One of the most treatable areas of emotional disruption is the category of Anxiety Disorders. The most common form is the severe anxiety that reaches the point of developing Panic Attacks. Panic Attacks, a normal physiological phenomena that occurs at abnormal times. A Panic Attack is essentially the evolutionary responses that humans developed in the face of a threatening situation, names, fight or flight. The body becomes immediately prepared to take action again the threat by the release of adrenalin in the body to produce a "supercharged" system prepared to take offensive or defensive actions. The heart beats fast to deliver energy to the body, breathing becomes rapid to take in a new supply of energy (oxygen), the muscles become tense, our hairs stand on edge with excitement and fear, our minds race with possibilities as we scan the environment and appropriate responses, all of these are appropriate and normal responses in the face of a threat.
With Panic Attacks, there is no obvious threat. Our anxiety, often in reaction to prolonged and significant stress, sets of the release of adrenalin and the fight or flight response is set in motion. However, since there is no perceived threat, the focus is turned on our physical response: "Oh no, I'm having a heart attack." If instead there was an obvious threat, for example, a robber, the focus would be on the robber and how to respond, not on whether our heart was racing too face. Thus, since the focus becomes our physical response, we become fearful of our own reaction, feel out of control, are afraid we are losing our minds, and have an intense fearful feeling.
Learning about the physical process of a Panic Attack can be helpful. Medication is usually the first line response by most physicians but this can simply create a dependency on medication because there is no understanding of what is occurring and how to cope with it.
Behavioral therapy is proven to be effective in treating Panic Disorder. There is help available.