Anxiety Disorder Panic Treatment Options

Treating Panic Disorder

What are the different ways of treating panic disorder & anxiety? In this article, we'll cover some conventional treatment options that you should consider, and at the end of the article, there will be a link where you can learn about natural remedies and alternative options.

Conventional treatment focuses on specific forms of psychotherapy & medication to help individuals with panic & anxiety disorder.

Behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy have been shown by research to be effective in treating panic disorder and anxiety.

Behavioral therapy aims to change certain actions of an individual by using many different techniques. FOr example, one technique the patient can use is deep, diaphragmatic breathing, which basically involves breathing deep down into the "gut" in order to relieve symptoms before they get out of hand. Since people who are very anxious can hyperventilate, this technique helps to prevent rapid heartbeat and other symptoms that can spiral the attack out of control. Another technique in behavioral therapy is exposure therapy, in which the patient is exposed to their fears in a controlled environment, in order to help them cope better in uncontrolled situations.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, on the other hand, helps the patient in perceiving symptoms and situations differently, so that they can better psychologically control or reduce the severity of an attack. They also learn what kinds of thoughts trigger anxiety and how to change their thoughts, on demand, in order to prevent excessive anxiety. Patients may also be exposed to certain situations that typically induce panic, and then taught how to deal with it differently. For example, a therapist might ask their patient to spin around until feeling dizzy, and then teach the patient to deal with this dizziness in a calm, rational manner, rather than allowing it to cause a panic attack.

Typically, an anxiety disorder can be treated by therapy alone and mild medication, but if it develops further, then medication may be needed for treating panic disorder.

There are many classes of medication that can reduce or even prevent panic attacks, which are as follows:

Antidepressants
- serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors
- tricyclics
Benzodiazepines

Each of the above types of medication work differenty with varying side effects. Generally, benzodiazepines are stronger and illicit more prominent side effects such as dizziness, sleepines and inability to concentrate. However, depending on your body and the severity of your condition, your general physician or psychiatrist can recommend an appropriate treatment option. Proper dosing is essential, and the typical timeframe of treatment is between 6 and 12 months, particularly in the case of panic disorders.

When you withdraw medication, it should be tapered off gradually in order to prevent unpleasant withdrawal symptoms and to prevent the occurrence of a relapse. Ask you doctor to educate you about the medicine as much as possible, so you can feel confident and well-informed when taking it.

The best possible option for treating panic disorder is to combine therapy with medication, since the combination of instant relief with long-term psychological realignment can help to completely eliminate this problem.

As an alternative, you should also take a look at natural anxiety disorder panic treatments, such as herbal formulas, meditation, relaxation techniques, support groups and so on.

==>> Treatments for Panic Attacks

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