Treatment For Panic Disorder

Anxiety is a common problem in the world today. Troubling economics, increasing crime rates and parenting issues can all build and create a very stressful situation. Over time, anxiety and stress can culminate in a panic disorder. Anxiety and panic disorders occur in about one third of the American population. If you feel you have had a panic attack, you will want to seek medical advice from your family physician immediately.

Discussing Options

Treatment for panic disorder is generally a combination of several methods or techniques. A family physician or a psychologist can guide you in finding the perfect blend of panic attack treatments for you. The first step many times is to rule out other medical conditions that could be mimicking panic attacks. Many times people having a panic attack feel as though they are having a heart attack and it stands to reason the opposite is true.

After you are firmly diagnosed, it is time to determine treatment for panic disorder. Your treatment plan will depend a lot on the severity of your symptoms. If you are randomly having panic attacks that are not interfering with your life too much then you may want to consider counseling and possible exposure therapy. On the other hand, if your anxiety is at a level that is interfering with your day-to-day life you may need to get more aggressive with treatment.

Aggressive treatment for panic disorder may include the use of strong tranquilizers in conjunction with therapy to manage your symptoms. Tranquilizers such as Klonopin or Xanax were the drugs of choice for panic disorders for many years, until dependency and abuse of the medications became a problem. Today doctors much prefer to prescribe beta-blockers or anti-depressants as treatment for panic disorder.

Coping Methods

Medications can make dealing with panic attacks much easier but the best treatment for panic disorder are coping mechanisms and exposure therapy. Coping is simply learning a new way to handle a panic attack when it arises. For instance, you can try to focus all of your attention on your breathing when you feel an attack coming on. Breathe slowly, deeply, in and out through your nose. This has a twofold affect, one it keeps your mind centered and two it keeps your blood oxygen levels balanced, both of which are key when having a panic attack.

Exposure therapy involves inducing a panicked like feeling while you are in a safe environment. This allows you to experience a panic attack in a controlled environment and utilize deep breathing, counting or other coping mechanisms. The exposure to a panic attack in a controlled setting desensitizes you to the event and lessens your anxiety overall.

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Treatment For Panic Disorder

treatments for panic disorder

Treatment For Panic Disorder

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