Panic Attack Treatments: Medication And Therapy
When a panic attack ensues, you will probably feel breathless, flustered and scared witless. However, fear is only one of many panic attack symptoms. It is also common to experience shortness of breath, nausea and severe headaches. These symptoms can be so painful that you think you are going to die. This is why it is important to have an individualized panic attack treatment. The type of treatment you choose will depend on a number of different factors.
There are two main treatment methods for panic attacks. The first treatment that doctors tend to go with is medication. Doctors will usually prescribe antidepressants to suppress the symptoms of panic attacks. These medicines must be used in conjunction with benzodiazepines. Both medicines can help provide the relief a person needs to get on with their life.
The only problem with using medications as a panic attack treatment is that they come with the risk of side effects, including severe headaches, gastrointestinal problems and a loss of libido.
How Exposure Therapy Works
There are other ways to treat panic attacks besides antidepressants. Cognitive behavioural therapy is also an effective form of panic attack treatment. This therapy teaches the sufferers why changes in their thinking patterns can help them gain relief from future panic attacks.
An alternative type of panic attack treatment therapy is exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is quite unique. It is a treatment in which the sufferer is steadily exposed to the trigger of their panic attacks within a safe environment. They are given the opportunity to face their fears in a comfortable setting, with steadily building degrees of exposure. This is designed to break the fear response and to accustom them to the situations that would otherwise cause panic attacks.
Above anything else, the best panic attack treatment is the one in which the sufferer identifies the problem and seeks out a physician’s assistance in dealing with said problem. Your doctor should be able to advise you on different medications or other therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
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