The mental illness I chose to write about is one that my mom suffers from which would be panic disorder. A panic disorder is a form of an anxiety disorder.
The history of anxiety disorders dates back before medical records were recorded. In the sixteenth century, anxiety was known as hysteria. Professional had different opinions on the cause of this disorder, for example, witchcraft, had to do with the uterus until men were found to have the same condition, the person is a hypochondriac, and demons were entering the body.
In the eighteenth century panic disorder was known as the “nervous illness."
Today we know that panic attacks are a sudden urge of overwhelming fear and anxiety.
There are many myths that surround panic attacks such as it is all in one’s head, it is not a real illness, make one face the fear head on, a sign that one is going insane. Other myths include that one will be on medication for the rest of their life, cause internal damage as a heart attack would, there is no treatment, and it is as an excuse. These types of rumors or beliefs can cause one to not seek professional help.
Past treatments for anxiety in eighteen seventies were to refrain from exercise as anxiety was considered to be nervous exhaustion and it was straining the nervous system. Other harsher treatments were strychnine, arsenic, and quinine. For severe cases, a hot white iron was applied to the spine.
In the year nineteen twenty, exposure to the fear, and radionics was used. It was believed that it vibrated healthy energy to unhealthy body parts.
In the year nineteen seventy Aaron Beck founded the cognitive behavior theory (CBT). This treatment suggested that patience should change their thought patterns from negative to positive.
In today’s day and age, prescription medication is used, for example, valium which is also known as mother’s little helper, Xanax, and