Relieve Anxiety Depression
Friday, August 15th, 2008Introduction: What is panic? What is anxiety? And when is it a disorder? - Understanding classification
The definition of Panic Attacks is a discrete period in which there is the sudden onset of the intense apprehension, fearfulness, or terror, often associated with feelings of impending doom. During these attacks, symptoms such as shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, choking or smothering sensations, and fear of “going crazy” or losing control are present (DSM-4). Anxiety Disorders, which are often associated with Panic Attacks, are characterized by a severe increase in the level of stress or anxiety. This increase can be related to the presence of particular events or items (triggers) and can also exists without being prompted by any known triggers.
Anxiety Disorders include the following specific disorders: Anxiety Disorder with or without Agoraphobia, Agoraphobia without History of Panic Disorder, Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorder Due To a General Medical Condition, Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Of this list there are five major Anxiety Disorders, which are; Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia, or “Avoidant Personality Disorder” are of the most prevalent, occurring in the context of several of these disorders. Description of Categories and Types of Panic Attacks
DSM-4 (Diagnostic And Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition) recognizes three different types of Panic Attacks:
1. Un-cued (spontaneous) Panic Attacks (relates to Panic Disorder).
2. Cued (specific) Panic Attacks (relates to Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
3. Situationally predisposed Panic Attacks (may occur on exposure to the situational cue or trigger, but do not necessarily occur immediately after the exposure).Source: http://www.creatingwellnessnow.com/



