Panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear and it is usually accompanied by palpitations or rapid heart rate, breathlessness, dizziness and fear of losing control or going crazy.
Although the symptoms may varies from person to person, the general pattern remains unchanged: The person will feel a sudden increase in anxiety and fear that something terrible is about to happen.
Panic attack becomes a REAL problem when a person keep suffering from repeated and frequent attacks. This can seriously cripple the sufferers ability to lead a normal lifestyle.
We shall now explore the types of treatment used to overcome panic attack for such cases.
Medications
There is no real cure or medication for panic attacks. Medicine will only keep the symptoms under control and give you a well deserved break, BUT they cannot solve the real problem. If you are in need of medication, consult your doctor at once as he will be able to prescribe the correct dosage and type.
The main form of medications used for panic attacks are antidepressants, SSRIs (newest type of antidepressants), anti-anxiety drugs and beta-blockers.
Often, people believe that the doctor have "failed" in their treatment when the medicine did not work for them when, in fact, it was not given enough time or administered correctly. Understand that sometimes, sufferers may need to experiment a few drugs before finding the one that works well for them. Hence, do not hold off seeing your doctor again because of this issue.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive therapy have been proven to be extremely effective in treating panic attacks relatively quickly. This form of therapy focuses on your thoughts and the way you behave. You and your therapist will work together to find out the root of your fears and learn how to overcome it.
For example, you will learn that panic attack CANNOT cause a heart attacks and learn how to overcome this misconception. You will also be taught exposure techniques to desensitize yourself to situations that trigger your panic attacks.
More importantly, success would mean gaining the ability to cope with and overcome panic permanently.
