| Once you have several panic attacks, you may decide | | | | of therapy may be more on cognitive therapy and less |
| it is time for you to get some panic attack therapy. | | | | on behavior, or it could be the other way around. |
| There are several paths you can take, but most of | | | | There are several medications that are also used for |
| those start out seeing your doctor. Your doctor will | | | | panic attack therapy. These include antidepressants |
| give you several alternatives depending on how | | | | and antianxiety drugs such as benzodiazepines. Most |
| serious your panic attacks are. | | | | types of antidepressants are effective but |
| If you have only mild panic attacks you may be able to | | | | benzodiazepines work faster than antidepressants. |
| handle them with some simple breathing and visualizing | | | | However benzodiazepines can cause drug |
| techniques. When you feel the panic attack coming on | | | | dependence and are more likely to cause sleepiness, |
| simply stop what you are doing, relax, take deep | | | | impaired coordination and slowed reaction time. Most |
| breaths and go to a happy place. With some practice, | | | | antidepressants may work slower, but have fewer |
| this can end panic attacks quickly and easily. | | | | side effects and are not as addictive. |
| Some attacks are more serious than others and may | | | | It is up to you and your doctor to decide which type of |
| need deeper therapy. One of the most popular forms | | | | therapy will work best for you. Depending on the |
| of panic attack therapy is Cognitive-Behavioral | | | | seriousness of your condition you may not need drugs |
| Therapy. Cognitive-behavior therapy has two | | | | to keep it under control, but for others medication may |
| components: identifying and changing the distorted | | | | be the only way to go. Keep your mind open and don't |
| thinking patterns that maintain anxiety (cognitive | | | | be discouraged if they first thing you try doesn't work. |
| therapy), and desensitizing anxiety through exposure to | | | | Once you find the panic attack therapy that works for |
| feared situations (behavior therapy). Depending on the | | | | you, you'll be a whole new person. |
| problem that brings on your panic attack the emphasis | | | | |