Panic & Panic Disorder FAQs
Q. How Commonis Panic Disorder?
A. Very. Panic disorder affects millions of people.
Q. Who Gets Panic Disorder?
A. More women than men are affected, roughly twice as many, but panic disorder is found across all age groups.
Q. I've Had a Panic Attack. Do I Have Panic Disorder?
A. No. A panic attack isn't that uncommon and a single panic attack is unlikely to require treatment.
Q. What are the Features of Panic Disorder?
A. Mainly that the person has experienced recurrent and unexpected panic attacks. They are likely to be preoccupied by the thought of further panic attacks and concerned about the implications (fainting, incontinence, embarrassment, death).
Q. What Does a Panic Attack Feel Like?
A. It is a very unpleasant, some say terrifying, sensation. The person feels weak, dizzy and nauseous. Chest pains, difficulty breathing and rapid heart rate are common. The sensation is commonly mistaken for a heart attack.
Q. How Long Does a Panic Attack Last?
A. Typically a few minutes but they have been known to last for some hours.
问：我听说有人在睡眠中遇到惊恐发作吗？
A. That's correct. Panic can occur during non-dream sleep.
Q. Why is Panic Associated with Agoraphobia?
答：经历恐慌的人感到非常脆弱，因此房屋经常成为他们的庇护所。避免了正常活动，例如驾驶，购物，社交功能。如果该人觉得自己的逃脱被阻塞，他们会变得更加焦虑，因此坐在繁忙的剧院里，电影院或餐厅可能会像排队一样出现问题。有时，如果有一个受信任的朋友或亲人的陪同，该人准备做这样的事情。
Q. Can Panic be Treated?
答：是的。实际上，该人可能对治疗的反应很好。教育是一个重要因素，因为这常常爆发出许多关于恐慌发生以及结果可能发生的事情的神话。与心理学家一起进行的典型治疗包可能需要12个课程，但这可能会根据需要和进步而有所不同。一个主要特征是学习，可以通过学习控制呼吸和放松肌肉来控制感觉。
Q. So, Learning To Relax is Important?
答：在正常情况下，是的，但是有几个人有被称为放松引起的恐慌。这可能以某种方式与失去控制状态的失去控制感有关。治疗师将使用其他策略进行补偿，例如学习如何使用图像来良好效果和放松肌肉群体。
Q. Is Treatment Standard?
A. No. Although relaxation combined with cognitive therapy is popular, proven and effective, some therapists employ different techniques. For example, they may use group rather than individual sessions, or use biofeedback as a means of feedback. The goals are the same, but the process may differ according to the background and training of the therapist.
Q. Can't Medication Help?
A. Yes. It's fair to say that medication can't cure panic but it can help to take the edge of the symptoms of acute anxiety that accompany it. Essentially though the best treatment for panic is through psychological intervention.
Q. Can't I Use a Self-Help Book?
A. There's nothing stopping you but a self-help book can't ask you questions or give you feedback about your progress. Self-help also requires a lot of motivation and honesty. If you have what is known as uncomplicated panic, that is, you have no other symptoms such as depression, it may be worth a try. On balance, my advice is to use self-help techniques more as a way to support therapy and to build the techniques into your daily routines.
问：我现在可以做什么？
A. Yes. There are lifestyle issues you can address the moment you leave this webpage. For example, cut out caffeine and smoking. Do some daily exercise. Learn more about the causes of panic and the treatments. Learn how to breathe and build relaxation into your life. Cut out fatty, starchy, sugary foods and drinks.
Q. Where Can I Find a Therapist?
A. The American Psychological Society has a handy治疗师定位器。
The British Psychological Society has aFind a Psychologist设施。As do the
这Australian Psychological Society
