How to Treat Panic Attacks Effectively
Verywell / Nez Riaz
Panic disorder andagoraphobiaare very treatable conditions.
Diagnosis
A mental healthcare professional can evaluate you for panic disorder.
Before making a determination, they will check to see if you meet thediagnostic criteriafor the condition.
Verywell / Nez Riaz
Antidepressants
Antidepressants were originally used to treat mood disorders, such asdepressionand depressive symptoms associated withbipolar disorder.
It was later found that antidepressants could also help treat anxiety disorders, including panic disorder.
Antidepressant medications have been found to effectively decrease the intensity of panic attacks and overall anxiety.
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
Like all antidepressants,SSRIsaffect the chemical messengers in the brain, calledneurotransmitters.
In particular, SSRIs target the neurotransmitter called serotonin, which is associated with mood.
These medications slow down thecentral nervous system, which can make you feel calmer and more relaxed.
By helping someone feel less fearful and anxious, anti-anxiety medications can greatly reduce the symptoms of panic disorder.
Recap
SSRIs and benzodiazepines are effective options for treating panic disorder.
Get our printable guide to help you ask the right questions at your next doctor’s appointment.
This faulty thinking often contributes to unhelpful behaviors, such as avoiding feared situations.
CBT may help you overcome negative thinking patterns and develop healthier ways to manage your condition.
Gradually, you are introduced to more fear-inducing situations while you continue to learn how to manage your panic.
The aim is to unlearn your fear and take on new ways of thinking and behaving.
They may eventually advance to more fear-inducing situations, such as going to the airport or boarding an airplane.
With each situation, they learn to manage their panic symptoms.
Through continued practice, desensitization may help them overcome theirfear of flying.
PFPP helps you recognize unconscious conflictsparticularly around angerand resolve these conflicts in less frightening and more constructive ways.
Therapies like CBT and PFPP are effective treatments for panic disorder.
Typically, this approach involves using SSRIs together with a form of therapy like CBT.
Lifestyle Changes
Making changes to your daily habits may also help you reduce symptoms of panic disorder.
These changes could include:
Taking steps to manage your daily stress levels may also help.
Practicingmindfulness meditation,yoga, or another calming activity may help control your anxiety levels and reduce your symptoms.
Summary
There are treatment options available for panic disorder.
Avoiding dietary triggers like caffeine may help, as can making sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
Find out which option is the best for you.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.
2018;4(4):CD010676.
2015;91(9):617-624.
