Effects of panic attacks

What are the effects of panic disorder? While a single panic attack may only last a few minutes, the effects of the experience can leave a lasting imprint. If you have panic disorder, the recurrent panic attacks take an emotional toll. The memory of the intense fear and terror that you felt during the attacks can negatively impact your self-confidence and cause serious disruption to your everyday life.
You are likely to experience:

  • Anticipatory anxiety Instead of feeling relaxed and like yourself in between panic attacks, you feel anxious and tense. This anxiety resembles that of Generalized anxiety disorder and stems from a fear of having future panic attacks. This fear of fear is present most of the time, and can be extremely disabling.
  • Phobic avoidance  You begin to avoid certain situations or environments. This avoidance may be based on the belief that the situation caused a previous panic attack. Or you may avoid places where escape would be difficult or help would be unavailable if you had a panic attack.

Other possible complications of panic disorder are:

  • Depression  Depression is common in people with panic disorder. Panic attacks and the anxiety they cause can severely disrupt your normal routine. If you feel your life is out of control, you may become depressed.
  • Substance Abuse  You may try to treat your anxiety with alcohol or drugs. The National Mental Health Association reports that 30% of people with panic disorder use alcohol and 17% use drugs in an attempt to deal with their symptoms. Unfortunately, these attempts to self-medicate only make things worse.
  • Suicide  According to the National Mental Health Association, approximately 20% of people with panic disorder attempt suicide. If you are feeling suicidal, see Helpguide's Coping with suicidal  thoughts and feelings.
  • Agoraphobia  Agoraphobia is a common and disabling consequence of untreated panic disorder.

Agoraphobia

What is agoraphobia? Agoraphobia is translated as fear of the marketplace. It was traditionally thought to involve a fear of public places and open spaces. However, it is now believed that agoraphobia develops as a complication of panic attacks. If you have agoraphobia, you are afraid of having a panic attack in a situation where escape would be difficult or embarrassing. You are also afraid of having a panic attack where you wouldnt be able to get help. Because of these fears, you may begin to avoid crowded places such as shopping malls or sports arenas. You may also avoid cars, airplanes, subways, and other forms of travel. In more severe cases, you might only feel safe at home.

  The American Acadamy of Family Physicans lists a number of situations or activities that you may avoid if you have agoraphobia:

  • Going anywhere without the company of a "safe" person.
  • Physical exertion (because of the belief that it could trigger a panic attack).
  • Going to places where escape would be difficult (examples include restaurants, theaters, stores, and public transportation).
  • Driving.
  • Places where it would be embarrassing to have a panic attack (such as parties and other social gatherings).
  • Ingesting substances that could possibly provoke panic (alcohol, caffeine, or certain foods).

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