LiveWellTalk - Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

Panic Attack and Panic Disorder Panic Attack A panic attack is a sudden or intense anxiety or fear. Panic attacks usually come with the following symptoms: dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, light headedness. Panic attacks are unpredictable and happen in a range of situations.     See also: Anxiety Attack Some people have only one or two in their lifetime, others will have a group of them which center around increasing stress in their life and for others it could be a daily event in which case it is caused a panic disorder. People who suffer on going panic attacks will generally develop a fear of having panic attacks and go on to avoid situations in which escape would be difficult. Some people who have social anxiety disorder often have panic attacks as part of their symptoms. These attacks are also called anxiety attacks and are usually resolved by removing the problem or trigger situation. What does panic attack feel like If you do have panic ...

Nocturnal Panic Attacks (NPA) You wake up from a deep sleep in a state of high anxiety. As your heart races and your respiration quickens, you may be convinced you are having a heart attack. But while cardiac arrest shares similar symptoms with the physical aspects of a nocturnal panic attack, the similarities stop there. Although you may feel like you are dying, in reality, nocturnal panic attacks are not permanently harmful.  Nocturnal panic attacks are very similar to regular panic attacks – the only difference being, of course, that you are asleep when the panic is triggered . Nocturnal Panic Attacks  Symptoms Nocturnal panic attacks happen during the night when a person is asleep and they do not seem to have an independent cause or trigger. Usually, the person will be awakened in a state of fear and anxiety. The symptoms are very similar to a panic attack that occurs during the daytime. They would include profuse sweating, trembling, a rapid heartbeat, heavy breathing, t...

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) Social Anxiety Disorder ( SAD ), which is also referred to as Social Phobia , is a disorder that causes a person to feel intense fear in social situations that involve interaction with other people, or in public performances, such as public speaking. People with social anxiety often fear that they are being watched, judged, and evaluated by other people. It is often confused with shyness or low self-esteem. According to the Social Anxiety Association, Social Anxiety Disorder is the third largest psychological problem in the world today. [Ref.  ILLINOIS LIBRARY ] The fear that people with social anxiety experience is brought on by many different types of social situations, including speaking in public, speaking to strangers or meeting new people, using public restrooms, speaking on the telephone, eating, drinking, or writing in public, attending parties or large gatherings, talking to authority figures, talking to co-workers, shopping, com...

Social Anxiety In modern society, it can often be challenging to cope with a variety of situations, and social anxiety is an increasingly common issue that often starts in the teenage years. There is so much pressure on people that it’s no surprise that many of us develop a fear of social situations. This problem usually gets easier in later life as we become more experienced, but for some, it doesn’t, and this can have a profound impact on mental health and well-being. Social anxiety is more than simply being shy in the company. It can be a dread of everyday activities such as meeting people, constant worry about getting things wrong, and often shows in symptoms such as being physically sick when faced with social situations. With  social anxiety disorder (a.k.a social phobia) you desperately want to avoid any situation that would lead to judgment and embarrassment. Plus, you're worried that you'll be found lacking. The fear of being judged is so intense that you avoid peop...

What is a phobia? A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder where the sufferer experiences a persistent dread of a specific situation, creature, or place. It is characterized by an abnormal fear attached to a particular event. For example, David, developed a phobic response to snakes, after being cornered in the bathroom one time when he was a teenager. David is now 32 years old and still “runs a mile” when he sees snakes – even at the zoo. He, like all sufferers, has an overwhelming desire to keep away from anything that remotely reminds him of snakes, and he chooses not to go to the garden or go on holidays in the country because of it. Phobic individuals will do anything to avoid their particular perceived source of danger, which, is greater in their own minds, than what is there in reality. Sufferers will experience great distress when confronted by their “danger” and it can interfere with normal life… quite severely if not taken control of. Anyone who suffers from phobias has a ...