting (Maddux & Winstead, 2012). These individuals experience such a high level of anxiety and stress that it can negatively impact their family, social and work life.

There are different treatment options that can be used to help an individual who suffers from panic attacks. One type of therapeutic treatment is the cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy focuses on changing the thinking pattern of the individual. It tries to focus on the things that are difficult for the individual to handle in order to change the way they feel about that particular thing. For example, if an individual has a fear of speaking in front of people for their social phobia, this therapy might encourage a more hands on approach and try to make the individual more comfortable in front of a large crowd.

A pharmacological treatment for panic attacks would be Klonopin. This pharmaceutical is referred to as a sedative because it gives the individual a sense of relaxation shortly after taking it (Starr, 2017). Klonopin works by influencing the Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors which are responsible for regulating brain functions that include anxiety and relaxation (Starr, 2017).

What do you think the most challenging part of your everyday life would be if you experienced panic attacks on a regular basis?

 

Reference

Maddux, J.E. & Winstead, B.A. (2012). Psychopathology: Foundations for a contemporary understanding (3rd ed.) New York, NY. Routledge Publishing.

Starr , K. (2017, March 21). Taking Prescribed Klonopin for Panic Disorder. Retrieved October 16, 2017, from https://www.verywell.com/klonopin-clonazepam-2584302