A psychologist named Zhavnerov described the fear of choking or fainting as part of a panic attack.
A person experiences a panic attack when they fear their current state because of possible adverse outcomes, explains psychologist Pavel Zhavnerov, an anxiety disorders specialist, in a conversation with Lenta.ru. He listed the signs of a panic attack and shared approaches to overcome this condition.
What is a panic attack?
Now if a person experiences fear in five directions, it signals a panic attack. The first is the fear of the heart: a heart attack, a stroke, a stoppage. The second is the prospect of fainting. The third is the fear of suffocation. The fourth is the panic over losing control. And the fifth is the fear that others will think poorly of them, that they are crazy or not themselves.
Pavel Zhavnerov is a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.
He noted that a person may fear one or several of these consequences at once. All other experiences, according to Zhavnerov, relate to fear of the future and do not constitute a panic attack.
Some people assume that a panic attack lasts for hours or the entire day, but in reality they are confusing this condition with generalized anxiety. The psychologist pointed out that a panic attack is a brief surge of extreme panic that peaks and then eases. It typically lasts up to 15 minutes.
Physiological manifestations
A panic attack comes with a high level of anxiety and a range of bodily symptoms caused by the release of adrenaline, according to the psychologist. He notes that these symptoms feed the fear of negative outcomes.
The following symptoms may appear: heart palpitations, dizziness, head pressure, ringing in the ears, blurred vision, numbness or tingling in the body, dry mouth, a lump in the throat, shortness of breath, a sense of discomfort, chest tightness, sudden pressure changes, muscle tension, alternating warmth and cold, increased sweating, trembling, abdominal discomfort, a urge to use the toilet, weakness, and a feeling of unsteady balance or unreality with what is happening.
Pavel Zhavnerov is a psychologist who specializes in anxiety disorders.
Of course, these symptoms do not occur all at once for everyone, Zhavnerov explained, and each person has their own physiological profile. Some experience dizziness and weakness; others may have a faster heart rate, shortness of breath, body tension, or tremors in the hands.
How to overcome panic attacks?
A panic attack stems from heightened anxiety, and to eliminate panic attacks one needs to work with a specialist on the underlying anxiety that a person is facing.
In essence, the person needs to stop fearing the consequences they dread during a panic attack. Once they are convinced that these conditions are not dangerous, panic attacks diminish, and the next phase focuses on reducing the overall anxiety level.
Earlier, a WHO spokesperson noted that about half a million Ukrainian citizens who fled to Poland require psychological support, and about 30,000 refugees have serious psychological issues.
Source: Lenta