Understanding Panic Attack - Treatment

What Are the Treatments?

The cause of most panic attacks is not clear, so treatment may be different for each person.  Typically, it involves psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or medication.  Alternative treatments like meditation and relaxation therapy are often used to help relax the body and relieve anxiety.

Psychotherapy offers support and helps to minimize the fearfulness of symptoms, and sometimes is sufficient to clear up the disorder.  Recurrent attacks, however, require additional measures.  

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people learn to deal with panic symptoms, using techniques like muscle and breathing relaxation.  They also gain reassurance that panic will not lead to the catastrophic events they fear, since many people fear they are having a heart attack.  

Antidepressants, such as Tofranil, often help reduce anxiety and the frequency and severity of panic attacks.  Even more frequently used medications are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro and Zoloft).  This group of medications is often considered the first line of treatment for panic disorders.  Often, anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, Klonopin and Ativan are provided at least in the beginning of medical therapy.

Important note regarding medications: Some of these drugs can actually produce the anxiety symptoms of a panic attack.  It is often best to start with a low dose and slowly increase medication for this disorder.

How Can I Prevent Them?

You can take steps to lessen the chance of attacks and learn to manage them better.  Learn to recognize a panic attack.  When you sense the first symptoms, know that other symptoms may follow.  You have survived them before and can do so again.  Try slow, deep breaths.  

• Take your time.  It's important not to hope for a quick cure.  Therapy takes time, and improvement comes in small steps.  
• Go easy on yourself.  People who feel panic tend to be overly critical of themselves.  
• Learn to lower your level of everyday anxiety through a variety of techniques, including meditation and exercise.
• Avoid stimulants, such as nicotine and caffeine, which can be found not only in coffee, but many teas, colas and chocolate.