Panic attacks take away our ability to stay calm in the worst ways. For some, it will feel like dying; for others, it will be a harrowing experience of not being in control of their bodies or their emotions. Panic attacks take time to build up, but what triggers them can be something serious or something relatively mundane.
Panic attacks can even be common, and in those cases, people who suffer from regular panic attacks have what is known as panic disorders.
Panic Attacks and Disorders
Panic attacks are experienced by those of all ages. It is estimated that one million people in the USA alone will experience a panic attack every single month. Those whose anxiety will develop into a full-blown panic disorder number around three million, with women being more likely to develop panic disorders than men.
Anxiety disorders, which are often a prelude to panic disorders, are one of the most common mental illnesses. Around 40 million adults will have anxiety disorders in the United States at any given time. Though very treatable, most won’t receive treatment, allowing anxiety to worsen and lead to a variety of other disorders, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder (PD)
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
If you experience frequent panic attacks, seeking out treatment is a must to help overcome the disorder, especially before it develops into PTSD. If you do have what can be classed as PTSD or are beginning to show symptoms, the SGB injection can be the best way to start your recovery.
What are the Symptoms of a Panic Attack?
Panic attacks will exhibit differently in individuals, but most will experience at least one of the following symptoms:
- Racing heart
- Feeling faint, dizzy, or experiencing a ringing in your ears
- Sweating and hot flushes
- Pins and needles
- Trembling and shakiness
- Chest pain and shortness of breath
- Feeling of dread
They last between five to 20 minutes, making the experience truly traumatic. Some might experience it once, others a few times a month, and some still will have a panic attack several times a week.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are not fully understood. There are hints to genetic links, neurotransmitter imbalances, and, of course, they have a clear link with trauma. Stress can be the trauma, so panic attacks following the death of a loved one or following a vicious attack on your person are not unheard of, and you deserve to seek out help to overcome the ongoing attacks from your brain.
What are the Treatments for Panic Attacks?
There are a variety of treatments for panic attacks. Talking therapies can help you address the underlying issue. You can also learn breathing techniques; reduce your intake of caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and tobacco; take medication; and, of course, keep active.
If your panic attacks have become frequent, however, your brain might be an obstacle to these traditional treatments. In this case, the stellate ganglion block injection for anxiety relief is your best bet to overcome anxiety.
SGB Injection: Panic Attack Treatment
The SGB shot for anxiety can work to reset your brain. They are traditionally used for those suffering from PTSD and is also an anxiety attack treatment, but chronic panic attacks and panic attack disorders can cause the same build-up in the stellate ganglion.
The stellate ganglion is a bundle of nerves at the base of the neck and is where the amygdala, or our fight-or-flight response, is located. When this area is stimulated too much, a sympathetic response can occur. What this means is that a chemical is produced, in this case, norepinephrine, which activates the pain-sensitive nerves in the stellate ganglion.
The SGB injection, or the stellate ganglion block, works to calm the nerves in the stellate ganglion by injecting an anesthetic into the area. It is considered to “reset” the amygdala to base levels and can be an effective way to minimize the effect of panic attacks or stop them entirely.
How Effective is SGB?
In those with PTSD, SGB injection anxiety therapy boasts a success rate of between 85% and 90%, and time between treatments can be years. The PTSD breakthrough injection was initially developed to treat those with chronic pain before the research was conducted into how effective it could be with PTSD. Panic disorders share many of the same traits as PTSD, and sometimes, PTSD can even develop due to chronic panic disorders. In both cases, your fight-or-flight response is being activated, norepinephrine is being released, and your nerves are thickening due to overstimulation. SGB can work to reset these side effects of adrenaline, allowing you to feel physically relaxed.
How Can SGB Help with Panic Attacks?
The stellate ganglion block anxiety treatment can help you reset your brain back to pre-trauma levels. For those with panic attack disorders, this can help you feel like you returned to when panic attacks first became an issue. Though it is not a cure, an SGB for anxiety is a great way to improve the effectiveness of more traditional treatments, and sometimes can be seen as an essential preliminary step to therapy. If you feel in need of help with panic attacks, see if you’re able to ask about getting an SGB injection near you.