Treatment of Panic Disorder

Are you suffering from overwhelming anxiety, or a fear that your heart pounds? Are you feeling dizzy or you can't breathe properly? If you are, then you are suffering from panic attack. Panic attacks occur at unexpected intervals that do not have any obvious cause. Continuous panic attacks lead to a major problem termed as panic disorder. A panic attack may last for as long as 30 minutes or a few seconds.

Panic attacks can be controlled and treated successfully. Mentally disturbed people should opt for physiological treatment. However, apart from the treatment, the victim also needs his/her family support that seems to increase the recovery rate.

The American psychiatric Association and American Medical Association recommends 2 types of treatments for panic attack victims.

Medication

As a first approach, the victim should get a reliable psychiatric treatment in order to assess the specifics of the problem. For such a purpose, you should consult a psychiatrist or your family doctor. In an absence of a psychiatrist, a general physician can also be helpful for pharmacological treatment. They will not recommend you any medication but provide you with some exercises to help fight panic attacks.

However, medication plays an important role in treatment of panic attacks that ensures quick healing process. Medications can include.

Antidepressants like SSRI, MAOI, tricyclic alters neurotransmitter configuration that blocks the symptoms of panic attacks. You have to take these medicines on regularly. They also work as anti-anxiety due to their sedative effects.

Anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines can prevent panic attack. These drugs should not be taken, unless you really are a victim of panic attack. Avoid long term consumption of this drug, being habitual to it may increase your problems.

Psychotherapy

A combination of psychotherapy and medication can produce good results. Improvement can be noticed in a short period of time - about 6 to 8 weeks. It is helpful for people to cure panic disorder who does not respond to medication. It is important that the patient is given medical clearance and permission from a doctor before performing these exercises.

The exercise should fight with the most frightening symptoms of a panic attack. It must be repeated 3 to 5 times a day until the patient has little or no anxiety. Sometimes, it only takes a few weeks before the victim starts to feel reduced or no anxiety. Another form of psychotherapy is panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy that focuses on anxiety, and anger causing panic disorder.

"Breathing in and out of a paper bag" NetDoctor.co.uk
"Panic Attack" Wikipedia
S. ATEZAZ SAEED, "Panic Disorder Effective Treatment Options"