When somebody uses the term “having a panic attack” in jest, the reaction is usually one of amusement from those in receipt of the comment. The reality is though, over 30 per cent of people will have an episode at some stage of their lives but it’s those who suffer from it on a daily basis, the chronic sufferers, who would find such a comment less than amusing.
You see, for a chronic sufferer, living in fear of an attack has repercussions such as social withdrawal and loss of control and for these people, it’s a daily grind living from one episode to another.
Panic Attack Medication
Medications are available for people suffering from panic disorder. The question is, are these medications just a quick fix solution or do they actually help a sufferer eliminate it from their lives entirely? Medication for panic attack comes in different forms from what are known as Beta blockers to antidepressants.
Beta blockers are a class of drug designed to relieve heavy work load on the heart and control high blood pressure. What has this got to do with panic attack? Well, one of the frightening symptoms is the pounding heart. It’s such a scary experience that those who have experienced it often confuse it with having a heart attack. They are useful in their application but again, treat the symptom rather than the underlying problem.
Depression is a result of constant episodes of panic disorder and antidepressants are effective in treating it. For chronic sufferers, drugs with a tranquilizing effect known as Benzodiazepines also have proven effective in reducing the symptoms.
The above medication has it’s place amongst the list of panic attack treatments however, while patients report being able to control and reduce the incidence of an episode while using them, relapses are possible if the drugs are discontinued while in the case of Benzidiazepines, there’s also a risk of dependency.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Medications are considered a fix for the symptoms of panic disorder however, getting to the cause of the underlying problem is best achieved through counselling. A popular form of counselling is Cognitive-behavioural therapy and it’s aim is to modify certain thoughts and behaviour patterns to control the symptoms.
An example of this type of treatment involves working with a therapist and basically predicting when a panic attack is going to occur. How does this help you? The idea is you will learn of ways to deal or respond to a panic attack which will help eliminate the fear of having another attack. Your therapist will introduce you to effective exercises designed to identify your destructive or fearful thought patterns and alter them.
The process can usually be a long and involved one and eventually, when a patient is confident of controlling their attacks, they are introduced to controlled situations or areas where they have experienced or had cause to experience panic attacks in the past.
Panic Attack Vs. Anxiety Attack?
There is some confusion surrounding the difference between a panic and anxiety attack. The former is will happen without too much warning and has severe symptoms associated with it while anxiety tends to build up and last longer.
Will You Continue To Let Panic Attack Control Your Life?
While the side effects of medication or the stigma attached with counselling may be unacceptable for some, the truth is, doing nothing about chronic panic attack will not improve someone’s chances of being free from it. You need to take the first step and seek professional advice and then steer a course which suits you best in controlling panic attack in your life.
Dean Caporella
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/why-panic-attack-medication-may-not-be-your-only-alternative-131097.html
14 comments ↓
Coping with general anxiety and panic attacks without medication?
I’m already familiar with medication (which I highly dislike), breathing exercises, a few herbal methods and a few other alternative approaches. There are probably a lot of things I’m missing though. I’d like to know how other people cope with general anxiety and panic attacks. Do you have any tips and tricks? Do share them, please.
Thank you for reading.
Hmm…Is this some kind of disease you are having or it is same like other people also face….well whatever.
The best way is to take deep breaths and try to talk with your best friend.
References :
Self-hypnosis means you close your eyes and just relax while imagining certain things if you do that every day, you might start feeling better.
Remove all stress factors from your life if something annoys you just try and get over it or take it out of your life.
References :
http://www.cubebird.org
initially i tried a beta blocker the doctor gave to me and lordy that wasn’t good, and in fact i think it made it worse. Stopped taking them after a couple of days so you’re definitely doing the right thing. Have you tried valerian? it’s also good for just relaxing. I think its imprtant to look at your diet too. Cut out caffeine, smoking and all of the obvious things that are bad, try more green veg. I also agree with the self hypnosis and visualisation techniques.
It’s really tricky, I’ve also tried indian head massage, which is amazing, and I’ve heard acupuncture is really good too.
Hope that helps and good luck
References :
Hey, I understand how you feel…
The uncomfortable symptoms like sweaty palms, "jelly" legs, extreme alertness, "impending doom" feeling and the fight-or-flight response.
I’ve been there. I’m an ex-victim. Sometimes the deep breathing or distraction techniques doesn’t work – a full-blown panic or anxiety attack happens later.
Sometimes you experience panic attack out of the blue and such.
Do NOT buy Panic Away, Linden Method, EasyCalm or the Panic Puzzle. They do NOT work – I’ve tried them and their solutions are similar – it DOESN’T WORK.
Medications do NOT work – I was under many antidepressants (Prozac, Lexapro, Paxil and Zoloft) and anti-anxiety medications (Ativan, Klonopin, and Xanax) but my condition was the same – no improvement at all.
The only program that really work is The Panic Attack Solution. It’s found by an ex-victim. You can check out his old blog in his official website to read up some useful tips.
But the package is the best – it teaches 17 powerful techniques and the real solution to panic attacks. I’ve bought it and it really helped me – it’s the BEST anti-anxiety package or book I’ve read.
His theory really makes sense and it works effectively!
You will learn why your panic attacks can happen without warning sometimes; why having stimulant causes panic attacks; and many-many other useful tips!
Check out his official website:
http://www.ThePanicAttackSolution.com
References :
drinking herbal teas such as lavender, chamomile, jasmine or thyme helps you reduce
tension. if you didn’t try it yet – you should give it a try.
References :
http://great-home-remedies.info/anxiety-natural-remedies/
This is a great product which helped me basically CURE myself of anxiety/panic attacks and stop them for good, check it out below:
http://saim.notlong.com
I highly recommend it, good luck.
References :
Hey, I’m 14 and I had a Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I, too, hated medication, though they put me on a low dose of Ativan. I was HORRIFIED of going to school my 8th grade year, I’d do anything to get out of it. But I realized through therapy that when you feel trapped, and have that Fight or Flight moment, don’t flight. never flight. You have to face your anxiety head on. I know, "that’s crazy, why would I put myself through that?" Just do it. If you get attacks at school/work while in classroom, stay there. Distract yourself. Don’t dread on the fact that youre having an attack.
Long story short, don’t cower from your fear. Face it. Say "Anxiety will NOT win today. I will." Don’t think "ohh no im having a panic attack! Ive gotta get out!" With a panic attack, remember, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS. You may get dizzy, but you don’t pass out. You may have nausea, but you won’t vomit. I’ve never heard of it occurring.
The quote that got me through MY anxiety was this: "Fear can make you miss out on so many wonderful things in life, that’s why I go for the things I’m scared of and worry afterward." -Leanne Rhymes
References :
Been there, done that. I’ll never go back.
A lot of people telling me how their anxiety
makes them feel very cut off or removed from the
world around them. This sensation can be distressing
as people fear that they will never be
able to feel normal again.
Stress or Anxiety AND DEPRESSION can often feel like a thick fog has surrounded
your mind. Nothing really seems enjoyable as you are
always looking out at the world through this haze of
anxious thoughts and feelings. This fog steals the joy
out of life and can make you feel removed
or cut off from the world.
When someone is very caught up in anxious thoughts
they are top heavy so to speak. The constant mental
activity they are engaged in has caused an imbalance
where all of their focus is on their mental anxieties.
A powerful way to move out of this anxious
mental fog is to switch your focus from your head
to your heart.
By simply making a deliberate shift of attention to your heart
you will find the anxious thoughts dissipate more easily
and the mental fog starts to gradually clear.
What makes your heart happy?
What makes you feel good?
What good things do you currently have in your life?
By getting control of what makes your heart happy and taking
attention away from your general mind, you are on your way to
calming your forth coming panic or anxiety attack.
http://www.stoppingpanicattack.com
References :
http://www.stoppingpanicattack.com
I can understand how hard having anxiety is and how scary it might be to experience it.
The fact that you’re asking for help is the first step to getting help. Yes, there is something you can do. Here are a few tips:
Steps to deep breathing
1. Lie down on a flat surface.
2. Place one hand on your stomach, just above your navel. Place the other hand on your chest.
3. Breathe in slowly and try to make your stomach rise a little.
4. Hold your breath for a second.
5. Breathe out slowly and let your stomach go back down.
Learn to relax:
Muscle relaxation is simple. Start by choosing a muscle and holding it tight for a few seconds. Then relax the muscle. Do this with all of your muscles. Try starting with your feet muscles and working your way up your body.
I’ve also heard that this natural method works, try it out and hopefully it can work for you. Best of luck.
http://budurl.com/h9wu
References :
http://budurl.com/h9wu
In Chinese medicine, anxiety and panic attacks are attributed to Kidney Deficiency typically. When the “Kidney energy” is out of balance we tend to have irrational fears. You can avoid a lifetime of medications by rebuilding the Kidney energy with tonic herbs, qi gong meditations, and acupuncture. Here is an article that explains:
http://www.agelessherbs.com/NaturalAnxietyHerbs.html
References :
I’ve heard that some people have used certain foods to control their anxiety. The following foods have been known to have a calming effect:
Chicken, tuna, salmon or mushrooms. These are rich in Niacin or Vitamin B3, which is important for energy production and neurotransmission within the brain. Deficiencies may cause anxiety or depression.
Tuna, sunflower seeds, black beans or yellow corn. These foods provide energy. They are rich in Thiamin or Vitamin B1, which coordinates the activity of nerves and muscles to support proper heart function. Deficiencies may cause restlessness or irritability.
Bell peppers, spinach, bananas or tuna. These are great sources of Vitamin B6, which supports the nervous system. Deficiencies may cause anxiety or depression.
Venison, baked snapper, scallops or yogurt. These contain Vitamin B12, which promotes proper development of nerve cells. It helps cells to metabolize protein, carbohydrate and fat. Deficiencies may cause clinical depression, memory loss, heart palpitations or fatigue.
Calf’s liver, beans or sunflower seeds. These contain a wide variety of B vitamins.
Turkey, shrimp, fish, beans, spinach or greens. These are high in tryptophan, which enhances mood, improves sleep or regulates appetite.
Dried pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, spinach, soybeans, navy beans or lentils. These are high in magnesium, which relaxes nerves and muscles. Deficiencies may cause an irregular heart rhythm, high blood pressure or excitability.
On a side note i’ve also heard some great success stories of people using this technique to help with their anxiety. You can check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/ybh87hf
References :
Have you tried reading self help books? Books can sometimes help our minds and medication is really something which we cannot trust every time. Medication can drive our minds crazy. Books is a safe haven for some us and I think it can be a great tool for coping with anxiety. I have a link to a book where it talks about Panic Attacks and how to prevent them without using any medication. Give it a shot.
References :
http://www.selfmadeeasy.com/pd_panic_attacks.cfm
Here are some suggestions ….
Meditation, exercise, good nutrition, sufficient sleep and avoid caffeine and nicotine. Vitamin B complex for a healthy nervous system, magnesium and calcium tablets help to calm, also Valerian, Hops, Chamomile, and Magnolia Bark are good supplements to relieve anxiety.
Plus there are other mental factors that need to be looked at.
You Must Learn To Break The Fear Of Having Another Panic Attack Or You Will Never Experience Complete Freedom From Anxiety
The ANTICIPATION of another panic attack starts the wave cycle of anxiety in motion.
Hope this helps, I put a link below if you want to read more
References :
http://www.natural-home-cures.com/
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