Main Causes Of Stress

Panic attacks can occur anytime and anywhere, and for the people that suffer with this condition regularly, the symptoms can be severe enough to get in the way of everyday life. They may begin with a pounding heart and excess sweating, and progress into shortness of breath, dizziness and nausea. Some people even feel as if they are going to die during one of these attacks. While the condition is not necessarily a serious one, it can feel quite debilitating to those who experience the attacks. The good news is that there are treatments for panic attacks that can be quite effective in reducing the symptoms and allow many to enjoy a relatively normal life.

Counseling

The most common type of counseling that is used as a treatment for panic attacks is cognitive behavior therapy. This therapy can be performed by either a psychologist or a psychiatrist and offers patients methods for recognizing and understanding their panic attacks so they are better able to deal with them. Cognitive behavior therapy teaches you how to recognize the triggers for your panic attack so you can possibly prevent them before they begin. It also instructs you in methods of deep breathing and relaxation techniques that will help you control an attack once it starts. This style of counseling is an important part of long term treatment for panic attacks, especially when combined with medication.

Medication

The most common type of medication used as a treatment of panic attacks is the antidepressant. There are different antidepressants available, but SSRIs are usually the medication of choice for this condition. These medicines come under commercial names like Prozac and Zoloft, and will work effectively on depression symptoms that can accompany anxiety and panic attacks as well. Sometimes, medications like Valium or Xanax are prescribed in the short term as a quick and effective way to get symptoms under control. Then the antidepressants are used as a long term treatment of panic attacks to keep the condition manageable and reduce the amount of attacks you might experience. This medication needs to be continued if the patient wants to continue to see positive results, since it only treats the symptoms and does not “cure” the condition.

Treatment for panic attacks is an important way for many people suffering with this condition to enjoy more symptom-free days and a higher quality of life. If you are suffering from panic attacks, talk to your doctor about your treatment options today.

The symptoms of a panic attack are so closely related to many other troubles and conditions that many people have little or no idea what truly defines a panic attack. What is a panic attack is a common question and the answers you receive may not be as clear cut as you would like them to be.

The Symptoms of Panic

Panic attacks have symptoms that are related to the diagnosis of the problem. These symptoms are often emotional and mental in nature, but often include physical problems as well. To define, what is a panic attack, you must define the symptoms that are related to the trigger causing the symptoms.

A trigger is an person, place, thing or event that causes a spark, if you will, in the person who suffers from a panic attack. This trigger is the beginning point of the attack. For some, they are very aware of what those triggers are and their bodily reaction to those triggers. For others, the trigger is something that is unknown to them (consciously) and therefore even more scary for those who want to know what a panic attack is.

The symptoms that happen after the trigger has set off a reaction, are varied and can range from a mild case of breathlessness to severe heart attack like pains. Due to the close nature between the symptoms of a panic attack and the symptoms of a heart attack, the first panic attack will certainly lead you to the hospital and rightfully so. There is not way to tell them apart without an EKG. And, a panic attack can lead to a real heart attack if left untreated.

So, What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is the bodies mental reaction to something that causes great anxiety. This mental reaction is a windfall in that the effects of the panic will start out small and grow over time as long as the person stays in the same condition or thought. This mental reaction often can not be stopped by the person, but, can be treated over time.

Suffering from a panic attack for the first time will certainly bring up two questions. What is a panic attack and how do I stop them from happening? Take care to notice the first instances you experience the symptoms. If you are ever unsure, go to the hospital immediately as a heart attack will need to be treated within 30 minutes and the body reactions are so similar, there is no room for self diagnosis.