Vinod Chandrashekhar Dixit
World Panic Day is an initiative aimed at increasing awareness about panic disorders. It serves as a day to provide education on the signs and symptoms, offer resources and support to those affected, and challenge the societal stigma surrounding mental health disorders. It is a day to sit back, relax and try to let some of that stress and panic melt away. People with panic disorder have frequent and unexpected panic attacks. These attacks are characterized by a sudden wave of fear or discomfort or a sense of losing control even when there is no clear danger or trigger. Panic disorder often begins in the late teens or early adulthood. Women are more likely than men to develop panic disorder. Panic disorder sometimes runs in families, but no one knows for sure why some family members have it while others don’t. According to researchers several parts of the brain and certain biological processes may play a crucial role in fear and anxiety.
In fact, panic disorder is a mental health issue that may affect up to 2% of the population in certain countries. Women are more likely to succumb to panic than men, and the condition is very treatable, particularly when the person affected is armed with self-care tactics while sticking to a healthful diet. Panic attacks often include physical symptoms that might feel like a heart attack, such as trembling, tingling, or rapid heart rate. Panic attacks can occur at any time. Many people with panic disorder worry about the possibility of having another attack and may significantly change their life to avoid having another attack. Panic attacks can occur as frequently as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year.
People with panic disorder may have sudden and repeated panic attacks of overwhelming anxiety and fear and have a feeling of being out of control, or a fear of death or impending doom during a panic attack and also an intense worry about when the next panic attack will happen.
Whether simply incorporating a few slow breathing exercises for a few minutes or engaging in an entire hour of full-blown mediation, these types of activities can have a huge impact on mental as well as physical health.
Those who are really struggling with panic as a stress response would be wise to seek help before it gets worse. Calling a counsellor seems like too big of a first step, check in with a trusted friend or family member first to see if they’ll help call a counsellor or doctor. It is much important to remember that there is no shame attached to mental health issues, and getting help from a professional is the bravest thing a person can do on the road toward recovery. Let us encourage people to slow down, relax and get the help they might need if they are, indeed, struggling with panic. The best measures, however, are preventative.
(The author is a freelancer and can be reached at [email protected])
