What are the Best Treatments for Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks can occur anytime and anywhere, and for the people that suffer with this condition regularly, the symptoms can be severe enough to get in the way of everyday life. They may begin with a pounding heart and excess sweating, and progress into shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea. Some people even feel as if they are going to die during one of these attacks. While the condition is not necessarily a serious one, it can feel quite debilitating to those who experience the attacks. The good news is that there are treatments for panic attacks that can be quite effective in reducing the symptoms and allow many to enjoy a relatively normal life.
Counseling
The most common type of counseling that is used as a treatment for panic attacks is cognitive behavior therapy. This therapy can be performed by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist and offers patients methods for recognizing and understanding their panic attacks so they are better able to deal with them. Cognitive behavior therapy teaches you how to recognize the triggers for your panic attack so you can possibly prevent them before they begin. It also instructs you in methods of deep breathing and relaxation techniques that will help you control an attack once it starts. This style of counseling is an important part of long term treatment for panic attacks, especially when combined with medication.
Medication
The most common type of medication used as a treatment of panic attacks is the antidepressant. There are different antidepressants available, but SSRIs are usually the medication of choice for this condition. These medicines come under commercial names like Prozac and Zoloft, and will work effectively on depression symptoms that can accompany anxiety and panic attacks as well. Sometimes, medications like Valium or Xanax are prescribed in the short term as a quick and effective way to get symptoms under control. Then the antidepressants are used as a long term treatment of panic attacks to keep the condition manageable and reduce the amount of attacks you might experience. This medication needs to be continued if the patient wants to continue to see positive results, since it only treats the symptoms and does not "cure" the condition.
Treatment for panic attacks is an important way for many people suffering with this condition to enjoy more symptom-free days and a higher quality of life. If you are suffering from panic attacks, talk to your doctor about your treatment options today.
