Help for Panic Attacks

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You would have to live in a cave to have never heard of panic attacks and anxiety issues. Most people can name at least one person they know who is dealing with anxiety and most likely taking medication for the disorder. While it is true that medications can be, help for panic attacks there are those who simply do not want to rely on strong medicine to deal with their anxiety. If you are, someone interested in natural help for panic attacks you are in the right place.

Traditional Treatment

Traditionally physicians will prescribe an anti-anxiety medication of one type or another. These include Benzodiazepines, anti-depressants, MAIO, SSRI’s and beta-blockers. Each of these kinds of medication has proven to be some help for panic attacks. However, the side effects and dependency problems associated with many of these drugs has moved many doctors and patients into looking for alternative treatments.

Alternative Treatment

When you begin looking for alternative treatment, you will likely be referred to someone familiar with cognitive behavior therapy. This is one of the most successful methods for treating anxiety disorders. In behavior therapy, you will learn natural ways to cope with a panic attack when it occurs and techniques for preventing the attack in the first place.

The first step in cognitive therapy is education. Real help for panic attacks is knowing exactly what you are dealing with and why. Your therapist will help you to understand what is going on in your body, how many people suffer with the disorder and assure you that you are not going crazy. You would be amazed how much understanding can be of help for panic attacks.

The next steps will depend in large part on you. If you are suffering just panic attacks then adjusting your thinking patterns may be all you require, however if you are also suffering distinct phobias such as agoraphobia, you may need exposure therapy as well.

Thinking patterns that affect people with panic attacks are largely the same, you will likely find that any of the following go through your mind:

• A racing heart means you are having a heart attack.
• Tightness in your chest makes you think you are choking.
• You feel as if you are going crazy.
• Fear of losing complete control and running screaming from a social situation.
• Some people even feel as if death is imminent.

In cognitive therapy you will identify these thought processes and work on alternative statements you can say to yourself. You can say:

• I am not having a heart attack and this will pass soon.
• No one ever died from a panic attack.
• I am not losing my mind.
• I am not dying.

For some people these exercises are the only help for panic attacks they will need, others may need a bit more. Exposure therapy is most often used for specific phobias such as a fear of heights or bugs. Nevertheless, it has been helpful in treating panic attacks as well. The symptoms of a panic attack are encouraged in a safe setting, which shows you that the panic attack itself will not harm you.

The best help for panic attacks will vary from person to person, but take heart and know there are effective methods and treatment plans available. One day you may even find that you no longer suffer panic or anxiety at all.

I thought you may be interested in reading some of the bullet points contained in this post about dealing with anxiety and when panic attacks



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