Panic Disorders Treatment Specialist in Salem NH
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that involves unexpected, sudden emotions of terror and dominant physical reactions when dealing with everyday, non-threatening events. You may sweat heavily, have difficulty breathing, and feel like your heart is racing during a panic attack. You may feel that you’re experiencing a heart attack. Panic disorders can disrupt your life and affect your health. Come to Advanced Psych Care to get the proper treatment from Norrine McNelley, PMHNP-BC. For more information, contact us or schedule a telepsychiatry appointment with us. We are conveniently located at 202 Main Street Suite 102 Salem, NH 03079.
Table of Contents:
What are the different types of panic disorders?
What are the signs of a panic disorder?
What causes panic disorders?
What treatments do you provide for panic disorders?
A panic disorder is a disorder characterized by feelings of intense fear, anxiety, or discomfort in situations that are not dangerous or threatening. People with panic disorder often experience a series of panic attacks, or episodes of intense fear and anxiety that strike without warning. Panic attacks are characterized by a wide range of physical symptoms, including sweating, trembling, palpitations, tingling, a sense of impending doom, and a sense of losing control that often makes it difficult for people with panic disorders to perform even the most basic tasks. Panic attacks can be a source of extreme psychological stress and can leave people with a panic disorder feeling as though they cannot continue without help.
The different types of panic disorders can be classified into the following categories:
– Panic Attacks — Panic disorder is characterized by intense fear and worry, even when there is no actual danger present. People who are diagnosed with panic disorder may experience nausea, heavy breathing and shaking.
– Generalized Anxiety Disorder — Under this condition, people generally tend to feel worried all the time without any actual reason; there may also be a constant feeling that bad things might happen. These anxieties are so abnormal they can negatively affect day-to-day routines and overall quality of life.
– Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — Another type of panic disorder is obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly referred to as OCD. This disorder is characterized by intrusive, unwanted behaviors and thoughts that cannot be controlled. For instance, a person with OCD may be constantly worrying about whether they have turned off the stove when leaving home. They may also feel the constant need to perform repetitive tasks, such as washing hands or locking doors.
– Phobias — A phobia occurs when a person has an exaggerated fear of certain objects, situations or ideas, even if they are not dangerous or typically frightening. Common phobias include fear of spiders, snakes, flying and heights, but there are several uncommon phobias that are harder to discern the cause.
– Social Anxiety Disorder — Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is when a person is extremely afraid of making a bad impression or getting a bad reputation, often to the point of avoiding social situations or interactions where they are the center of attention.
– Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — Traumatic events such as near-death experiences or participation in combat may cause people to feel frightened from certain situations or detached from other people. The negative effects of this disorder can last for a long time and can affect a person’s ability to live normally, but fortunately, new treatments provide promising prognoses for PTSD.
Panic attacks are experienced as a sudden sense of fear and dread, which is accompanied by at least four other mental, emotional, and physical symptoms, including any of the following:
– Chest pain or discomfort
– Chills or hot flashes
– Derealization and/or depersonalization
– Excessive sweating
– Fear of dying
– Fear of losing control or going crazy
– Feeling of choking
– Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
– Feelings of numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesias)
– Heart palpitations or accelerated heart rate
– Nausea or abdominal pain
– Shortness of breath or smothering sensations
– Trembling or shaking
There is no single cause for panic disorders; in fact, the exact cause is still not well understood. Certain factors play a role, including:
– Life experiences
– Past trauma
– Genetics
– Going through intense stress
– Having a stressful or emotionally reactive temperament
– Changes in the functionality of certain parts of the brain
The first-line treatment for panic disorders is psychotherapy, which is a form of talk therapy. Psychotherapy can help patients understand their panic attacks and disorder and teach them coping techniques as well as preventative measures that can be implemented to reduce the frequency and severity of panic attacks.
If you are experiencing a panic disorder, the mental health professionals at Advanced Psych Care can help. Call us today to book an appointment with our panic disorders treatment specialist, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 202 Main Street, Suite 102, Salem, NH 03079. We serve patients from Salem NH, Windham NH, Atkinson NH, Plaistow NH, Pelham NH, Hampstead NH, Danville, NH and Derry NH.
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