What To Do About A Panic Attack Black Out
Anybody who watched the hit HBO series The Sopranos knows that sufferers of panic attacks can black out without warning. Fans of the popular series watched gangster kingpin Tony Soprano experience panic attack black outs at his home, in his car, and even at the office of his psychiatrist, the unflappable Dr. Melfi. Although Tony got some relief from his panic attack black outs through extensive psychiatric therapy, the attacks persisted as a story line throughout the run of the show.
Panic attacks are real. They are not a figment of some script writer's imagination. Panic attacks affect approximately one-third of all Americans, with symptoms that include panic attack black outs, rapid heart rate, chills and hot flashes, nausea, chest pain, headaches, and tightness in the throat.
Celebrity Sufferers
No scientific link has been established between panic attacks and creativity, but celebrities and creative types seem to suffer disproportionately from panic attacks. Musicians who suffer from panic attacks include Courtney Love, Barbra Streisand, Ann Wilson, Cher, Donny Osmond, and Marie Osmond.
Panic attacks also affect actors and actresses, among them Johnny Depp, Sally Field, Winona Ryder, James Garner, Kim Basinger, John Candy, Howie Mandel, Sam Shepard, Cissy Spacek, and Burt Reynolds. Even Sir Isaac Newton complained of panic attacks.
What To Do
You should immediately consult a physician if your panic attacks are so severe that you experience panic attack black outs. How do you know if you have experienced a panic attack black out? Like any black out, a panic attack black out is characterized by a loss of consciousness. If you are alone, you may awaken suddenly without a recollection of what happened immediately before waking up, or of having gone to sleep in the first place.
An Ounce Of Prevention
Obviously, the best way to prevent blacking out during a panic attack is not to have panic attacks in the first place. Keep a journal of your panic attacks to try to identify some of the substances or behaviors that trigger your attacks. For some people, eliminating caffeinated foods and beverages, like sodas, coffee, tea, and chocolate, can help reduce the frequency of their panic attacks.
Learning how to relax can also help you prevent a panic attack before it begins. Try yoga, muscle relaxation, relaxed breathing, and guided imagery to help you through the sensations associated with panic attacks. Hypnotherapy and self hypnosis are particularly helpful. In self hypnosis, you enter a prolonged state of relaxation. Since relaxation is the opposite of panic, it is virtually impossible to suffer from a panic attack while you are under hypnosis.
