Panic Attack Treatment

Panic attacks are a very common chronic disorder.  People who suffer with panic attacks can experience fear and discomfort to the point of wanting to avoid the outside world.  This disorder can be treated successfully once the disorder in diagnosed.

Panic attack treatment usually consists of two types of therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral therapy or Pharmacological therapy and in some cases a combination of both.
Cognitive- behavioral therapy coaches panic attack sufferers to predict and anticipate the situations or emotions which trigger and produce their panic attacks.
The premise here is, if the patient is aware of when, who, why or where their attacks are most likely to occur they can plan ahead and take proactive measures to control their attacks. This type of panic attack treatment can be quite successful when dealing with sufferers whose attacks are mild and associated with social situations or actions.

For example, if a patient has suffered an attack when they were unable to catch their morning bus, the possibility of it happening again can lead to further attacks and can keep the person from leaving their house. Through cognitive-behavioral therapy the patient will be shown how to avoid such situations, by planning ahead and avoiding the situation all together. They would be able to anticipate the possibility of missing the bus and be sure to bring enough money for a cab ride.
Pharmacological Therapy is an alternative term used for panic attack treatment which involves medication. There are many prescription medications which are commonly prescribed to control or eliminate panic attacks.

Anti depressants such as tricyclics, monoamine inhibitors or serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the medications which are most commonly prescribed as a panic attack treatment. They are also used due to the fact that most individuals experience symptoms of depression as well as their panic disorder.

Any pharmacological therapy should be conducted by a psychiatrist, or therapist who is fully experienced in panic disorder treatment. These professionals will approach the prescription dosage, by starting at a minimal amount and gradually increasing the patients’ intake until the symptoms are eliminated. This can be hard for some panic disorder patients who are eager to find an immediate cure or guaranteed treatment.

For more information on panic disorders and panic attack treatment visit Panic Away.