Fear and pain in the heart: causes, complications, treatment

The feeling of fear and pain in the heart caused by the feeling of fear are a consequence of negative external influences, during which a person is too susceptible to the consequences. The concentration of all experiences exceeds the permissible limits of a person’s emotional capabilities, which leads to excessive physical excitability.

How to provide first aid for a panic attack

Let's imagine.
You are walking down the street with your friend. Suddenly he falls and severely injures his leg. Blood is flowing from the wound, your friend is in great pain. What will you do in this situation? It seems like a simple task. You will most likely try first aid and help a friend get to the emergency room. You may have a plaster or bandage to cover the wound, or a bottle of water to clean it with. In general, one way or another, you roughly know what to do: everyone is familiar with the rules of first aid.

But the situation is more complicated. What if your friend has a panic attack? How should you proceed in this case? Few people know. But knowing how to help with a panic attack is just as important as with an injury or fall. You don't know when you might need it, but if you find yourself in an extreme situation, you'll be glad you took the time to study it.

A panic attack is a sudden, unexplained attack of severe anxiety and fear. It may be accompanied by symptoms such as rapid heart rate, chills and sweating, difficulty breathing, nausea and dizziness. Most often, a panic attack is very painful for the person experiencing it.

How to help someone during a panic attack

Assess the risk of self-harm.
Listen to the person without judging him.
Comfort, reassure and tell the person about what is happening to him.
Encourage him to seek professional help. It is better to do this after the attack has passed: in a state of acute anxiety, a person has no time for this.
Encourage his desire to learn self-help and other useful practices.

This is not an exact guide to action, because situations can be very different, but rather general instructions that everyone can use. In addition, you need to realize that you are not able to make a diagnosis or provide qualified assistance. You only need to help the person cope with the attack.

Psychotherapist Elena Perova gives more specific advice and tells how to behave with someone who is experiencing a panic attack.

Panic attacks often happen in the subway, in small rooms, so the first thing you need to do is take the person out into the air, into an open space.
Make him sit down and give him a drink. If the relationship allows, hold your hand.
Talk to the person in a soothing voice, gently ask if he understands what scared him. If he wants to talk, let him talk. If he has nothing to say, try to draw his attention to what is happening around him, to the fact that life goes on as usual.

It is important to be calm yourself and create the feeling in the person that you are in control of the situation. Speak calmly, move calmly, so that he gradually adapts to your behavior and also calms down.

When you start wondering about getting help for panic attacks, you may feel anxious. If with first aid for injuries everything is more or less clear, then here you have to deal with the person’s psyche, his brain. This means that each individual panic attack will be unique, and you need to quickly understand how to help overcome it.

But don’t worry: lack of knowledge is much worse than general and correct ideas about how to help with a panic attack.

What is panic

Panic is an unconscious, feverish desire to get something important or to survive at any cost. The key word is “unconscious”. Panic is especially dangerous when you are completely alone. If in a group of people there can be a sober and prudent mind who will become a leader and lead to salvation, then in solitude each person must become a leader for himself, since he has no one else to follow and no one else to obey. That is, everything is fair: what you are worth is what you will get.

But even if you grew up in the warm conditions of penthouses and had your shoelaces tied by lackeys, it is possible to cope with loneliness and survive. The main thing is to adhere to certain rules, know the basics of psychology at a cave level and be ready to discover yourself - yourself, but a new one. That is, awaken the dormant qualities of a cave dweller in yourself, even if you are “an intellectual to the core.”

How to help a loved one suffering from panic attacks?

1. First of all, both the patient himself and his loved ones need to understand that panic attacks are a serious disease, BUT with proper and timely treatment it can be overcome.

2. Don’t try to cope with panic attacks “at home.” The support of loved ones is necessary, but even more, a person suffering from this disease needs qualified help from a specialist. In most cases, the main task of relatives is to convince the patient to see a psychotherapist. It is to a psychotherapist, and not to a general practitioner, cardiologist or gastroenterologist, to whom people often mistakenly go, guided by the specifics of their symptoms. Panic attacks are a disease of a psychological nature; only treatment by an appropriate specialist can give long-term results. After all, it is important not to get rid of the symptoms (reduce fear during an attack, improve the activity of the gastrointestinal tract or normalize the heart rate), but to find out the reason for their appearance. Only psychotherapeutic techniques are aimed at eliminating the sources of psychological disorders. A necessary condition for successful treatment is the desire of the patient himself to get rid of panic attacks, as well as the professionalism of the specialist. Psychologists and psychotherapists at our Center have sufficient experience and a high level of qualifications. That is why our patients, with the help of specialists, always achieve excellent results in the treatment of panic attacks.

3. When communicating with a loved one suffering from panic attacks, avoid “clichéd calming phrases”: “Don’t be nervous and everything will pass”, “Don’t worry, it’s not scary”, “Being upset is what causes your attacks” etc. These statements in most cases produce the opposite effect: the person feels that they do not understand him, that they do not sympathize with his illness, which contributes to an increase in general anxiety, and therefore the risk of an increase in the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.

4. Close people should show care, attention, and understanding. Talk more often with the person dear to you, not about his illness, but about everything, about what is interesting to both of you, try to spend more time together. He should feel calm and confident with his family.

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5. At the same time, be careful - do not overdo it, do not treat a person suffering from panic attacks as if they were seriously ill. This is wrong. Bed rest and isolation from the rest of the world will not only not reduce the frequency of attacks, but, on the contrary, may aggravate the course of the disease.

6. During a panic attack episode, demonstrate confidence and self-control. Don't give in to the general state of panic. Talk calmly to your loved one, explain that this condition is temporary, it has already happened and disappeared without a trace. This attack will also pass. Give real arguments, together remember the features of the previous attack, think about what to do to make it easier.

7. Ask what the person wants at this particular moment? During consultations, our patients sometimes noticed that during an episode of a panic attack they wanted to crawl with their heads under the covers and not see anyone. If your loved one will feel better from such actions, do not deny him this, support him and help him carry it out.

What won’t you do for the well-being of a loved one? Especially if he is sick. Help from family is always an important factor in successful recovery. However, panic attacks are a disease that is impossible to get rid of without the help of a specialist. Therefore, the main task of the family of a person suffering from panic disorder is to convince him to see a specialist and accompany him to an appointment. Psychologists and psychotherapists at our Center will provide professional assistance in the fight against panic attacks.

Additional information on this topic: Panic attacks at night Preventing panic attacks How to cope with panic attacks

The mechanism of panic

The mechanism of panic looks like this:

1. Finding yourself in an emergency situation. 2. Feeling of discomfort or hopelessness. 3. The appearance of a feeling of fear. 4. The emergence of despair and panic, leading to mistakes and death.

The time that passes from being in an emergency to panic occurring depends on many reasons. For example, often the question is about dynamics: the faster events develop, the faster panic comes. A striking example is panic on a sinking ship or crashed aircraft, when everyone understands that the next few moments or minutes may be the last in life.

The second option also occurs quite often. It consists of a process of gradual awareness of the difficulties of the situation. An example of such an option would be an unsuccessful multi-day drift on a lifeboat and raft, wandering through a cave, mountains, desert, etc.

PANIC FEAR

See what “PANIC FEAR” is in other dictionaries:

Panic fear - The expression is used to mean: unaccountable, sudden, strong fear that covers many people, causing confusion. Originated from the Greek myths about Pan, the god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan brings sudden and unaccountable terror to... ... Dictionary of popular words and expressions
PANIC FEAR - PANIC FEAR, panic w. Greek sudden. unaccountable, senseless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
panic fear - PANIC FEAR, female panic, Greek. sudden. unaccountable, senseless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary
panic fear - panic; unaccountable panic fear Wed. The laws that create and control panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a maddened dog that has accidentally broken loose from its chain. Saltykov. Variegated letters. 9. Wed. I knew the old man: in his soul... Michelson’s Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Panic fear is winged. sl. The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, strong fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Originated from the Greek myths about Pan, the god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan induces a sudden and unaccountable... ... Universal additional practical explanatory dictionary of I. Mostitsky
panic{; panic fear} - unaccountable Wed. The laws that create and control panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a maddened dog that has accidentally broken loose from its chain. Saltykov. Variegated letters. 9. Wed. I knew an old man: in his poor soul I settled... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Panic (panic fear) - (on behalf of the Greek god Pan, who was believed to be capable of causing sudden and strong fear) - extreme, uncontrollable fear that instantly seizes a person in some emergency circumstances. An image of this in “Queen Margot” by A. Dumas... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy
fear is an emotion that arises in situations of threat to the biological or social existence of an individual and is aimed at the source of real or imagined danger. In contrast to pain and other types of suffering caused by the real action of dangerous... ... Great Psychological Encyclopedia
PANIC - PANIC, panic, panic. 1. Imbued with panic. Panic horror. Panic fear. Panic mood. 2. Easily susceptible to panic, frightened (colloquial). Panic man. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary
FEAR - 1. FEAR1, fear (fear), husband. 1. units only A state of extreme anxiety and anxiety from fear, from threatening or expected danger, fear, horror. Feeling of fear. Panic fear. In mortal fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of death... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Phraseologism “Panic fear” origin:

The phraseological unit “Panic fear” comes from the name of the Greek god Pan. This is the god of cattle breeding and shepherding, fertility and wildlife. Pan is considered the son of Hermes; there are several myths about his mother.

Pan was born with goat legs, horns and a long beard, and immediately upon birth began to jump and laugh. The child's mother, frightened by the unusual appearance and character of her son, fled in horror, but Hermes wrapped the baby in hare skins and took him to Olympus. Here the child amused all the Olympian gods, and especially Dionysus.

The god Pan lives in the shady forests of Arcadia. There he grazes his flocks, playing a sonorous pipe. When the hot afternoon comes, Pan, tired from his studies, falls asleep, and not a single shepherd dared to disturb his sleep by playing the pipe. Pan is quick-tempered; when he appears unexpectedly, he can frighten the traveler who disturbed him. He can also send such horror when a person rushes headlong to run, not making out the road. It happened that Pan inspired a similar fear in an entire army, and it turned into an uncontrollable flight.

This kind of fear, named after the god Pan, began to be called panic.

Phraseologism “Panic fear” meaning:

Panic fear, sudden panic. senseless, unaccountable, reckless and irresistible fear.

Panic attacks are a very unpleasant syndrome, accompanied by a strong causeless attack of fear and various malfunctions of the autonomic nervous system.

How to get rid of panic attacks yourself - 5 simple steps

The following actions will help reduce the likelihood of developing, or even completely eliminate attacks.

Rationalization of nutrition

Tea, coffee, alcohol, cigarettes - exclude! The peculiarity of caffeine is stimulation of the nervous system. Almost everyone begins to experience symptoms of anxiety when drinking caffeinated drinks.

Alcoholic drinks are consumed in the hope of relaxing and lifting one's mood. However, on the contrary, after drinking alcohol you may experience a panic attack. Even small amounts of alcohol activate the sympathetic nervous system. Vascular spasm occurs, blood pressure rises, and the heartbeat accelerates, which is so frightening for people suffering from panic attacks.

Nicotine has a negative effect on the airway and, like alcohol, causes spasm of blood vessels.

Drink only clean water and herbal infusions. Soothing lemon balm and chamomile are the best options. It is important to include in your diet foods high in magnesium or potassium (dried apricots, almonds, citrus fruits, carrots) and B vitamins (buckwheat, spinach, broccoli, green peppers, seafood) - they will help restore blood vessels and strengthen the nervous system.

Physical activity

Moderate physical activity is an essential component in the treatment of VSD and panic attacks. Therapeutic gymnastics helps train and strengthen the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Active physical exercise helps remove excess stress hormone cortisol from the body and produce the hormone serotonin, a natural antidepressant. For VSD, it is recommended to go swimming, jogging, cycling, and doing aerobics.

But the problem is that panic attacks force you to stay at home in fear. A person avoids going out into the street again, for fear of being caught off guard by another attack. The imagination draws terrible pictures of how an attack suddenly happens, a person faints, and everyone passes by indifferently or looks at the unfortunate person with disgust, as if there is a homeless person in front of them.

If you can’t find a companion for walks in the fresh air, at least do regular morning exercises. Just 20-30 minutes of exercise a day will help work out muscle tension and improve blood circulation, which is so important for preventing panic attacks. Regular training will allow you to get used to the fact that increased breathing, heart rate, and shortness of breath are normal physiological functions.

Getting rid of sources of stress

Panic attacks are based on anxiety. As a rule, suppressed, unconscious, but gradually depleting the body’s reserves. People suffering from panic attacks have a common feature - they are poorly aware of their true psycho-emotional state, ignore their needs and desires, and strive to keep their feelings under control. As a result, the body cannot stand it and releases the accumulated tension in the form of a vegetative crisis. Understand that if your anxiety level didn’t go off scale, you wouldn’t have seizures.

Reconsider your life. Note those areas of your life that you tend to over-control. Perhaps, in pursuit of material well-being, you work extremely hard at two jobs and do not rest at all. Or you constantly suppress your dissatisfaction in your relationship with a loved one and pretend that everything is fine, although this is far from the case. Find the source of stress and try to eliminate it. You and your health should always come first.

The biggest source of stress that we need to get rid of is our useless worries about the future. Remember that not everything in this life depends on your actions. Life is unpredictable, and all we can do is enjoy what we have in the present. Don't rush. Learn to enjoy everyday little things - a fragrant cup of tea, a beautiful sunset, a friend’s smile.

Getting rid of the fear of panic attacks

The next goal is to stop being afraid of seizures. You should develop a clear understanding that during a vegetative crisis nothing bad will happen to you. This is not a fatal disease; people don’t go crazy from it. Even losing consciousness during a panic attack is problematic, because its physiology is completely opposite to a fainting state (during an attack, pressure and tone in the muscles increase).

Physiological discomfort is not so terrible if you understand that there are no serious pathologies behind it. When you stop being afraid of the unpleasant symptoms that occur during attacks, this will be a big step in getting rid of the disease.

It is also important to understand that panic attacks will not go away overnight. They will still be a bother for a while. It is important to learn to live with them, and not to give too much importance to the next crisis.

Positive attitude

Our body is a wonderful self-healing mechanism. The main thing is not to disturb him. Remind yourself often that the body is constantly naturally renewing itself and healing itself. This is how cuts heal, broken bones heal, and the same thing will happen to our nervous system if we don’t interfere with it. Don't make your condition worse by noting and measuring every new symptom. Instead, focus only on the positive aspects of your condition.

For example, let you have panic attacks, let you periodically experience fear, shortness of breath, tachycardia and dizziness. But at the same time, your arms and legs are intact, you are still alive, and between attacks you can choose any topic for thought. Watch a funny movie, call a friend and find out what new and joyful things have happened in his life. Don't discuss politics, problems at work, or your illness. Exchange only good news.

Positive thinking works wonders. It is only important to learn to think purposefully. Of course, at first it’s difficult to develop the habit of seeing the bright side of everything. But that doesn't mean it's impossible.

How to overcome panic attacks: reviews

Nothing boosts morale more than success stories in the fight against panic attacks from other people who have experienced the same problems, difficulties and fears.

Sedative for panic attacks: reviews

Olga, 37 years old:

I have been suffering from panic attacks for 10 years. To relieve attacks, I took Corvalol, valerian, glycine, atarax, and phenibut. I always avoided strong drugs, fearing side effects and addiction. Relanium helped a lot until it was banned.

Oleg, 36 years old

Simple herbs like valerian, motherwort, hawthorn will not help with panic attacks. You need to go to the doctor and ask for a prescription for antidepressants. Fluoxetine helped me.

Cure for panic attacks: reviews

Kirill, 25 years old

Fanazepam is a great remedy for panic attacks, but only to stop the attack. There are many ways to relieve a panic attack without medication. It’s better not to be lazy and undergo a course of psychotherapy. Although, to calm your nerves, “just in case,” you can carry pills with you.

Svetlana, 28 years old

For the first time I experienced a panic attack at night. Then I was terribly afraid to go to bed. Soon the attacks began to torment me during the day. The whole body was shaking, pulse 140, dizziness, fear of dying. I was afraid to leave the house alone. The clinic diagnosed VSD and referred me to a psychotherapist. Through trial and error, I found antidepressants - Pyrazidol. Finally, she lived a normal life.

Vadim, 35 years old

At one time, advice to be treated by neurologists or psychiatrists, who prescribed medications and nothing more, delayed the solution to the problem for four long years. Pills relieve symptoms, but do not help fight the cause of anxiety. It was only when I turned to psychology that I was able to finally get rid of the disorder.

Elena, 26 years old

Until the age of 22, I considered myself an absolutely healthy person, until a nightmare called panic attacks began. For three years, I visited a lot of doctors, spent money on examinations and tests. As a result, a banal diagnosis of VSD of the hypertensive type was made.

No treatment was prescribed as such. They prescribed some sedative herbs, which did not help. The attacks only became more frequent and became so severe that I practically stopped leaving the house. Afterwards, tranquilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics were prescribed. But after a year of taking it, addiction apparently developed, and the attacks returned. The most annoying thing is that the doctor says that you will have to stay on the pills for life. He suggested changing medications. But two weeks later I had another panic attack. I am terrified. I don't know what to do next.

Panic attacks: patient reviews of psychotherapy

Alena, 27 years old

I signed up for an in-person consultation with a psychologist, but ran away from the first session - I couldn’t stand it. The meeting took place in a cramped room in the basement. The doctor sat, looked at me silently and only occasionally asked questions that made me cry.

Maria, 45 years old

This has been the case for 15 years now. At the beginning there were such acute attacks that I constantly called an ambulance. And then I started studying all the available information about panic attacks. Now I know everything about neuroses, no worse than a professional psychotherapist.

It’s natural to run to doctors and get examined endlessly in this state. You think to yourself that you will now discover the disease, treat it, and everything will go away. But this is a misconception. Only psychotherapy will help and nothing else! Of course, the work ahead is long and difficult. But the result is worth it. I still occasionally experience some symptoms of a panic attack, but I have learned to live with them.

How to cure panic attacks forever: reviews of hypnosis treatment

Alexander:

When I was on the train for negotiations, I felt feverish, an attack of strong heart palpitations began, my heart sank very much, and strong fear arose. They called an ambulance, did a lot of tests, but found nothing. The doctor diagnosed VSD. A week later the attack occurred again. I took a pill for blood pressure, but after five minutes all the symptoms suddenly disappeared, although the drug was supposed to take effect only after half an hour. After a second examination with doctors, I learned that I was having panic attacks.

I turned to a psychotherapist. I heard explanations that panic attacks are non-fatal and there is no need to be afraid of them. But, of course, fear at the moment of an attack does not lend itself to logical beliefs. I decided to seek help from a hypnotherapist. It would take a long time to explain the whole process of hypnotherapy. A lot of personal things came up. After a course of hypnotherapy, a month later there was another attack, but not so intense. Afterwards I checked my condition by riding on the same train. The panic attacks went away and have not returned for two years now.

Elena:

I suffered from terrible panic attacks for 6 years. I couldn’t travel on public transport. I stopped traveling outside the city. There was no question of flying somewhere by plane. A friend insisted that I contact a hypnologist. I decided because I really wanted to show the child the sea. During the sessions, the therapist identified the psychological trauma that led to the development of panic attacks and helped to work through it. Now I’m calmly getting on the metro and planning to go on a normal vacation for the first time in many years.

Panic attacks: client reviews of hypnotherapy:

Symptoms

The symptoms of this disease vary greatly. Both neurological and dermatological symptoms are present. These may include a hoarse voice, skin lesions and scarring, easily damaged skin that heals poorly, dry, wrinkled skin, and papules around the eyelids. All these are the results of thickening of the skin and mucous membrane. In some cases, there was also thickening of brain tissue in the medial temporal lobe, which can lead to epilepsy and neuropsychiatric disorders. The disease, as a rule, does not threaten the patient’s life and does not cause a decrease in its duration.

Because Urbach-Wiethe disease is autosomal recessive, people can be carriers of it without any symptoms.

How to overcome panic attacks on your own: reviews

There are cases when the disease goes away on its own - as suddenly as it appeared. People who have not encountered global difficulties in treatment and have easily overcome the disease very rarely go to forums and talk about their successes. They do not believe that something supernatural happened and do not attach much importance to their positive experience. As a rule, panic attacks are discussed by those who have been trying for a long time and unsuccessfully to cope with them and consider their condition to be practically incurable. But from such discussions one should not jump to the conclusion that panic attacks cannot be overcome.

How to cope with a panic attack yourself: reviews

Elizaveta, 41 years old

During a panic attack, there is no need to try to calm down. Just watch the symptoms with interest from the outside. This way the attack passes faster.

Sergey, 45 years old

I started doing everything I was afraid of before on purpose. For example, it was scary to go outside - I began to deliberately take long walks far from home. True, at first I took one of my friends or relatives with me. At first I was very nervous. The pulse quickened. But I still walked for at least three hours.

If I had a panic attack while walking, I told myself that I was healthy and nothing would happen. If a panic attack started, I endured it, reminding myself that it was all just nerves and I was completely healthy. I returned home, measured my blood pressure and made sure that everything was really fine with my body.

I did the same with other situations that frightened me - with car trips and going to a stuffy cinema. I didn’t take any pills, I tried to calm myself down, I watched the people in the hall who were much older than me, but were feeling well. Everything did not always go smoothly - sometimes I had a panic attack. But afterwards I calmly analyzed what happened and understood that the reason was simple nerves. So in six months I completely solved the problem.

How to get rid of panic attacks and fear forever: reviews of recovery without drugs

Elizaveta, 41 years old

Cured attacks in just three weeks without medications. Swimming pool with sauna 3-4 times a week. Every evening before bed, drink valerian root tea with honey. Include foods containing magnesium in your diet (pumpkin seeds, wheat bran, nuts, buckwheat). Watch only comedies and entertainment programs on TV. Completely eliminate communication with whiners and pessimists.

Elena, 34 years old

I almost overcame panic attacks after I moved from St. Petersburg, where there was constant hassle and psychological pressure from the father of my child, to my hometown with my parents. I have now been living here for two months, and the symptoms have almost disappeared.

Katerina, 34 years old

I suffered from anxiety attacks for eight years. Based on my own experience, I want to say: no pills will save you. Yes, perhaps the discomfort will go away for a while. But nothing more. You don't want to be on medication for the rest of your life, do you? Only by pulling yourself together and having the right moral attitude can you defeat the disease. Tested for myself. By the way, I didn’t turn to psychologists. I was just trying to be positive. I rested more, talked with friends, and tried not to take on extra responsibility at work. Learn to set yourself positive attitudes (self-hypnosis). Soon the body will unquestioningly carry out your commands.

Artem, 23 years old

I remember how I had attacks five times a day. Thank God, everything is in the past. I agree that panic attacks occur from severe nervous exhaustion. The main thing is to learn to look at life more calmly. Try not to get nervous over trifles, relax more. Sports, routine, giving up bad habits, proper nutrition - and panic attacks will subside! It is important to learn to relax. Well, it’s good to keep sedatives on hand just in case.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia

For each patient, the course of treatment is individual. Treatment begins with developing a daily routine, rest, and eliminating physical inactivity. The patient must be protected from strong emotions and constantly remain in a favorable psychological climate.

Massages, acupuncture, physiotherapy, and water procedures have a positive effect. In cases where non-drug treatment does not have any positive effects, medications are prescribed.

Drugs such as valocardine, nitroglycerin and hawthorn tincture block heart pain and have a calming effect. Taking a complex of vitamins – glycine and glutamic acid – has a beneficial effect. To help improve blood circulation in the vessels of the brain, use nicotinic acid and pentoxifylline.