| A panic attack can be an extremely frightening | | | | prescribed for 3-6 weeks (once daily), but the doctor is |
| experience because, during one, people imagine the | | | | the best person to decide the dosage and the time |
| worst possible things happening to them - they may | | | | period. Relaxation techniques, which a patient can |
| fear they are dying, suffocating, having a heart attack, | | | | practice at home, are effective too in controlling panic |
| or even going crazy. Treating panic attacks is an | | | | attacks. As these relation techniques are natural in |
| important process. Though it is true that a panic attack | | | | nature, there are no side effects involved. However, |
| is harmless, but repeated panic attacks may lead to | | | | the flip-side is that a patient will be in no mood to try |
| deterioration of the mental condition (which will then | | | | out these techniques unless his mind is calmed instantly, |
| percolate down to the physical well-being) if left | | | | which is something only medication can do. Apart from |
| untreated. Generally, relaxation techniques are used to | | | | these, there is also behavioral therapy, which is nothing |
| treat mild panic attacks. But if the attacks are serious | | | | but psychotherapy and counseling based on the |
| then medication is needed. Methods of Treating Panic | | | | cognitive model of emotional response. The therapist |
| Attacks Medication, relaxation techniques and | | | | teaches and trains a patient and makes him realize |
| behavioral therapy are the common ways used in | | | | that it is the way he thinks that causes the panic |
| treating panic attacks, with medication being the most | | | | attack. Then the therapist trains the patient to replace |
| popular method. However, before any patient is put on | | | | this destructive thinking with positive thoughts, which will |
| medication, it is important that he/she is evaluated by a | | | | over a period of time stop the panic attacks. In |
| mental health professional. Here are, in brief, the | | | | Conclusion Which treatment works for whom depends |
| various treatments available to deal with panic attacks: | | | | on how mentally prepared and tough a patient is. |
| Medications such as sertraline, fluoxetine, paroxetine, or | | | | Treating panic attacks is certainly something that has |
| fluvoxamine help relieve anxiety and stress, and are | | | | been accomplished before. But all said and done, most |
| often the first choice of medication administered to a | | | | patients prefer to start off on medication for a quick |
| patient. Benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and | | | | fix and then move on to the relaxation techniques or |
| clonazepam help too. The problem with allopathic | | | | the behavioral therapy methods of treating panic |
| medication is that a patient begins depending on it and | | | | attacks. |
| gets addicted to these medications, sometimes even | | | | Treating Panic Attacks - Are you having panic attack |
| for life. Also, if this medication is stopped abruptly, then | | | | symptoms? Don't panic, get our panic attack |
| panic attacks may recur. The medication is usually | | | | treatment. |