Copyright © 2020 | Shelley L. Heusser
Shelley Heusser
Clinical Psychologist
BSocSc Psych. (UCT), BA. Hons Psych. (UCT), MA. Clin. Psych. (NMMU)
Practice No: 0445800 Reg No: 0112860
Panic Disorder
Everyone
feels
anxious
now
and
then.
For
instance,
many
people
feel
nervous
when
having
a
problem
at
work,
before taking a test, or making an important decision in their life.
Anxiety
disorders
are
different,
though.
They
can
cause
such
anguish
that
it
interferes
with
your
ability
to
lead
a
normal and happy life.
This
type
of
disorder
is
a
serious
mental
illness.
For
people
who
have
an
anxiety
disorder,
worry
and
fear
are
endless
and
overpowering,
and
can
be
disabling.
But
with
treatment,
many
people
can
manage
those
feelings
and get back to a fulfilling life.
Panic
disorder
is
an
anxiety
disorder
that
is
characterized
by
sudden
attacks
of
fear
and
panic.
Panic
attacks
may
occur
without
a
known
reason,
but
more
often
they
are
triggered
by
fear-producing
events
or
thoughts,
such
as
taking
an
elevator
or
driving.
Symptoms
of
panic
attacks
include
rapid
heartbeat,
strange
chest
sensations,
shortness of breath, dizziness, and anxiousness. Hyperventilation, agitation, and withdrawal are common results
.
Both
cognitive-behavioral
therapies
and
medication
for
panic
disorder
have
been
found
to
be
effective
over
the
short
term.
Not
all
patients,
however,
fully
respond
to
these
approaches,
and
the
effectiveness
of
these
interventions in the the long term is unclear.
A
psychodynamic
approach
adds
significantly
to
the
understanding
of
patients
with
panic
disorder.
Current
scientific
research
shows
that
psychodynamic
psychotherapy
is
just
as
effective
as
more
traditional
treatment
methods, and it may be more beneficial than any other approach in the long-term treatment of this disorder.