About Panic Attacks

About Panic Attacks

About Panic Attacks

Imagine feeling fine one minute and for no apparent reason, the next minute you feel like your heart is beating a thousand miles an hour, you think you can't breathe, and you break out into a cold sweat! You feel your fight-or-flight instinct kick in and you just need to 'get out' of wherever or whatever you are doing. This is a basic description of the feelings of anxiety someone experiencing a panic attack has.

A panic attack can be a terrifying and unexpected event for millions of individuals. One of the most maddening things is their unpredictability. Just when you think you've figured out what your triggers for a panic attack are, a different one seems to hit. Many panic attack suffers eventually give in to whatever the cause is and simply forgo the things they enjoy; whether it be going out to dinner with a loved one, attending a party, or flying in a plane. If panic attacks progress this far it is generally known as chronic anxiety disorder.

There are many prescription drugs on the market to treat panic attacks. The two most well-known classes of drugs used to treat panic attacks are benzodiazepines and antidepressants. Benzodiazepines are fast-acting (usually within 30-60 minutes) and work very well. Xanax and Valium are two popular drugs in this class. The problem with benzos, as they're known, is that they are highly addictive and are difficult to come off of. Ironically, they seem to have a rebound effect. Meaning panic may set in as your body craves more of the drug!

Antidepressant drugs are generally of the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Paxil and Prozac are two very well-known SSRIs. It is thought by influencing the brain's serotonin levels, mood, and therefore panic attacks, can be controlled and lessened. By promoting a general feeling of calm and well-being perhaps one won't experience panic attacks. The biggest issue when starting with SSRIs is that they can take a good 4-6 weeks to reach therapeutic levels. Some say they are tough to get off of after taking for an extended period of time.

If the idea of prescription drugs doesn't appeal to the panic attack sufferer he or she can explore a psychological approach known as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). In this type of therapy the patient is exposed to the thing he or she suffers from. In this case it would be the trigger mechanism of the panic attack. In facing and conquering your fear with a certified psychotherapist, it is believed that the panic can come down to a manageable level and not be a crippling experience for the panic attack sufferer.

If one's panic attacks are mild and not at the chronic anxiety disorder stage, he may want to explore the area of natural therapy. In this, the individual takes on the primary responsibility of treating himself. Techniques such as learning how to control your breathing in order to relax and calm one's self and various relaxation techniques such as mental imaging, yoga, and/or meditation may be explored.

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