| In severe cases, sufferers may even think they're | | | | therapy may be conducted in regular sessions by a |
| having a heart attack. If you're one of the millions of | | | | psychiatrist, psychologist, or a professional anxiety |
| Americans who suffer from this disorder, there are | | | | therapist. They'll work with you to address in |
| both conventional and unconventional treatment | | | | conversation the emotions, ideas, and life events that |
| options. | | | | cause your attacks, and they may use tactics such as |
| Because the causes of recurrent attacks are still quite | | | | hypnosis, meditation or deep breathing to try ease your |
| mysterious, and they may vary from person to person, | | | | symptoms. |
| trying to cure panic attacks can be a long and difficult | | | | Therapy can work quite well in combination with |
| treatment process. True to form, doctors tend to | | | | alternative treatments or, for some people, medication. |
| recommend things like long-term therapy and | | | | However, some find that no amount of talking, |
| medication, but there are other options for those of us | | | | hypnosis, or distraction techniques seems to stop a |
| who prefer not to go that route. | | | | panic attack once those intense waves of fear begin. |
| Medications | | | | Self Treatment |
| Unfortunately, some doctors are quick to prescribe | | | | If the traditional medical approaches don't seem to |
| medication for panic attack disorders, even when the | | | | work, it's time to try some of the alternatives. Some |
| diagnosis is not clear. With something as strange and | | | | herbal supplements such as St. John's Wort, Ginseng, |
| personal as this, there's a good chance that the | | | | and Chamomile are thought to help ease the types of |
| medication prescribed to you will not address your | | | | anxiety that can lead to panic attacks, although these |
| problem at all, which can be frustrating. You might | | | | benefits are far from proven. |
| suffer all the side effects, wait around for the | | | | Another tactic that seems to work for some people is |
| medication to take effect, only to find that the panic | | | | to deal with one's feelings toward oneself and the |
| attacks just keep happening. | | | | world in concrete ways. After all, panic attacks have a |
| Sure, if your attacks are rooted in a recognizable | | | | high correlation to things like low self-esteem, low |
| psychological ailment such as depression or general | | | | self-confidence, and negative body image. By eating |
| anxiety disorder, medications can real benefits. | | | | well, exercising, and doing activities that make you feel |
| However, this is certainly not the case for everyone, | | | | good about yourself, you can treat anxiety and panic |
| and many of us are just plain uncomfortable with the | | | | attacks on your own. |
| idea of introducing pharmaceuticals into our bodies for | | | | Finally, there are proven mental techniques that help to |
| an ailment that seems mostly in the mind. | | | | cure panic attacks and general anxiety in relatively |
| Therapy | | | | simple, easy ways. While these techniques may |
| To be fair to doctors, some aren't so quick on the | | | | require dedication and strength, they can be effective |
| draw with medication. There are plenty of great | | | | in breaking the cycle of panic and anxiety that it is at |
| doctors who do more than just scribble on the Rx pad | | | | the root of most sufferers' panic attacks. |
| for every patient who walks in the door. Panic attack | | | | |