Does Prolonged Exposure For Panic Attacks Lead To Stroke?

Posted on Wed, 16 Mar 2016

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 Answered on

Mon, 23 May 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 29 year old male. I am diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety disorder. I take 100 mg zoloft and Klonopin 1mg (as needed) for same. I have an appointment with Psychiatrist coming up because my anxiety has recently made not want to leave "safe" places or drive too far because of fear of panic attack. I am doing a program/book called Panic Away by XXXXXXX McDonagh which basically has you face your anxiety symptoms no matter how bad or uncomfortable to show you that they are just that...uncomfortable but harmless (Ive been having some success). My question is as i continue to purposely expose myself to panic attacks so i can conquer the fear ...can the attacks ever get so bad and out of control that i could have a stroke? Or die? Or have heart attack? Is there any real risk of physical danger from the panic attacks themselves. And the uncomfortable feelings they produce....they dont stay heightened and uncomfortable for really long periods of time do they? By that i mean...the tingling in face, hands, legs, nervous stomach, hard breathing, flush feelings, adrenaline ....how long until they go leave the body as i purposefully experience the panic/anxiety attacks. Thank You.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Ashok Kumar Choudhary (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No they do not lead to stroke or any similar complication

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for using healthcaremagic.

I read your query and understand your concerns. First of all I like to congratulate you for your consistent efforts to counter anxiety symptoms.

I must inform you that 'flooding' a therapy to control anxiety symptoms is based on the same principle as your self help book and it is one of the effective moralities of treatment.

For a healthy young person the development of stroke or even minor complication by facing anxiety is rarest of rare possibility. I mean to say that there are no risk of developing stroke or something similar.

I will explain the mechanism for this. Our anxiety symptoms can last for some duration and if the condition persists over a time they vanish without any intervention if no passage to safe place is accessible. This is because of exhaustion of fight and flight response of our body. The severe anxiety symptoms or panic attacks can not longer than few minutes and rarely cross the one hour mark.

I hope this helps you.
If you have more questions feel free to write back to me.
Thanks and regards.

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar