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is a social worker in Turku who works with children and adolescents

she loves her job, even though the working days are long and some work issues can be heavy

Her hobbies are biking, jogging with her dogs and pilates

She tries to go to pilates at least once a week, every day walking with his dogs and cycling when there is good weather

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Maarit lives with her two children, 15-year-old Manu and 10-year-old Matleena, and her husband Mikko

The family has also two Labrarod retrievers Täplä and Laikku

Manu is in the 9th grade. He is not interested in school and he isn't a great student. He loves to play ice hockey and hanging out with his friends. Sometimes he tests his parents by doing naughty things.

Matleena is in fourth grade. She's a very outgoing, rule-abiding girl. Her favourite subject in school is Math. She likes to paint and go to football practice in his spare time.

Maarit's husband Mikko is a pilot. Because of his job, Mikko is often away from home and cannot spend as much time with his family as he would like. Mikko's work strains Maarit because she has to run the family life alone.

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Maarit's family's finances are stable. She gets about €3,200 per month for her work and her husband Mikko gets about €5,000 per month.

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Maarit and his family live in a detached house by the sea. Maarit and Mikko have built their own house 7 years ago.

They have a large yard that requires a lot of maintenance and yard work every week.

Downtown of Turku from their home takes 25 minutes by car. But Maarit's family usually prefer to go places by bicycle.

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Maarit has suffered from severe lower back pain for a long time due to her non-ergonomic working postures and many hours of sedentary work during the working day.

She has also fallen on a bike this week when he hit her lower back on the asphalt. Falling on a bike intensified the already existing back pains.

She uses at least two painkillers (Ibumax 400 mg) every day to cope with the day's pain. She takes one in the morning and one in the evening. If necessary, she will also take one tablet in the afternoon.

Back pain https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/back-pain/

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Find out how to relieve back pain, what can cause it, and when to get medical advice.

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As Maarit must spend much of the week running everyday life at home alone, she has started to experience occasional anxiety about the situation.

Her work-related stress and severe lower back pain also hinder her home chores and Maarit's hobbies.

She has even had a panic attack a few times at one job and another at a grocery store. Panic attacks awakened her to reality and she sought help for her mental health challenges from occupational health.

Panic disorder https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/panic-disorder/

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Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder where you regularly have sudden attacks of panic or fear.
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It's a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations.

But someone with panic disorder has feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly and at any time, often for no apparent reason.

Symptoms of panic disorder

Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of unease. It can range from mild to severe, and can include feelings of worry and fear. Panic is the most severe form of anxiety.

You may start to avoid certain situations because you fear they'll trigger another attack.

This can create a cycle of living "in fear of fear". It can add to your sense of panic and may cause you to have more attacks.

Panic attacks

During a panic attack you get a rush of intense mental and physical symptoms. It can come on very quickly and for no apparent reason.

A panic attack can be very frightening and distressing.

Symptoms include:

a racing heartbeat

feeling faint

sweating

nausea

chest pain

shortness of breath

trembling

hot flushes

chills

shaky limbs

a choking sensation

dizziness

numbness or pins and needles

a feeling of dread or a fear of dying

a churning stomach

a tingling in your fingers

feeling like you're not connected to your body

Most panic attacks last between 5 and 20 minutes. Some have been reported to last up to an hour.

The number of attacks you have will depend on how severe your condition is. Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week.

Although panic attacks are frightening, they're not dangerous. An attack will not cause you any physical harm, and it's unlikely you'll be admitted to hospital if you have one.

Be aware that most of these symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions or problems, so you may not always be experiencing a panic attack.

For example, you may have a racing heartbeat if you have very low blood pressure.

When to get help

See a GP if you've been experiencing symptoms of panic disorder.

They'll ask you to describe your symptoms, how often you get them, and how long you have had them.

They may also carry out a physical examination to rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

It can sometimes be difficult to talk about your feelings, emotions and personal life, but try not to feel anxious or embarrassed.

You may be diagnosed with panic disorder if you have regular and unexpected panic attacks followed by at least a month of continuous worry or concern about having further attacks.

Treatments for panic disorder

Treatment aims to reduce the number of panic attacks you have and ease your symptoms.

Talking therapies and medicine are the main treatments for panic disorder. Your treatment will depend on your symptoms.

Talking therapies

You can refer yourself directly to a talking therapies service for treatment based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

If you prefer, you can see a GP and they can refer you.

Your therapist may discuss with you how you react when you have a panic attack and what you think about.

They can teach you ways of changing your behaviour to help you keep calm during an attack.

You may need to see your GP regularly while you're having CBT so they can assess your progress.

Medicine

If you and your doctor think it might be helpful, you may be prescribed:

Antidepressants can take 2 to 4 weeks before they start to work, and up to 8 weeks to work fully.

Keep taking your medicines, even if you feel they're not working, and only stop taking them if your GP advises you to do so.

Referral to a specialist

If your symptoms do not improve after CBT, medicine and connecting with a support group, your GP may refer you to a mental health specialist such as a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

The specialist will carry out an assessment and devise a treatment plan to help you manage your symptoms.

Things you can try yourself

What to do during a panic attack

The next time you feel a panic attack coming on:

stay where you are, if possible

breathe slowly and deeply

remind yourself that the attack will pass

focus on positive, peaceful and relaxing images

remember it's not life threatening

Preventing a further attack

It may help to:

read a self-help book for anxiety based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) - ask your GP to recommend one

try activities like yoga and pilates, to help you relax

learn breathing exercises for stress to help ease symptoms

do regular physical exercise to reduce stress and tension

avoid sugary food and drinks, caffeine and alcohol, and stop smoking, as they can all make attacks worse

For more help on how to deal with panic attacks, read about anxiety, fear and panic.

Support groups

Panic disorder can have a big impact on your life, but support is available. It might help to speak to other people with the same condition, or to connect with a charity.

You may find the following links useful:

Ask your GP about support groups for panic disorder near you.
Find mental health services in your area

Complications of panic disorder

Panic disorder is treatable so it's best to get medical help as soon as you can.

If you do not get medical help, panic disorder can escalate and become very difficult to cope with.

You're more at risk of developing other mental health conditions, such as agoraphobia or other phobias, or an alcohol or drug problem.

Having panic disorder may affect your ability to drive. The law requires you to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about a medical condition that could impact your driving ability.

Visit GOV.UK for further information about driving with a disability or health condition.

Causes

As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of panic disorder is not fully understood.

But it's thought to be linked to a combination of things, including:

a traumatic or very stressful life experience, such as bereavement

having a close family member with panic disorder

an imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) in the brain

Panic disorder in children

If your child has the signs and symptoms of panic disorder, they should see a GP.

After taking a detailed medical history the GP will carry out a thorough physical examination to rule out any physical causes for the symptoms.

They may refer your child to a specialist for further assessment and treatment. The specialist may recommend a course of CBT for your child.

Read more about anxiety disorders in children or find out about mental health support for children and young people.

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Panic disorder is where you keep having panic attacks, often for no obvious reason. Includes symptoms, treatments and self-help tips.

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Maarit strives to follow a varied and healthy diet, but in busy everyday life, you will occasionally eat ready-made foods. She's trying to cut down on eating red meat. Being allergic to milk, he uses plant-based products as substitutes for dairy products.