Panic Attacks Treatment

If you're looking for panic attacks treatment, you might be a little bewildered since there are various treatments to choose from. Each different treatment has both pros and cons that might help you decide what course of action you want to take. As with all medical decisions you make it's important to seek the advice of a medical professional. Here we look at the two most common ways to tackle panic attacks:

Behavioral Therapy

By far the most proven and effective method for controlling panic attacks is psychotherapy. Most experts would agree that behavioral therapy has a lasting effect on sufferers of anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy are two of the most effective treatments available.

CBT aims at challenging negative thought patterns as well as behavior. Patients may learn how to notice and reframe negative self talk. By doing this over time they can gradually break out of destructive thought patterns and reinforce new positive ones. Fortunately it really is a case of practicing until the new thought pattern becomes a habit and a subconscious effort.

Through exposure therapy a patient is exposed to fears or phobias gradually in a controlled environment until they gain confidence over their fears. Patients might practice facing fears using both visualizations and through actual confrontation. Panic attacks treatment is often tailored to a sufferer's needs and is preceded by physical and psychiatric assessment.

Behavioral therapy requires that the patient be proactive and not take a passive approach for best results. Sessions are usually weekly and can last from 4 to 20 weeks depending on the individual's response to treatment. This may seem like a long time to most people but positive behavior and thought patterns take time to become habitual.


Anti-Anxiety Medication

The number of so called anti-anxiety medications may astound you. Klonopin, Valium and Xanax are highly common medications which are classed as benzodiazepines. These medications work on the central nervous system, calming nerves and reducing anxiety symptoms. There is also another class of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants that work to balance neurotransmitters in the brain. Popular antidepressants include Pamelor and Elavil.

With any medication there are always risks involved. The elderly, pregnant women and people with a history of drug abuse should avoid taking anti-anxiety medication. A patient might experience side effects such as nausea, headaches, drowsiness, dizziness and even nervousness. Driving and working heavy machinery can be potentially dangerous when on medication.

Aside from the side effects there are also other risks such as building tolerance and becoming dependent. Long term users of anti-anxiety medication are at risk of both. With long term use, the patient can become both physically and psychologically dependent making it difficult to stop. In addition, they may develop new negative habits and beliefs, such as believing that they can't function properly without medication.

As a user becomes tolerant over a period of time, medication loses effectiveness, meaning that patients either increase dosage or switch to another drug. Both outcomes are not healthy long term solutions. In fact, more than 10,000 deaths a year in the U.S are attributed to over-dosage.

The problem is, anti-anxiety medication is not designed to be used for long periods and neither is it designed to cure anxiety. Yes, it sounds totally ridiculous calling them anti-anxiety medication when they're not. They only treat the symptoms of anxiety, not the underlying cause.

Most mental health professionals would agree that medication is the least effective form of panic attacks help and you can probably see why. Without tackling the cause of anxiety, or the behaviors and triggers for anxiety, sufferers may find themselves becoming chronic users of anti-anxiety medication.

It's important to speak to a qualified doctor or therapist about the options available before choosing the right course of treatment for you.