It is surprising that although panic attacks can cause serious havoc to one's life, most people who suffer from panic or anxiety attacks actually shy away from getting panic attacks help. They do so because they are embarrassed by their condition or are afraid of what people might think if word were to get out about what they are going through. Some go as far as to feeling ashamed about their anxiety episodes and how they are losing control over their lives. As a result, these people never bother to look at the many options open to them which can help guide them back to normal functioning. If you are one of these people, read this article carefully as it will demonstrate how easy, efficient and readily-available panic attacks help is.
Panic attacks help usually comes in three forms; medications, behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two. As per your doctor's recommendations you would be asked to follow one of the three mentioned choices, thus going to your doctor is a must.
Medication for panic and anxiety attacks refers to either antidepressants or benzodiazepines. While antidepressants need to be taken for several weeks before they show results, benzodiazepines are extremely fast acting drugs which provide relief within the span of thirty minutes. Therefore, it can be argued that benzodiazepines are to be primarily used to counter the symptoms of a panic attack as and when they surface.
It should be noted though that panic attack medication has its downsides as well. Firstly, these medicines are very addictive in nature and can thus become habit forming. Secondly, panic attack medications have become infamous for causing potentially severe side effects if taken in high doses while also causing serious withdrawal symptoms. Thirdly, studies show that these drugs are only useful during the period they are being used, in other words, panic attack medications are more of a short-term solution to a problem which is permanent in nature.
Thus real change and real improvements can only be found in therapy. Thanks to the two main panic attack therapy options open to you, you will be able to counter your anxiety levels and stop the onset of panic attacks if you follow the guidelines. Of the two mentioned therapy options, the more popular one is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As suggested by its name, CBT aims to play with a person's cognitions, i.e. his/her thinking patterns/perceptions in the hope that if thinking patterns are altered, behavior can be changed as well. It can often be simply mind over matter. That said the speed and success of these therapies is generally proportionate to the length of time the individual has been suffering and the general severity of the disorder.
If CBT doesn't work for you, don't feel disheartened because you always have the choice of opting for Exposure Therapy. Exposure Therapy aims to rid a person of his/her fears by slowly exposing them to their fears in a safe and controlled setting. It is hoped that as the exposure to one's fears increases, the realization will dawn that the thing that is perceived as fearful will cease to cause discomfort or threat.
Although therapy requires patience on the part of the sufferer as it is spread out over numerous sessions, statistics show that it has a very high success ratio. Therefore, if you do suffer from panic attacks, make it a point to seek out professional help. There is no point in suffering alone because doing so will only worsen your condition. Moreover, the more you try and conceal your situation, the harder it will become to function normally. Remember that it would be a great idea to tell your family and friends about what you are going through because the support they will provide, will do your confidence a lot of good. Alternatively, you could look towards a professional support group for the same emotional comfort as these groups are designed specifically for people going through what you're going through.
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