Actor and singer Sudhanshu Pandey recently opened up about experiencing a ‘severe’ panic attack after which he suffered from chronic depression. Opening up about his tumultuous journey, the former Anupamaa actor recollected that he had no friends or work to support him when he came to Mumbai.
“I came without any friends and any work. I was already married. I came here with my wife, so I had to take care of my wife too. So, it was a double challenge for me when I came to this city without any definite work. In 2001, my eldest son was born. I worked a lot during that phase. I did plenty of films – left, right and centre – I took up everything that came my way – whether good, bad, or ugly because it was very important and earning money was crucial. When I bought a house from Saif Ali Khan, I realised I had to pay the EMIs too. So, again, I was doing all kinds of films before joining Band Of Boys, which I was there till 2005.”
But in 2007, he suffered a sudden “severe panic attack.” “It was so severe that I was sitting with my friend in a cafe, and while talking, my hands went numb, and suddenly, I experienced palpitations. I couldn’t breathe properly. That panic attack was so severe that within a matter of a few seconds, I was spiraling down into very chronic depression. And I didn’t know what hit me. It was a very weird feeling. It took me four years to come out of it,” Pandey recollected in a conversation with Brut India.
Clinical psychologist Divya Ratan said that a panic attack is similar to an anxiety attack, which happens when there is too much stress, substance abuse, or imbalance of neurotransmitters. “It’s a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers physical reactions even when there is no real danger,” said Ratan.
If you have been feeling anxious about a work-related presentation, for instance, the anxiety can take the form of a panic attack. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)
Ratan listed down some of the symptoms, including racing heart, fear of dying, diarrhea/nausea, trembling or shaking, chest pain, numbness, sweating, and or breathlessness. “One episode of depression may follow such attacks in some people,” noted Ratan.
Individuals may easily get baffled as these feelings erupt without warning signs, making it challenging to stay calm, said Dr Sonal Anand, psychiatrist, Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road. “Various incidents and situations can trigger your feelings and emotions in a way that can cause panic attacks. This can include factors like taking too much stress, going through a traumatic experience, insecurities, fear of certain things or people, and being diagnosed with health issues. Apart from these factors, panic attacks can also be triggered by specific situations such as being surrounded by a larger crowd, facing things that you are afraid of, and also without any reason. There are biological causes as well,” Dr Anand said.
What can help?
Dr Anand asserted that there’s no one-size-fits-all when managing panic attacks. “Everyone has their unique way of dealing with panic attacks. If you are feeling like you are experiencing a panic attack or symptoms associated with it, then focus on staying calm. Sitting down on a chair or on the ground can be helpful in case you feel dizzy. Focus on calming down your rapid breathing by trying the deep breathing technique,” said Dr Anand.
Ratan listed the following measures:
Deep breathing
Some may feel better after taking a walk
Focus on one object
Count things
Muscle relaxation
Light exercise
Ratan advised seeking medical intervention at the earliest.
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