Anxiety and Panic Attack Treatments

Anxiety and panic attacks are terrible but the good thing is, episodes are commonly harmless. In most cases, attacks seldom last for more than half-hour, with peak of intensity level within the first ten minutes. What make such attacks dangerous is if it becomes chronic and if it already affects the well-being of a person and already disrupts his normal way of life.

Several treatments for panic attacks are proven very effective in stopping anxiety and panic attacks. Let us look at some of the more popular ones:

Breathing technique – is among the most effective processes in moderating anxiety and panic attacks. Proper breathing helps slow down heartbeat and helps calm the tensed muscles as a result of the attack. Catching one's breath also diverts the mind's attention from the "trigger" and calms the self, thus, stopping the attack even faster. Proper breathing techniques are easy to learn and master.  

Self-hypnosis – is a great tool to alter your thought process as well as your body’s reaction to those fearful thoughts. During an anxiety and panic attack, lay down on your back or in any comfortable position and try to process your thoughts. Identify the origin of such fearful thinkings. Know if it is real. If you concentrate enough in finding the origins of your thoughts, you will soon realize that they are really not a valid reason for excessive fear. It may sound simple, and it is. Psychiatrists now recommend self-hypnosis as a treatment for anxiety and panic attacks and other anxiety and panic disorders. SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors promote the level of serotonin in the brain which determines and normalizes emotions.)

Meditation – has long been credited to relieve stress and anxiety and panic as it promotes the release of negative energy from the body, relaxes tensed muscles, and calms the mind, which in turn, effectively reduces irrational fear and apprehension. Meditation might not be for all since the time required to master the technique, all the same, with proper guidance of an expert or a little bit of patience and commitment, you can reap its benefits.

Herbs – (such as chamomile, passion flower, lavender, and ginkgo biloba) are very effective long-term treatment for anxiety and panic attacks. Since they are all-natural, they posses no side effects. They may not be as aggressive as prescription drugs but they work just as effective.

Prescription medicines – are a major help in stopping the symptoms of anxiety and panic and episodes of anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants are the most common anxiety and panic treatment. They must be taken continuously, which may take as long as six weeks before noticing the effects. Beta-blockers are a type of drugs that prevent symptoms from recurring. SSRIs or Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors boost the level of serotonin in the brain which regulates and normalizes emotions.

Therapies – are a very important anxiety and panic treatment. This targets the psychological aspect of anxiety and panic. CBT or the cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to alter the way of thinking – converting negative thoughts into positive ones. Techniques used in CBT include role-playing and relaxation technique. Exposure therapy exposes the person to the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled environment. Through repeated exposure, patients gain greater self control and more confidence in facing fearful situation.

Prescription medicines and therapies, when combined and used as treatment for panic attacks, are very effective. Medical studies show that the response rate of patients is much higher if both methods are used compared to those that are treated using either method.

Overcome Mental illness with CBT

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