The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 280 million people worldwide suffer from panic disorder

In Brazil, the company believes that around 6 million people suffer from the condition

Actor Marcelo Cerrado and singer Vanessa have already publicly stated that they have been diagnosed with panic disorder. The health ministry says the disorder is characterized by sudden and intense anxiety attacks accompanied by severe fear or discomfort and physical symptoms. Seizures can occur in any location, environment, or time, and last for an average of 15 to 30 minutes.

According to psychiatrist Amanda Cavalcante (CRM-RJ 8807 and RQE 4670), panic disorder is like an alarm going out of control and even without a real threat, the person can trigger it and experience symptoms of the illness, which include an acceleration of the heart rate. and breathing; shortness of breath; Pressure or pain in the chest; pale cold sweat; Dizziness; nausea; wobbly legs; Tingling; trembling; hot or cold flashes; A feeling of being “out of body”; Fear of dying or “losing control”; Fainting or vomiting at the height of the crisis.

To differentiate panic disorder from anxiety, the doctor says that the anxious person has discomfort in anticipation of a predictable or unpredictable threat that indicates imminent danger. “When this threat is specific, it can create a fear that lasts longer than the fear of the specific thing, which we call anxiety. And it dissipates over a long period of time. But this is evolutionary, physiological (normal) “, he clarifies. .

He explains that to diagnose the disease, the crises must be repeated and cause changes in the patient's behavior, that is, interfere negatively with their lifestyle.

Stimulates

These symptoms usually occur after significant stress such as loss, threat or illness, but the psychiatrist notes that panic attacks can appear without a specific trigger.

He points out that compared to men, women have a higher risk of developing anxiety disorders throughout their lives. Also, some studies show that the severity of symptoms is higher in women. “There is evidence that possible reasons for this difference between the sexes include genetic factors and the influence of female sex hormones. However, the rationale for this fact is still unknown”, he highlights.

treatment

According to the doctor, treatment is mainly antidepressant drugs (by psychiatry) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (by psychology), with multidisciplinary monitoring. Treatment focuses on improving symptoms, quality of life and preventing depression and substance abuse, says Amanda.

Dr. Amanda Cavalconte – Publicity Photo

A psychiatrist suggests that yoga can be a good alternative. He says research has examined the effects of the practice on anxious individuals and found that the intervention reduced anxiety and stress levels compared to a control group. “Yoga, combined with breathing techniques and meditation, can help reduce levels of emotional tension,” he concludes.