Q. I was in a grocery store a few weeks ago. Suddenly, my heart was pounding and I was sweating. I ran from the grocery store. My doctor said I had a panic attack since he could find nothing physically wrong with me. Can you explain what that is?
A. Panic attacks are usually brief episodes in which people begin to experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, trouble breathing, and an intense feeling of dread. It begins suddenly and peaks rapidly. A panic attack is very different from the type of panic you may experience when you are frightened by a specific event. Panic episodes come on suddenly in the middle of your daily routine or even while you are sleeping. Approximately 30 percent of the population will experience a panic attack at some time, so you are not alone. A technique that often works to control these episodes is to slow down your breathing. As you control your breathing, your heart rate should slow down. Do not run from a panic attack. It will be over soon. If you leave the grocery store, a restaurant, or any public place, it may be more difficult to return there in the future. If the panic attacks continue, you can ask your physician for medication or you can find a psychotherapist who can teach you specific techniques to manage these episodes. If you are having panic attacks, you should always be checked by your physician to be certain that you do not have an underlying medical condition.
Q. My mother was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Could you explain more about the condition?
A. Bipolar, which is also referred to as manic-depression, means that the individual swings from periods of depression to bouts of mania. Someone who is in the manic stage of a bipolar episode will often have an unrealistic heightened sense of self-esteem, increased motor activity, and erratic speech. At the beginning of a manic episode, your mother may appear to be happier and livelier than usual. At this stage, she may tell you “nothing is wrong with me, and I feel better than I’ve ever felt.” As the manic stage worsens, she will become less cheerful, often belligerent toward others, and feel little need for sleep. In a full-blown manic episode, she may have delusional thoughts such as having the ability to read minds or that she has been chosen for some type of special mission. Eventually, patients cycle into a period of depression where they sleep excessively, lose interest in activities, and have increased problems with daily living. A diagnosis of bipolar typically causes great disturbances in the lives of individuals and their families. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that someone who is diagnosed as bipolar receive a psychiatric evaluation and medication. There are several medications to treat bipolar disorder, and most people who remain on their medication can have happy and productive lives.
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If you have questions pertaining to mental health, please send the questions to drnryburn@gmail.com. The questions will not be answered personally by e-mail, but could appear in a future column. There will be no identifying information listed with the questions and all e-mails remain confidential.