| Pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, cold sweats, | | | | |
| and the fear of losing control are only a handful of | | | | Substance abuse increases the severity of panic |
| symptoms associated with panic attacks. These | | | | attacks, so drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor) and |
| attacks can happen without warning, leaving sufferers | | | | alcohol should be avoided. Exercise reduces anxiety, |
| with fears that can develop into severe panic | | | | and releases endorphins in the body. So panic attack |
| disorders if left untreated. This condition is nothing to be | | | | sufferers should aim to get 45-minutes to one-hour of |
| ashamed of, and an effective panic attacks treatment | | | | moderate physical activity at least five days a week. |
| is just a reach away. | | | | Meditation techniques that reduce stress and anxiety |
| Common treatments include drugs, psychotherapy, or | | | | levels such as yoga can also work to alleviate them. |
| a combination of both. There are several FDA | | | | |
| approved drugs from the selective serotonin reuptake | | | | Panic attacks can also be a symptom of emotional |
| inhibitor and benzodiazepine families that are used to | | | | illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, or post |
| treat panic attacks. Although effective, these | | | | traumatic stress syndrome. If underlying emotional |
| medications are not without risks. They can have side | | | | issues are a contributing factor, in addition to panic |
| effects that range in severity, and should only be used | | | | attack treatments, the emotional problem will need to |
| as a last resort. | | | | be treated as well. |
| | | | | |
| Of course, panic attack treatments don’t always | | | | If left untreated, they can persist for years and |
| include drugs. Sometimes addressing the initial cause of | | | | eventually cause debilitating panic disorders and |
| the attacks and taking gradual steps to work through | | | | phobias such as agoraphobia (the most common) that |
| your fears via psychotherapy is enough to reduce or | | | | may leave you depressed, suicidal, and unable to |
| eliminate them. | | | | function in your everyday life. |