This disorder can occur at any age and is often accompanied by depression, substance abuse, or anxiety. Those suffering from PTSD may relive the traumatic event, experience emotional numbness, and be unable to concentrate on routine tasks. The disorder is diagnosed if symptoms last more than a month. Often PTSD will disappear without treatment, but in severe cases medical help should be sought. Panic attacks occur when, for no apparent reason, the body prepares itself to deal with a nonexistent emergency situation.
Extra adrenaline is produced and the heart rate and breathing become more rapid.
These attacks average only a couple of minutes with some lasting for up to 10 minutes and the rare attack lasting for more than an hour. Panic attacks affect up to 3-6 million Americans , are twice as common in women as in men, and can begin at any age but usually begin as a young adult. Panic attack sufferers often try to avoid future attacks by avoiding places or things that trigger attacks, by using distractions to cope with the attacks, or by turning to drugs and alcohol to hide from the problem. Anxiety Disorder Prevention and Treatment Strategies Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. The medications prescribed to treat these disorders are not cures and are only meant to relieve the symptoms.