Treatment For Panic and Anxiety Attacks
Treatment for panic and anxiety attacks involves psychotherapy, medications and lifestyle adjustments. Doctors can help patients manage their symptoms by determining the cause of the attack.
They can prescribe benzodiazepines like diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam, or beta-blockers like propranolol (Inderal) which slows the heart rate. Psychotherapy can help you help you cope with anxiety by talking to an therapist.
Psychotherapy
A psychiatrist or psychologist can diagnose anxiety and provide counseling. People who suffer from frequent panic attacks visit an primary care physician who will look for an underlying medical condition. Depending on the cause of the panic attack, the PCP might refer the patient to a mental health specialist. The therapist may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy to help reduce anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps a person identify the behaviors and thinking patterns that trigger an episode of panic. Catastrophizing is one, or believing that the worst is going to occur. This type of thinking is believed to be linked to chemical imbalances in the amygdala, and brain circuits that are that are involved in processing anxiety and fear. The Therapist can help the client overcome these thoughts and reduce the risk of an attack.
Another method is to understand how to manage the physical symptoms of a panic attack. They include sweating and a pounding pulse. The therapist can guide the patient in controlled breathing, a technique called mindfulness meditation that helps to relax. Therapists can also teach the client how to develop a sleep routine that is effective and stress-reduction strategies.
Therapy practitioners may employ exposure therapy as a method to help people overcome the avoidance behavior that causes anxiety. For instance, a patient with agoraphobia could be encouraged to face the feared situation -- like crowds or public transportation -each step at each time until they feel more comfortable in those settings.
Anti-anxiety, anti panic, or benzodiazepines can help to reduce the intensity of panic attacks. However, they are not effective in treating the underlying causes of these attacks. In fact, the long-term use of these medications could lead to dependence and addiction which makes it harder to break the cycle of fear. Many therapists don't prescribe medications as part of the treatment for panic disorder.
Behavioral therapy can be costly however some providers offer sliding scale fees or even free services for those with low incomes. If you have insurance you can contact your insurance provider to find out what coverage they provide. Some therapists offer online sessions which could be beneficial to those who cannot afford to travel in person.
Medicines
In addition to therapy, doctors often suggest medication as a cure for panic attacks. Some antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications have been proven to be effective in decreasing the frequency, severity and length of symptoms. They work by stabilizing the levels of chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters in your brain. The most popular medications used to treat panic attacks are selective serotonin reuptake inhibits (SSRIs). These antidepressants boost serotonin levels in the brain, a chemical that influences mood. SSRIs include sertraline (Zoloft), the escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Paxil). Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, another type of antidepressant, can also decrease anxiety symptoms by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in your brain. This is a category of antidepressants which includes venlafaxine (Effexor), and duloxetine (Cymbalta).
Beta blockers are often prescribed to treat high pressure or heart issues. They can also reduce anxiety symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating hands, trembling voices and shaking hands. They aren't usually prescribed for panic disorder but might be prescribed when the fear of a certain event causes a panic attack.
Benzodiazepines can be used to reduce anxiety symptoms quickly. However, Iam Psychiatry can be addictive and can cause withdrawal in the event that you stop taking them abruptly. You could also be in trouble if you combine them together with other depressants. Healthcare professionals might only recommend them for short-term use.
Your doctor will ask you questions about your mental health, family history, and your lifestyle if you suffer from recurrent attacks. They will determine if the attacks are caused by a medical condition like thyroid disease and they will look for other factors that could be contributing to the symptoms, including trauma from childhood or other stressors.
The most important factor in managing panic attacks is understanding that they are not harmful and learning to manage them. If you are surrounded by the support of your loved ones they can help by implementing relaxation techniques and avoiding caffeine and other stimulants that can cause them to occur.
Lifestyle changes
It is important to seek professional help in the event of extreme anxiety or panic attacks. Psychotherapy and medication are typically effective treatments for anxiety disorders.
Talk therapy is another name for psychotherapy. It describes a wide range of psychological treatment methods. A common type is cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches you how to recognize and alter negative thoughts and emotions that cause panic attacks. By altering your reactions and behaviors you can lessen or eliminate panic attacks.
Anti-anxiety medication can also be helpful in managing anxiety and pandemonium. These medicines, also known as tranquilizers or tranquilizers, are sedating and slowing effect on the nervous system. This can help you feel more relaxed. Commonly prescribed anti-anxiety medications include the benzodiazepines like alprazolam (Xanax(r)) and lorazepam (Ativan(r)).
A healthy lifestyle can help to relieve anxiety symptoms. Regular exercise can help reduce anxiety, release positive hormones and boost your mood. It is essential to avoid alcohol, caffeine and smoking because these can make your anxiety symptoms worse. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle also requires adequate sleep. The recommended minimum sleep time of 8 hours every night can reduce anxiety symptoms and boost cognitive function.
Participating in social activities and spending time with family and friends can help you ease anxiety. Joining a community of people with similar concerns will help you find out that your worries aren't unique.
A wide range of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices like yoga meditation and acupuncture show promising results in reducing anxiety symptoms. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm these results. In the interim, you can try to moderately exercise throughout the weeks and eat a healthy diet that is packed with vegetables, fruits and proteins. Avoid foods that contain processed sugar, alcohol and caffeine, as they may increase anxiety. Also, avoid taking herbal supplements unless discussing them with your healthcare provider first.
Counseling
When a person has panic attacks, they may experience many various symptoms, like the heart beating faster, tightness in the chest and shaking, hyperventilation, chills and dizziness. They might also believe they are suffering from an attack on their heart, or that they are dying. The attacks usually last for a few minutes, but then fade. People who experience them frequently might be diagnosed with panic disorder.
To determine if you have panic attacks the doctor will conduct a thorough medical history and conduct physical examination. You will be asked to describe your symptoms and how frequently they occur. They will also search for symptoms of other health conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like an issue with thyroid or heart disease.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy with a mental health professional is the most effective method of treatment of anxiety and panic attacks. It is recommended to work with a psychiatrist or psychologist. They can assist you in identifying triggers and show you how to manage. They can also prescribe medications such as antidepressants to help ease the symptoms and prevent them from recurring.
Medications such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), can decrease the frequency of your panic and anxiety attacks, but they won't make them completely go away. If the medications aren't working for you, your doctor could alter the dosage or switch to a different kind.
A therapist or counselor can also help you learn to manage your emotions, and you may also undergo cognitive behavioral therapy to tackle unhelpful thoughts and beliefs. It can be a challenging process, but you will get the tools you need to manage your anxiety. Your friends and family can be a source of assistance as you begin how to manage your symptoms. More and more health professionals suggest that spouses and partners join in the treatment process for emotional and physical support. They can learn relaxation techniques together and act as a calm presence when anxiety or panic attacks start to flare up.