Having a panic attack is the body's normal reaction usually happening at inappropriate times. It is a chain of events that occur inside the body in which adrenalin fires up the body. "Breathing becomes rapid, increasing the amount of oxygen in the blood, which enables the muscles and brain to burn glucose more efficiently. The heart begins pumping faster, sending blood to priority portions of the body. As the skeletal muscles tense, blood is diverted from the stomach which can cause nausea. The brain is preparing for violent physical action, "fight or flight" - one reason thinking is muddled. The sweat glands perspire. The blood decreases in the arms and legs, gathering in the head and trunk." (Kernodle, pg 12).
The symptoms include:
"1. shortness of breath,
2. dizziness,
3. accelerated heart rate,
4. trembling or shaking,
5. sweating,
6. choking,
7. nausea or abdominal distress,
8. feeling unreal,
9. numbness or tingling sensations,
10. hot or cold......

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Title: Panic Disorder
Approximate Word Count: 366
Approximate Pages: 2 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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