Panic disorder in women

Women are more prone to mental disorders than men. This is partly due to the peculiarities of the hormonal system, with emotional lability. Often, panic attacks in the fair sex occur against the background of hormonal adjustment – during pregnancy, menopause, in adolescence (puberty). The condition is capable of further causing neuroses and mental disorders, therefore, the consultation of an experienced specialist is necessary.

Statistics show that women, as emotional beings, subject to hormonal fluctuations, with a certain personality and psychotype, are more susceptible to various mental illnesses and disorders than men. According to WHO, panic disorder in women is almost twice as common as in the stronger sex. Panic disorder is characterized by the periodic appearance of extreme anxiety – panic attacks, sudden attacks of anxiety and panic, which are accompanied by pronounced somatic symptoms and can be mistaken for organic disorders or vegetative-vascular dystonia. Due to an incorrect diagnosis, a panic disorder in women may not be detected for a very long time, as a result of which a woman may suffer for a very long time without finding an explanation for her condition. Panic disorder in women (treatment of anxiety Cymbalta) can develop both at a young age and more mature. The onset of the disease may not indicate the presence of psychopathology – the symptoms are similar to manifestations of cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal tract, hormonal changes. The set of symptoms may vary for each woman, the most common are:

  • Sudden acute sense of anxiety
  • Bodily discomfort
  • Tingling in the chest
  • Strong heartbeat
  • Feeling of swelling in the throat, lack of breath
  • Dizziness, nausea
  • Darkening in the eyes, running “flies”
  • Feeling of stupor, inability to move
  • Fear of dying at this moment

These are classic manifestations of a panic attack. The causes of this condition can be severe stress, emotional experiences and shocks, hormonal changes in the body (menopause, pregnancy, thyroid malfunction or postpartum hormonal changes), genetic factor, personality traits. Any woman should know that with repeated causeless panic attacks, for which there is no explanation, it is necessary to consult a psychiatrist.

Diagnosis of panic disorder in women

In the presence of panic attacks that have been repeated several times recently, in the absence of reasons for panic (there were no situations threatening life or health, there were no factors causing fear), in the presence of somatic symptoms, but the absence of organic diseases, a panic attack is diagnosed. The diagnosis of panic disorder in women is carried out by a psychiatrist – you do not need to go to a hospital for this, all procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis. Based on the conversation and the collection of anamnesis, clarification of the dynamics of the patient’s condition and the nature of seizures, an accurate diagnosis is made. It is important to clarify that the diagnosis of panic disorder in women should be carried out very carefully, since panic attacks are a secondary symptom of a number of other diseases, such as phobic disorder, anxiety-depressive disorder, personality disorder, chronic stress, depression.

Treatment of panic disorder in women

The treatment of panic disorder in women is prescribed by the attending psychiatrist, who oversees the entire therapy process. The clinic provides comprehensive therapy for panic disorder, which includes medications, psychotherapy, if necessary – hypnosis, trance techniques, auxiliary methods of psychotherapy. Treatment of panic disorder in women is prescribed individually, after a thorough study of the causes and medical history. Prevention of panic disorder in women is an important part of therapy. The ability to recognize the symptoms of an impending panic attack, to stop it, to prevent the appearance of an attack in the future – these are the main goals of disease prevention. A course of auxiliary psychotherapy is conducted with the patient, conversations about the nature of the disease and the mechanisms of the occurrence of a panic attack. In addition, to prevent panic disorder in women, a doctor can extend medication therapy for up to six months, after which he can begin to cancel it very slowly. A visit to a psychotherapist at the place of residence may be recommended.

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