Where did the expression "panic fear" come from? Phraseologism "Panic fear" origin Panic fear meaning and origin

Phraseologism "Panic fear" came from the name of the Greek god Pan. This is the god of cattle breeding and herding, fertility and wildlife. Pan is considered the son of Hermes, there are several versions of myths about the mother.

Pan was born with goat legs, horns and a long beard, and immediately at birth he began to jump and laugh. The child's mother, frightened by the extraordinary appearance and character of her son, fled in horror, but Hermes wrapped the baby in hare skins and took him to Olympus. Here, the child amused all the Olympian gods, especially Dionysus.

God Pan lives in the shady forests of Arcadia. There he grazes the flocks, playing the sonorous reed. When the hot afternoon comes, Pan, tired of his studies, falls asleep, and not a single shepherd dared to disturb his sleep by playing the flute. Pan is quick-tempered, unexpectedly appearing, he can frighten the traveler who disturbed him. Maybe he will send such horror when a person rushes headlong to run, not making out the road. It happened that Pan instilled such fear in an entire army, and it turned into an irrepressible flight.

This fear, named after the god Pan, was called panic.

Phraseologism "Panic fear" meaning:

Panic fear, panic - sudden. senseless, unaccountable, reckless and overwhelming fear.

The Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language V. Dahl interprets the expression "fear" as " fear, timidity, strong apprehension, anxious state of mind from fright, from impending or imagined disaster».

Fear as a natural state

It is impossible to find a person who has never experienced fear of anything in his life. Fear is not a sign of weakness, but a completely normal, natural basic emotion that is simply necessary in order to protect us from danger. This means that mental and physical health is impossible without it.

Servicemen who have been in the war claim that even the most desperate and brave warrior experiences terror and fear during hostilities.

This emotion is necessary for us, first of all, for self-preservation: in a dangerous situation, it protects us, giving a signal: “ Watch out! Get away! Hide! Run away!". That is why, despite the fact that fear is positioned by us as a negative feeling, it certainly has positive sides.

And panic fear (or attack), unlike the usual one, does not stimulate us to avoid danger, but, on the contrary, fetters, paralyzing, like a cobra rabbit. That is why this condition can be dangerous both for the psyche and for general health in general.

Let's find out what the term " panic fear»From a medical point of view, what symptoms it can be expressed and how to deal with this scourge.

What is Panic Fear?

Probably, each of us is aware of what the catch phrase “ panicked". In the people, this term means a state of chilling confusion, the inability to calm down and pull yourself together, confidence in the hopelessness of the situation.

The origin of this phrase is rooted in antiquity. In ancient Greek mythology, there is such a legend: a small god of nature, patron of forests and fields named Pan from birth was distinguished by a repulsive appearance. Still: small, with a goatee, horns, hooves, a flattened pork snout - he could terrify anyone.

Just think, even his own mother was afraid of him! But in addition to his colorful appearance, Pan had a specific behavior - as soon as he was born, he immediately began to laugh, jump, thereby terrifying his own mother. Seeing him, people scattered in horror in all directions. On behalf of Pan, the terms "panic" and "panic" originated.

In modern medicine, sudden attacks of panic terror are called panic attacks. The sensations that a person experiences for the first time make indelible impressions on his psyche and remain in memory, which is why he begins to fear a new attack.

When the attack is repeated, a person perceives this state as a pattern, which is why he limits himself in everything, trying to avoid relapses. But since it is impossible to predict panic attacks, such a behavior pattern significantly affects the quality of life, making it unbearable.

Symptoms and Causes of Panic Fear

The symptoms of panic attacks are as follows:

  • growing anxiety, sudden unaccountable fear that lasts for several minutes;
  • temporary paralysis (numbness) of the body;
  • chaotic thoughts or their absence;
  • increased temporary sweating;
  • heart palpitations;
  • dry mouth, tremors in the hands and / or throughout the body;
  • suffocation.

Like any other disorder, panic attacks don't happen out of nowhere. Quite often, this ailment is based on irascibility, impulsivity, and emotional instability. This condition can be aggravated by stress, psychoemotional stress, mental trauma experienced (for example, a person who has recently lost a relative or witnessed a fatal tragedy can acquire a panic fear of death).

Physiological characteristics of the body can also be a trigger for the development of a mental disorder.

Among other things, panic attacks can be caused by the following factors:

  • diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and especially the nervous systems;
  • improper lifestyle (unbalanced diet, chronic lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity);
  • lack of introspection (the habit of postponing the solution of pressing problems until later leads to dissatisfaction with oneself, the awareness of problems "emerges" at the most inopportune moment).

How to get rid of panic fear?

Despite the fact that panic fear does not pose a threat to life and health and is not a mental illness, it requires treatment. After all, regularly recurring panic attacks signal the development of panic neurosis - a problem that can pretty much ruin your life.

A person begins to avoid other people, withdraws into himself, as a result of which the lifestyle becomes routine and ascetic, a constant feeling of anxiety ties him to his own home - the place where fears haunt least of all. And against the background of these problems, various phobias and even more serious mental illnesses often arise.

As you can see, panic attacks can have serious consequences, which means that you cannot do without the help of a specialist. It is best to entrust the treatment of the disease to a professional - an experienced psychologist or psychotherapist. He will select a set of measures aimed at effectively eliminating the disorder.

In no case should you rely on your own strength or the help of relatives or friends who do not have special education. And even more so, you shouldn't "drown" your problem in alcohol or try to eliminate it with the help of narcotic substances - in addition to an existing ailment, you can easily acquire alcohol or drug addiction.

To make professional help as effective as possible, help yourself as well. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, strong tea, coffee, caffeinated foods, and energy drinks.

In order to understand the origin of the expression "panic fear", it is necessary to turn to mythology. According to their beliefs, the god of agriculture, fertility, cattle breeding lived on Mount Olympus. He was also considered the patron saint of all forest dwellers. The name of this god was Pan. As soon as he was born, he immediately scared his parents terribly. The fact is that the deity turned out to be a small horned man with a small goat. In addition, the baby did not have time to turn a day, he began to run, loudly, cheerfully laughing and making noise. Everyone who saw this was very scared.

However, in spite of everything, the gods of Olympus were happy to appear, because in any case he was one of them - he was also a god. Moreover, Pan turned out to be a very cheerful, intelligent and good-natured kid. He was very talented and even the flute, he played it beautifully, giving out beautiful melodies.

But the gods knew about it. And ordinary shepherds, hunters and trappers, having heard in the forests or plantings an unclear strange noise or rustle, whistle or unexpected crackle. They began to experience inexplicable fear. They were sure that Pan was making all these sounds. As a result, people were scared of what was actually not scary at all.

Hence the expression "panic fear" appeared. It expresses unreasonable, all-encompassing, sudden and inexplicable horror.

About panic fear

This fear arises suddenly and unexpectedly, without any obvious and visible reason. Therefore, it becomes a real stress, which is very difficult to cope with. A person is always afraid of everything inexplicable, and this feeling of fear remains in the memory for a long time.

Some people even experience panic attacks. At the same time, the feeling of fear arises absolutely suddenly and has no apparent reason. It can be very difficult to cope with such an attack on your own. Under the influence of fear, the autonomic nervous system is activated. This is manifested by pallor of the skin, tremors, numbness of the hands, difficulty breathing, drying out of the mucous membranes in the oral cavity, indigestion and other unpleasant symptoms.

In order to get rid of the state of panic, you need to calm down, take a deep breath and switch your attention. For example, drink tea, take a sedative, talk to a loved one. But the main thing is to try to understand that there is no threat to life and health.

PANIC FEAR

PANIC FEAR

(from Pan). Sudden and unreasonable fear. The ancient Greek rabble thought that the god Pan made his visits suddenly, at night, terrifying the people, hence the expression - panic fear.

Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language.- Chudinov A.N., 1910 .

PANIC FEAR

unaccountable, blind fear, instantly engulfing the crowd for no apparent reason; according to the legend of the ancient. Greeks, was sent to people by the god Pan, hence the name.

Dictionary of foreign words that have become part of the Russian language - Pavlenkov F., 1907 .

PANIC FEAR

from Pan. Sudden unfounded fear.

Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. - Mikhelson A.D., 1865 .

See what "PANIC FEAR" is in other dictionaries:

    The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan brings sudden and unaccountable terror to ... ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

    PANIC FEAR, panic g. Greek sudden. unaccountable, mindless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

    PANIC FEAR, panic for women, Greek sudden. unaccountable, mindless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

    Panic; panic fear unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the elder: in his soul ...

    Panic fear - wings. sl. The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan leads a sudden and unaccountable ... ... Universal Additional Practical Explanatory Dictionary of I. Mostitsky

    Unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the old man: settled in his poor soul ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

    Panic (panic fear) - (on behalf of the Greek. God Pan, capable, as it was believed, to cause a sudden and strong fear) - extreme, uncontrollable fear, covering a person instantly in some extraordinary circumstances. The image of this in "Queen Margot" by A. Dumas ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

    fear - an emotion that arises in situations of threat to the biological or social existence of an individual and aimed at the source of real or imagined danger. Unlike pain and other types of suffering caused by the real action of dangerous ... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

    PANIC, panic, panic. 1. Permeated with panic. Panic horror. Panic fear. Panic mood. 2. Easy to panic, frightened (colloquial). Panic man. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

    1. FEAR1, fear (fear), husband. 1.units only. A state of extreme anxiety and anxiety from fear, from impending or expected danger, fear, horror. Feeling of fear. Panic fear. In mortal fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of death … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

  • Executioner for the mafia. Payback, Sergey Vetrov. In a remote place near the river, a pensioner-summer resident finds an unknown man lying unconscious. When he woke up, the man could not remember either his name, or what happened to him, or the old one ...
  • Gods of Ancient Greece, N.A.Kun. Greek mythology has created a host of gods who personify in beautiful human images the passions and dreams that the world lives with. The gods of Olympus - Zeus, Aphrodite, Athena, Hephaestus - who are they, if not ...

    - (from Pan). Sudden and unreasonable fear. The ancient Greek rabble thought that the god Pan made his visits suddenly, at night, terrifying the people, hence the expression of panic fear. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

    The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan brings sudden and unaccountable terror to ... ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

    PANIC FEAR, panic for women, Greek sudden. unaccountable, mindless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

    Panic; panic fear unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the elder: in his soul ...

    Panic fear - wings. sl. The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan leads a sudden and unaccountable ... ... Universal Additional Practical Explanatory Dictionary of I. Mostitsky

    Unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the old man: settled in his poor soul ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

    Panic (panic fear) - (on behalf of the Greek. God Pan, capable, as it was believed, to cause a sudden and strong fear) - extreme, uncontrollable fear, covering a person instantly in some extraordinary circumstances. The image of this in "Queen Margot" by A. Dumas ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

    fear - an emotion that arises in situations of threat to the biological or social existence of an individual and aimed at the source of real or imagined danger. Unlike pain and other types of suffering caused by the real action of dangerous ... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

    PANIC, panic, panic. 1. Permeated with panic. Panic horror. Panic fear. Panic mood. 2. Easy to panic, frightened (colloquial). Panic man. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

    1. FEAR1, fear (fear), husband. 1.units only. A state of extreme anxiety and anxiety from fear, from impending or expected danger, fear, horror. Feeling of fear. Panic fear. In mortal fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of death … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

Books

  • Lecture “Gogol. "VIY" as a Russian erotic utopia ", Dmitry Bykov. “The problem with Russian literary criticism is that it still stubbornly considers Gogol a virgin. Meanwhile, the strongest description of the act of love is, of course, the scene of the flight on the little girl ... audiobook
  • Executioner for the mafia. Payback, Sergey Vetrov. In a remote place near the river, a pensioner-summer resident finds an unknown man lying unconscious. Having regained consciousness, the person could not remember either his name, or what happened to him, or the old one ...

Fear is considered a normal reaction of the body to danger or threat to life and the defining instinct for self-preservation. At the same time, there is another "side of the coin" - panic fear, which leads to a stupor, immobilizes and paralyzes, having a negative impact on both the human psyche and the physical state.

Panic fear - what is it?

Panic anxiety is a severe anxiety attack accompanied by various autonomic symptoms. The meaning of the phraseologism "panic fear" in medicine does not exist, but there is a similar concept - panic attack, which is basically the same thing. These expressions indicate a brief, unexplained state of confusion and intense anxiety. Often, an unreasonable fear becomes chronic, and from time to time it makes itself felt.

The origin of the phrase "panic fear" has its roots in ancient Greece. There is a myth that the Deity of nature, forests and fields was, to put it mildly, unattractive with a disfigured face: short, with a beard like a goat, horns, hooves and a pork nose. In addition, his behavior was also very specific, which together led to the fact that people scattered in horror at the sight of the deity. And his name was Pan, hence the name of the term "panic".

Symptoms of anxiety

The symptoms of panic fear are quite vivid and will be remembered for a lifetime:
  • sweating;
  • chills or tremors;
  • shortness of breath and a feeling of lack of oxygen;
  • nausea;
  • dizziness;
  • insomnia;
  • numbness or tingling in your fingertips;
  • confusion of thinking.
Not infrequently there is a terrible feeling of impending death, which becomes the cause of the fear of committing an uncontrollable act. Unreasonable fear and anxiety can last from a couple of minutes to several hours, but on average, an attack takes no more than half an hour.

Once having experienced an unprovoked panic, a person remembers his own feelings, which aggravates the situation and leads to the psychological consolidation of the panic feeling. The body lives in anticipation of a new attack, behavior with limitations is formed, when a person tries to avoid places where unpleasant sensations overtake him.

Panic fear: causes and treatment

Treatment for a panic attack is strictly individual and in most cases depends on the cause that triggered the attack. The most successful method is cognitive-behavioral therapy, when the manifestations of panic fears are leveled through logical and rational arguments.

For example, the fear of flying in an airplane and the panic thoughts that arise at the same time are exterminated by a careful change of thinking about flying. Experts gradually lead a person to the idea of \u200b\u200bthe groundlessness of such a strong anxiety, so that the patient rethought his own fears. Psychotherapy also includes a drug based on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, but more often a drug from the benzodizepine series is prescribed, which has been successfully used for about half a century with increased anxiety or during periods of stress.

If fear of childbirth arises, then only psychoanalysis and cognitive methods help, where the specialist is required to gently direct the woman to positive thoughts in order to change the patterns of behavior and thinking.
At the same time, during an attack of a pregnant woman, it is recommended to gradually switch her own attention to something else, for example, to breathing technique. In addition, light aerobic exercise is recommended to reduce the frequency of panic attacks.

You can overcome panic fear yourself with the help of:

  • switching your attention to breathing or to something emotionally pleasant;
  • contact with contrasting objects (cold-hot, bright-dark, etc.);
  • exclude stimulating drinks (coffee, energy drinks, alcohol, etc.);
  • engage in regular physical activity that stimulates the production of serotonin.
Meditation and prayer are also a type of therapy for uncontrollable panic anxiety. In this way, a person tries to switch his attention and calm the nervous system, which, as a rule, has a positive effect.

In general, panic disorder always has a beginning and an end, so you shouldn't focus on them. A person should, if possible, avoid stressful situations and focus on positive thoughts and emotions, fixing them in memory. Thus, the patient creates a kind of "anchors" for the subsequent reduction of the manifestations of panic fears.

Panic fear is an unaccountable, sudden, uncontrollable emotional state of a person, characterized by terrible anxiety, horror, accompanied by a change in the physical state of a person. The reasons due to which the individual experiences panic fear can be both internal and external. For example, a certain frequency of sound is used in subsonic weapons that can affect large numbers of people, causing panic and somatic symptoms.

An attack of panic fear or panic attack is a symptom that is excruciating severe anxiety that suddenly seizes a person, in combination with characteristic vegetative symptoms.

According to statistics, at least one person in five has experienced a panic attack at least once in their life.

What is the fundamental difference between the concept of "panic attack" from ordinary panic and fear? The only difference is that there is a reason for a "normal" panic. For example, you cannot find your passport in front of the counter at the airport. You will experience the same somatic symptoms that are prescribed for a panic attack, however, you will clearly understand what the fear is associated with and that it reflects the reality.

From the age of 28 until the end of his life, Charles Darwin periodically experienced a number of unpleasant symptoms - sharp attacks of fear, suffocation, sweating, dizziness and trembling. Doctors gave him a lot of diagnoses, however, he never managed to get rid of obsessive attacks. Today experts come to the conclusion that Darwin most likely had panic disorder. According to researchers, approximately 2% of the population has this diagnosis. Most often, the disorder starts in adolescence, the largest number of patients are between the ages of 22 and 44.

Symptoms

A panic attack is characterized by at least 4 of the following symptoms:

  • fear of death;
  • feeling like you might go crazy or lose control of yourself;
  • tachycardia;
  • derealization, depersonalization;
  • shortness of breath, choking, feeling of a lump in the throat;
  • chest pain;
  • dizziness;
  • trembling all over the body;
  • excessive sweating;
  • sleep problems;
  • pain in the stomach, intestines, upset stools.

The duration of an attack can be from several minutes to several hours. However, on average, the state lasts 10-20 minutes. A feature of the post-state is obsessive thoughts associated with the fear of recurrence of the attack. Anxiety syndrome "waiting" is formed, and the next panic attack will not keep you waiting. The opening attack leaves a serious mark on the memory. The person is trying to understand what triggered his condition. Who was with him (or who was not) at the time of the attack? Where was it? What he ate, drank, what he thought. In connection with these thoughts, rituals and restrictive behaviors begin to form.

Panic disorder is closely related to agoraphobia. The fear of experiencing panic in public or in an "unsafe" place leads to the fact that a person first refuses public transport, then avoids large supermarkets, and then prefers not to leave the space of his home at all.

Possible Causes of Panic Attacks

It is worth recalling that an attack of panic fear is just a symptom that signals us about something. Many phobic disorders are characterized by panic attacks, which can be provoked by both a fear of dogs and a woman's fear of childbirth. In addition, many other psychological problems are prone to attacks of anxiety, such as depression and PTSD.

A panic attack can be an adverse reaction to a drug. Well, you shouldn't discount the body. The reason may lie exclusively in the somatic sphere: from problems of the cardiovascular or endocrine system to tumors in the adrenal glands.

If no other diagnoses are confirmed, and unexpected panic attacks occur at intervals from several times a day to several times a year, with a painful expectation between them, panic disorder is diagnosed. In the ICD-10, it is listed under the number F41.0.

The keyword in the description of the term is "unexpected". That is, if a person is afraid of hospitals, and a panic attack happens to him exactly before visiting a medical institution, then the reason is obvious. In the case of panic disorder, the state seems to come from nowhere. Women suffer from the problem twice as often as men.

Most patients, having experienced panic for the first time, tend to attribute the incident to some serious physical illness. They begin to visit doctors and be examined. This is an absolutely correct strategy, because if a person actually has panic disorder, then he will not die from it, but if a heart problem or a hormonally active tumor, then anything is possible. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to exclude everything unnecessary.

However, some people, especially over 40 years old, even after a full examination by a therapist and referral to a psychotherapist or neurologist, prefer to make an appointment with gastroenterologists, cardiologists, force doctors to perform repeated tests and begin to feel like a carrier of a unique disease. All this leads to hypochondria and aggravation of the condition.

It is when the patient begins to insistently demand from the therapist to diagnose and treat his panic fear that an outdated and controversial term sounds - vegetative vascular dystonia (VVD)... This is a very vague diagnosis, the treatment of which often consists of taking mild sedatives or herbal preparations.

Factors influencing the onset of panic disorder

Childhood abuse is one of the most important risk factors. Such an event cannot fail to damage the psyche and in adulthood will have to face the consequences.

The hereditary factor is assessed as medium. Of course, there is no specific "alarming" gene, nevertheless, a certain combination of them forms a person's tendency to disorder.

External conditions also actively influence the onset of panic disorder. For example: constant psychological discomfort at work, stressful interpersonal relationships, hormonal disruptions, coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, chronic weakness, fatigue, and lack of sleep.

How to get rid of anxiety

Now you know that a panic attack can happen for a variety of reasons. Professional clinical psychologist Veronika Stepanova will talk about ways to overcome panic fear if the reasons are purely psychological.

At the moment when the attack has already occurred, you have only a few ways to influence the situation. The first is breathing. It is recommended to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Actually, respiration is the only way we can influence the autonomic nervous system, this is feedback (after all, we cannot control digestion, blood circulation, or the work of the glands).

Second, it is necessary to shift attention away from the center of excitement. To do this, you can perform muscle relaxation exercises: strain and relax some muscles. Some try to pinch or spank themselves. In addition, you can try to visualize any images that are pleasant for yourself.

And yet, it is not recommended to call an ambulance (we are talking about a diagnosed panic disorder, and not the first panic attack, which can be caused by anything). Even if you sincerely think that you are going to die now, this is not so. And calling an ambulance reinforces behavior in you that avoids trying to cope with the attack on your own.

Treatment for panic disorder is through psychotherapy. As in the case of fighting phobias, a variety of approaches and methods are used to resolve the psychological problem. Cognitive behavior therapy has been the most successful in dealing with panic attacks. Its goals are to change the patient's thoughts about the sensations he is experiencing and the ability to cope with them. Cognitive therapists assume that the problem is due to the brain's misinterpretation of the signals and the misleading "fear mechanism".

Another option for dealing with a panic attack is solving the intrapersonal conflict that caused the disorder to start. Such therapy can take place in various modalities such as psychoanalysis, gestalt, humanistic directions, and others.

If a child experiences panic fear, the sequence of actions should be approximately the same: we examine the body for pathology, if everything is within the normal range, we consult a child psychologist.

It must be remembered that a huge number of fears provoke children's fantasy, and often there is nothing serious behind them. However, it is very cruel on the part of adults not to pay attention to the feelings of the baby, this can lead to various psychological problems at an older age. Be sure to help your child cope with their anxiety and panic fears. Remember that a child is a reflection of the parent's condition. Sometimes, instead of “treating” the child, see if this is signaling to you about problems in your family.

Prevention

You have had a panic attack, and now you sit tensely and wait for it to cover you again, afraid to leave the house again. And you get the opposite effect. To avoid repeated attacks of anxiety, it is important to spend the adrenaline that is produced in your body.

Psychologists advise to lead an active lifestyle, observe the work and rest schedule, play sports, communicate with people, attend events. In no case should you close yourself in four walls, because precisely because adrenaline is not used up during the day, in the evening such an erroneous release of it can happen.

In addition, you need to breathe fresh air - walk in nature, ventilate the room - oxygen is extremely important. Compliance with sleep and wakefulness as well as nutrition helps maintain the stability of the body.

findings

The symptoms and treatment of panic anxiety depend on the underlying causes of the condition. If the reasons are psychological, then you should not worry, and even when there is a feeling that you will die now, this is a deception, there is no threat. The disorder is successfully treated with the help of psychotherapy in different directions.

In order to make it easier to cope with attacks, use relaxation techniques, breathing practices. Do not let the painful anticipation of another attack take over your thoughts, and if the attack has happened, go through it, intensify the symptoms and realize that nothing bad will happen. If this succeeds, it is possible that there will be no next attack, or it will not be repeated very soon.

The Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language V. Dahl interprets the expression "fear" as " fear, timidity, strong apprehension, anxious state of mind from fright, from impending or imagined disaster».

Fear as a natural state

It is impossible to find a person who has never experienced fear of anything in his life. Fear is not a sign of weakness, but a completely normal, natural basic emotion that is simply necessary in order to protect us from danger. This means that mental and physical health is impossible without it.

Servicemen who have been in the war claim that even the most desperate and brave warrior experiences terror and fear during hostilities.

This emotion is necessary for us, first of all, for self-preservation: in a dangerous situation, it protects us, giving a signal: “ Watch out! Get away! Hide! Run away!". That is why, despite the fact that fear is positioned by us as a negative feeling, it certainly has positive sides.

And panic fear (or attack), unlike the usual one, does not stimulate us to avoid danger, but, on the contrary, fetters, paralyzing, like a cobra rabbit. That is why this condition can be dangerous both for the psyche and for general health in general.

Let's find out what the term " panic fear»From a medical point of view, what symptoms it can be expressed and how to deal with this scourge.

What is Panic Fear?

Probably, each of us is aware of what the catch phrase “ panicked". In the people, this term means a state of chilling confusion, the inability to calm down and pull yourself together, confidence in the hopelessness of the situation.

The origin of this phrase is rooted in antiquity. In ancient Greek mythology, there is such a legend: a small god of nature, patron of forests and fields named Pan from birth was distinguished by a repulsive appearance. Still: small, with a goatee, horns, hooves, a flattened pork snout - he could terrify anyone.

Just think, even his own mother was afraid of him! But in addition to his colorful appearance, Pan had a specific behavior - as soon as he was born, he immediately began to laugh, jump, thereby terrifying his own mother. Seeing him, people scattered in horror in all directions. On behalf of Pan, the terms "panic" and "panic" originated.

In modern medicine, sudden attacks of panic terror are called panic attacks. The sensations that a person experiences for the first time make indelible impressions on his psyche and remain in memory, which is why he begins to fear a new attack.

When the attack is repeated, a person perceives this state as a pattern, which is why he limits himself in everything, trying to avoid relapses. But since it is impossible to predict panic attacks, such a behavior pattern significantly affects the quality of life, making it unbearable.

Symptoms and Causes of Panic Fear

The symptoms of panic attacks are as follows:

  • growing anxiety, sudden unaccountable fear that lasts for several minutes;
  • temporary paralysis (numbness) of the body;
  • chaotic thoughts or their absence;
  • increased temporary sweating;
  • heart palpitations;
  • dry mouth, tremors in the hands and / or throughout the body;
  • suffocation.

Like any other disorder, panic attacks don't happen out of nowhere. Quite often, this ailment is based on irascibility, impulsivity, and emotional instability. This condition can be aggravated by stress, psychoemotional stress, mental trauma experienced (for example, a person who has recently lost a relative or witnessed a fatal tragedy can acquire a panic fear of death).

Physiological characteristics of the body can also be a trigger for the development of a mental disorder.

Among other things, panic attacks can be caused by the following factors:

  • diseases of the endocrine, cardiovascular, and especially the nervous systems;
  • improper lifestyle (unbalanced diet, chronic lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical inactivity);
  • lack of introspection (the habit of postponing the solution of pressing problems until later leads to dissatisfaction with oneself, the awareness of problems "emerges" at the most inopportune moment).

How to get rid of panic fear?

Despite the fact that panic fear does not pose a threat to life and health and is not a mental illness, it requires treatment. After all, regularly recurring panic attacks signal the development of panic neurosis - a problem that can pretty much ruin your life.

A person begins to avoid other people, withdraws into himself, as a result of which the lifestyle becomes routine and ascetic, a constant feeling of anxiety ties him to his own home - the place where fears haunt least of all. And against the background of these problems, various phobias and even more serious mental illnesses often arise.

As you can see, panic attacks can have serious consequences, which means that you cannot do without the help of a specialist. It is best to entrust the treatment of the disease to a professional - an experienced psychologist or psychotherapist. He will select a set of measures aimed at effectively eliminating the disorder.

In no case should you rely on your own strength or the help of relatives or friends who do not have special education. And even more so, you shouldn't "drown" your problem in alcohol or try to eliminate it with the help of narcotic substances - in addition to an existing ailment, you can easily acquire alcohol or drug addiction.

To make professional help as effective as possible, help yourself as well. Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, strong tea, coffee, caffeinated foods, and energy drinks.

Panic fear is a pathological condition that occurs suddenly. It is characterized by uncontrollability and may be associated with somatic and psychological disorders. The symptoms of anxiety are often compared with the manifestations of a vegetative crisis, cardioneurosis. Any panic attacks are associated with impaired activity of the autonomic nervous system. Treatment of ailment involves the use of different methods, the key of which is psychotherapy. When choosing therapeutic tactics, the doctor takes into account the intensity of panic attacks, the frequency and causes of their occurrence.

Why does a panic attack occur?

Panic attacks have real or imaginary causes. Real, as a rule, are associated with experiences, mental disorders. If a person has been under severe stress, they may have panic fears. Unlike true reasons, fictional reasons may be associated with some kind of inner fear.

Sometimes a person who is in the subway or other place of a large crowd of people may have a panic fear. Seizures of this type appear spontaneously, they are characterized not only by panic, but also by physiological symptoms. In any case, you need to deal with panic. Untimely or illiterate treatment leads to chronic disorders. Against the background of such disorders, serious illnesses arise.

Mental disorders associated with panic attacks are treated by a psychotherapist. If the treatment is successful, the alarming symptoms disappear and do not bother you anymore. You need to overcome a panic attack yourself. It is necessary to restore control over the activities of your own psyche. In the fight against mental disorders, not only psychotherapy helps, breathing exercises, moderate physical activity are effective. Different methods are used in the treatment, the purpose of their influence is to calm the patient, to convince him that the attacks of fear are not life-threatening.

Fight panic with different methods! You should lead a healthy lifestyle, give up all bad habits. It is important to avoid stress: they are the main predisposing factors for such disorders.

Clinical picture

The manifestations of panic are different. Symptoms of a mental disorder can resemble a heart attack. It is worth noting that due to frequent fears and panic attacks, the functioning of the central nervous system is disrupted. Anxiety disorder is characterized by a feeling of inner tension.

This condition can be expressed in the following:

  1. Tachycardia and shortness of breath occur.
  2. Chills appear, the body may feel hot.
  3. The manifestations of the disease include tremor of the limbs.
  4. Due to impaired breathing, suffocation is observed.
  5. Heart pain may occur.
  6. The attacks lead to diarrhea or constipation.
  7. Some patients experience abdominal pain.
  8. Possibly urinary incontinence, frequent urination.
  9. A symptom of a panic attack is fainting, which occurs in severe cases.
  10. The condition is characterized by surges in blood pressure.

The symptoms of this disorder should not be overlooked! The panic state leads to psychological disturbances. A person gets lost in space, does not recognize acquaintances, relatives.

One of the manifestations of the disease is depersonalization. This means that the patient does not want to be aware of what is happening to him. He seeks to abstract from the attack, but attempts are unsuccessful. Panic is accompanied by disorientation, in which the patient does not recognize his home, the house around. Some people have a fear of schizophrenia.

Manifestation of an attack

Panic fear is accompanied by the fear of death, while the fear is so strong that a person may lose consciousness. The fear of death is in most cases unfounded, i.e. there are no factors that could threaten life.

Panic fear is also accompanied by anxiety-phobic disorders, which can lead to reactive depression. Feelings accompanied by fears lead to an adrenaline rush. Then panic anxiety arises. As a result of this reaction, the adrenal glands produce even more adrenaline, and panic attacks eventually occur.

Different specialists are involved in the treatment of such conditions, depending on the situation, the help of a cardiologist, psychologist, psychiatrist may be required. The goal of treatment is also to normalize sleep. People with mental health problems usually cannot sleep. In some patients, sleep is interrupted. Patients who get rid of these conditions claim that therapy helps to overcome nightmares.

If the effect of "panic without panic" is observed, you need to contact a neurologist and psychologist. If the attacks manifest as emotional distress, a psychiatrist should be consulted. These attacks last in different ways, with an average duration of 20 minutes. Depending on the nature of the psychological disorder, an attack can occur from 1 time a day to 2 times a month.

A panic attack often occurs in a person who is in a confined space. There are times when the cause of the disease is speaking in front of an audience. Psychological disorder manifests itself one-time or stably. When a person experiences an attack for the first time, a feeling of expectation is formed in the subconscious.

The subconscious mind can sense danger signals and trigger psychological restructuring, as a result of which psycho-emotional stress arises. This condition, regardless of its cause, disrupts ordinary activities. You need to use productive methods that would help in dealing with anxiety. If mental health is normal, the person tries to protect himself from such disorders. He does not appear in places where an attack could occur, does not ride in an elevator, etc.

If a person can overcome panic fear, then he is able to control himself, his behavior and mental health. The ability to overcome anxiety will help get rid of panic attacks.

Predisposing factors

The causes of panic disorder are not fully understood. There are many contributing factors:

  1. Mental disorders can be related to genetics. If a close relative had mental illness, their hereditary transmission is possible.
  2. The acquired reasons include improper upbringing, for example, increased requirements for the child from the parents.
  3. Family tensions may be the cause.
  4. Frequent quarrels with peers are a contributing factor.
  5. Overly sentimental and susceptible people are more prone to this kind of disorder. If a person dwells on a specific situation for a long time and cannot abstract himself, he is more prone to mental disorders, including panic attacks.
  6. An attack may occur against the background of a significant event that left a negative imprint (loss of a close relative, natural disaster).
  7. Psychological disorders occur after surgery, infectious diseases.
  8. A possible cause of the disease is fear of neurasthenia.
  9. Panic attacks often occur with vascular dystonia.

Therapeutic activities

Treatment depends on the cause and nature of the panic attack.

Panic is eliminated by methods of hypnosuggative psychotherapy, which are based on hypnosis and suggestion. The goal of the doctor is to create attitudes in the patient that would allow him to look at life in a different way. It is important to ensure that the patient responds correctly to somatic manifestations. When a person is in a hypnotic trance, the physician exerts verbal and non-verbal influence. The patient receives certain information that allows him to control his own behavior. If a person got rid of the fear of death during an attack, then he has taken a step towards recovery.

Treatment involves the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. What it is? This method is often used in the treatment of panic attacks. Its goal is to adjust the thinking pattern and behavioral habits. It is important to eliminate the factors that trigger the mechanisms of such conditions. After the session, the subconscious mind fixes the model of beliefs, which makes it possible to better endure the pathological attack. Thus, a person thinks that the crisis will pass and will not lead to dangerous consequences. Pathological conditions cause less fear. If you correctly treat the disease, purposefully fight it, you can completely eliminate its symptoms.

Drug therapy involves the use of drugs to stop the attack. Taking medications must be combined with psychotherapy. It is important to say that medication alone will not solve the problem. The treatment requires an integrated approach. What are tranquilizers? These are instantaneous agents. If a person has taken tranquilizers, the effect of them lasts for 30 minutes. This is how long the attack usually lasts. These funds can reduce the severity of panic. The drugs are addictive and should not be taken regularly.

In order to understand the origin of the expression "panic fear", it is necessary to turn to mythology. According to their beliefs, the god of agriculture, fertility, cattle breeding lived on Mount Olympus. He was also considered the patron saint of all forest dwellers. The name of this god was Pan. As soon as he was born, he immediately scared his parents terribly. The fact is that the deity turned out to be a small horned man with a small goat. In addition, the baby did not have time to turn a day, he began to run, loudly, cheerfully laughing and making noise. Everyone who saw this was very scared.

However, in spite of everything, the gods of Olympus were happy to appear, because in any case he was one of them - he was also a god. Moreover, Pan turned out to be a very cheerful, intelligent and good-natured kid. He was very talented and even the flute, he played it beautifully, giving out beautiful melodies.

But the gods knew about it. And ordinary shepherds, hunters and trappers, having heard in the forests or plantings an unclear strange noise or rustle, whistle or unexpected crackle. They began to experience inexplicable fear. They were sure that Pan was making all these sounds. As a result, people were scared of what was actually not scary at all.

Hence the expression "panic fear" appeared. It expresses unreasonable, all-encompassing, sudden and inexplicable horror.

About panic fear

This fear arises suddenly and unexpectedly, without any obvious and visible reason. Therefore, it becomes a real stress, which is very difficult to cope with. A person is always afraid of everything inexplicable, and this feeling of fear remains in the memory for a long time.

Some people even experience panic attacks. At the same time, the feeling of fear arises absolutely suddenly and has no apparent reason. It can be very difficult to cope with such an attack on your own. Under the influence of fear, the autonomic nervous system is activated. This is manifested by pallor of the skin, tremors, numbness of the hands, difficulty breathing, drying out of the mucous membranes in the oral cavity, indigestion and other unpleasant symptoms.

In order to get rid of the state of panic, you need to calm down, take a deep breath and switch your attention. For example, drink tea, take a sedative, talk to a loved one. But the main thing is to try to understand that there is no threat to life and health.

PANIC FEAR

PANIC FEAR

(from Pan). Sudden and unreasonable fear. The ancient Greek rabble thought that the god Pan made his visits suddenly, at night, terrifying the people, hence the expression - panic fear.

Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language.- Chudinov A.N., 1910 .

PANIC FEAR

unaccountable, blind fear, instantly engulfing the crowd for no apparent reason; according to the legend of the ancient. Greeks, was sent to people by the god Pan, hence the name.

Dictionary of foreign words that have become part of the Russian language - Pavlenkov F., 1907 .

PANIC FEAR

from Pan. Sudden unfounded fear.

Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. - Mikhelson A.D., 1865 .

See what "PANIC FEAR" is in other dictionaries:

    The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan brings sudden and unaccountable terror to ... ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

    PANIC FEAR, panic g. Greek sudden. unaccountable, mindless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

    PANIC FEAR, panic for women, Greek sudden. unaccountable, mindless, reckless and irresistible. Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary. IN AND. Dahl. 1863 1866 ... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

    Panic; panic fear unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the elder: in his soul ...

    Panic fear - wings. sl. The expression is used in the meaning: unaccountable, sudden, intense fear, covering many people, causing confusion. Arose from Greek myths about Pan, god of forests and fields. According to myths, Pan leads a sudden and unaccountable ... ... Universal Additional Practical Explanatory Dictionary of I. Mostitsky

    Unaccountable Avg. The laws that generate and govern panic are still unknown. She appears to you in the form of a distraught dog that accidentally breaks loose from the chain. Saltykov. Colorful letters. 9. Wed I knew the old man: settled in his poor soul ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

    Panic (panic fear) - (on behalf of the Greek. God Pan, capable, as it was believed, to cause a sudden and strong fear) - extreme, uncontrollable fear, covering a person instantly in some extraordinary circumstances. The image of this in "Queen Margot" by A. Dumas ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary of Psychology and Pedagogy

    fear - an emotion that arises in situations of threat to the biological or social existence of an individual and aimed at the source of real or imagined danger. Unlike pain and other types of suffering caused by the real action of dangerous ... ... Great psychological encyclopedia

    PANIC, panic, panic. 1. Permeated with panic. Panic horror. Panic fear. Panic mood. 2. Easy to panic, frightened (colloquial). Panic man. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

    1. FEAR1, fear (fear), husband. 1.units only. A state of extreme anxiety and anxiety from fear, from impending or expected danger, fear, horror. Feeling of fear. Panic fear. In mortal fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of death … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

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