Recommended Treatment for Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are becoming more and more commonplace across the world as people begin to suffer personally from the effects of the global slowdown in the world economy. Of course panic attacks were not created exclusively by the world’s current economic problems; they existed long before that.
One type of treatment for panic attacks is something called “exposure therapy” which involves deliberately exposing your self to a panic attack in a controlled environment. You are kept under close observation at all times and a specialist will be with you to offer helpful advice on some methodologies that you can try out during the progress of an attack.
For example you may be encouraged to hyperventilate (breath rapidly), or to roll your head from side to side, or to try holding your breath for protracted periods.
There are two benefits to be had from this sort of treatment. Firstly, through repeated sessions, you are given the opportunity to experience repeated exposures that create more familiarization (the saying familiarity breeds contempt springs to mind), with the symptoms. The fact that you are in a safe monitored environment helps you to realize that the symptoms are not life threatening.
The second benefit is that you are trying out various therapies, as instructed, and under supervision. You may well find that these offer some comfort and help to control the attacks. This sort of treatment for panic attacks is purely psychological.
The same type of treatment is also used for agoraphobia, which is now seen and understood to be a type of anxiety disorder. Indeed it is theorized that agoraphobia starts off as being a panic attack but is always related to a fear of open spaces. This treatment for panic attacks and agoraphobia have been proven to return positive results within 6 to 12 months and they can both help to deal with attacks and eventually stop them from taking place.
The other form of treatment for panic attacks is medicinal, via your doctor. Medication is normally offered when the case is more severe, but it is normal for your doctor to also recommend that you take a therapy course at the same time so that you are addressing not just the symptoms, but the cause also.
They work on a build up of the antidepressant being in your system before their effects are fully felt. Benzodiazepines however act quickly, (normally within half an hour). The only danger with this type of medication is that it can be addictive, so you will need careful monitoring during the course of any treatment.
Medicinal treatments for panic attacks do not deal with the cause, and they also have side effects through prolonged use. Therapeutic treatment is to be preferred.
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