Choose Your Panic Attack Treatment Wisely

Panic attacks can pop up out of nowhere. One minute, you're fine, and the next minute, BAM! your heart is trying to jump right out of your chest. You're dizzy and confused, you can't breathe and you begin to sweat and tremble.

It feels like you're having a heart attack. Then you might think, is it a heart attack or am I going crazy? You're afraid that you're starting to lose control.

You get this colossal urge to take off running but you don't know which way. Even though there's no danger present, you still have a very real feeling of fear. Right about now you are probably thinking that you will have to spend the rest of your life like this.

There is treatment available for those of us who suffer with panic disorder. You just have to do some research like I did. Here is some useful information that may help you choose your panic attack treatment wisely.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy [CBT]

This may be the most effective "talk" therapy available. It can help you control and alleviate your anxiety.

Basically, CBT teaches you to talk yourself through a panic attack and change your thought process so that you can minimize the experience. You see, your way of thinking sets off your emotions. Feelings of panic are commonly created from certain thinking patterns that spark fear even if there is no real danger.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you manipulate these thought patterns so that panic attacks are not as likely to emerge.

CBT is a very effective treatment for another reason, the use of exposure therapy. Exposure therapy helps you confront your fears in a controlled environment. Therefore, controlling what triggers your panic.

Guided by your therapist, you put yourself in situations that would generally bring on a panic attack. Then you walk through the predicament repeatedly to prove to yourself that, in fact, there's no real danger and no reason to be afraid.

Medications

While CBT takes a fairly short amount of time compared to other types of "talk" therapy, medication is frequently the recommended treatment in the beginning to help control your panic attacks. There are several assorted medications available to alleviate your anxiety.

Benzodiazepines are the most prescribed medication for panic. These anti-anxiety medications work quickly to relieve the symptoms of a panic attack when it arises. They are not recommended for long-term use, but to start with, they can be very effective for reducing your anxiety.

For someone who has been experiencing these attacks steady for a matter of months or years, the long-term treatment may involve selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

These antidepressants will help reduce your general anxiety and create a more suitable frame of mind. Tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) can also be very helpful, but you have to look out for the side effects.

Choose your panic attack treatment wisely

A doctor can decide which medication should be used in conjunction with therapy for the overall treatment of panic disorder.

Lifestyle

A healthy and balanced lifestyle is especially important for anyone suffering with panic disorder. Certain lifestyle factors will influence when and how often you experience panic attacks.

Physical activity can soothe the symptoms of anxiety and panic. Relaxing exercises like yoga and walking can be especially helpful in relieving physical stress and restoring a sense of composure.

Meditation is another activity that relieves stress, creating a sense of peace and well-being. Meditation can also teach you how to calm your mind in the event of a panic attack.

Avoid large amounts of stimulants like caffeine and nicotine. Studies have shown that caffeine can initiate panic attacks.

It's important to consult with a medical professional who can both diagnose and treat your symptoms because panic attacks are brought on by physical and emotional elements.

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