Posts Tagged ‘Menopause And Panic Attacks’

Menopause and Panic Attacks update

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

Menopause and related Symptoms

 

 

 

Panic Attacks

 

It starts with your breathing. You breath in faster and faster but you are not sure why. Then you realize that your heart is beating so quickly it might fly right out of your chest. You may feel trapped, constricted or frozen. A feeling of sheer panic consumes you. Such are the first moments of a panic attack. One in four people will experience one throughout their lifetime, so it is not a rare occurrence. They can be brought on by many reasons, personal or environmental stress, medication or simply for no reason at all. What many people don’t realize though is that during menopause you are more susceptible to panic attacks than at any other time in your life.

don't be afraid of panic attacks get help now and end your panic attacks

don't be afraid of panic attacks get help now and end your panic attacks

 

Are you finding yourself becoming anxious about events that you usually wouldn’t worry about? Are your stress levels higher than normal? While there are many reasons that your stress and anxiety levels seem greater than in other times during your life, menopause and the hormonal changes that occur are often a cause of increased stress and anxiety.

 

Inside your brain is a small centre called the Amygdala. Among many other functions, the Amygdala monitors your response to stressful situations and can bring about the onset of a panic attack. During menopause, the altered levels of hormones cause the Amygdala to react, which can make you far more likely to have high levels of stress and in turn be prone to panic attacks. What your brain viewed as a normal, or slightly stressful situation a few years ago, it now sees as being highly stressful. The hormonal changes that menopause brings have, in effect reset the way that the brain interprets stress.

 

While anxiety is a symptom of menopause, this does not mean that you need to accept this as a part of your life. There are ways that you can control these reactions. The first step is to talk to a councilor or other qualified professional. You may wish to consult with your GP. Anti anxiety medication can be prescribed to help.

 

If you feel like you are experiencing a panic attack the best thing to do is take deep relaxing breaths. This will slow down your heart rate and help bring the attack under control. If you are driving, pull over safely as soon as you are able. Sometimes a panic attack can be a reaction to a stressful event, sometimes it can seem to happen for no reason at all.

 

Another great step is to take a more relaxed approach to other areas of your life. Take up yoga or meditation classes once a week, you will learn strategies to deal with difficult situations and find that over time you will have a more relaxed attitude. If you are feeling constantly stressed, take ten minutes to sit down are think about what is really stressing you out, perhaps write a list. Think about these issues and whether they are really worth stressing over. If so, what can you do to help resolve or improve the problem?

 

 

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Menopause And Panic Attacks

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Menopause And Panic Attack Disorder

 

Panic Attack Disorder is considered a panic attack followed by a month or more of a fear of another attack. A person who suffers a panic attack may very well never have an episode again, but it’s more likely that they will, as well as some secondary fears. Panic attacks are in fact completely based on fear and it is this fear of the panic attack that then leads to fears such as being sicker than anyone realizes and having something seriously wrong that is going undiagnosed or a fear that they are going to die. No wonder these fears lead to a panicked state!

 

Something that many don’t realize about Panic Attack Disorder is the impact that it can have on ones life. There is a stigma around anxiety-related disorders that those who suffer are somehow weak minded or flawed, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone at any given time. It can also lead to several other conditions if left untreated, such as depression, substance abuse and even suicide. When you live in constant fear of panic attacks and add to that the imagined threat that something else is wrong—usually explained as an impending feeling of doom—it’s no wonder that it can affect someone to such a great degree that they would be pushed that far. If you are suffering from this or nay other anxiety disorder, you need to realize that there is help and with a little time, patience and know-how; you can stop panic attacks for good.

 

Menopause And Panic Attacks

 

When something triggers your anxiety, your first response is to react out of fear even though a panic attack doesn’t actually pose a real threat to you. Just the imagined threat or danger is enough to trigger an attack in those with the disorder. No matter how intense your physical symptoms may be during a panic attack; you need to try to remember that you are NOT in any real danger and a panic or anxiety attack CANNOT hurt you. There are no known cases of a panic attack killing or hurting anyone, so as upsetting and uncomfortable as they may be; do not fear them as they pose no real threat at all. It will take time to really comprehend that and apply it so that it helps you keep attacks at bay, but Panic Attack Disorder can be cured for good once you learn to not let the fear of the attack take over and consume you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

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