There has been a great deal of research performed on the treatment of panic attacks. Panic attacks can be severe and may completely dominate a person’s life. They can affect their ability to drive a car, go to public places, be with friends and family and in some cases even can prevent people from leaving their homes. They also have physical and mental effects that can help to create other negative conditions and should be treated to allow the patient to resume a normal life.

Most experts agree that psychotherapy is the best option for treating people with panic disorders and attacks. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specific techniques to treat patients with these conditions and are specially trained to help people understand their conditions. Cognitive behavior modification therapy is one of the most successful tools doctors can use. It teaches the patient to focus on the specific things that trigger their attacks, and to learn how to modify their behavior and responses to these triggers. These types of treatments can also be used with medications to achieve the desired results.

Anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medications are often used to alter how the person’s brain chemicals work. They work by changing how the brain’s neurons absorb certain normal brain chemicals and chemicals released by the body due to stress. They achieve better results when they are used in conjunction with psychotherapy treatments. Medications may have side effects and should be fully discussed with a doctor before they are taken. The two most useful types of medications used to treat panic attacks are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRI). Examples of these are Zoloft, Prozac, Xanax, Effector, Cymbalta and Paxil.

Living a healthy lifestyle is also important to treating panic attacks. A balanced diet, limiting caffeine intake, getting proper sleep and routine exercise is a good way to keep your mind healthy. Some herbal supplements such as Kava may also help relieve some of the symptoms of panic attacks, but always be careful with supplements that may have drug interactions or poor regulation

Filed under: Panic/Anxiety Attack Cures

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