The Panic Attack – Immediate And Long Term Treatment

For something that is relatively harmless, panic attacks are an amazingly common occurrence for millions of sufferers.  Like the common cold, there is no direct panic attack cure – one can treat and possibly cure its symptoms but there is never a guarantee that the attack will not repeat in the near future.  A panic attack of any kind is normally a manifestation of some psychological ailment, which can be temporary or permanent.
The common and obvious panic attack symptoms is the verbal expression of oncoming death – phrases like “I can’t breathe” and “I think I’m having a heart attack” – are among the most common heard. This is usually followed by quick, shallow breathing and a feeling of weakness.  These occur very suddenly and while they appear unprovoked, have been proven to be set off by some external trigger.
On their own, panic attacks are non-fatal.  Their danger lies not in the malady itself but the subsequent actions it draws sufferers to do.  Someone suffering from panic attacks, for instance, may not die from the attack but what it caused them to do.  Severe cases have been seen where panic attacks may cause a driver to make sudden swerves in traffic or refuse to leave their home for fear of perceived dangers outside.   While most panic attack actions have also been non-fatal to themselves, there is no guarantee that these individuals will not pose a danger to those around them.
As such, it is important that sufferers meet up with a licensed psychotherapist for a long term panic attack cure.  Sometimes, panic attacks are temporary setbacks in a person’s life – triggered by some current traumatic event and may well be short term.  More often than not, serious sufferers of panic attacks discover that their ailment stems from some psychological source, possibly early signs of depression or some kind of anxiety disorder.
Some feeling of anxiety is usually blamed as the reason for the panic attack.  If attacks are less serious, anxiety treatments that may be adopted include:
-    Repetition of positive phrases like “there is nothing to be afraid of” and “I am just afraid of fear, there is nothing out there”.  Said as a mantra during an attack, these have been proven to be able to calm the sufferer down and help them evaluate their surroundings and emotions rationally.
-    Finding a quiet, private spot immediately and “mind resting” for a few minutes.  It should be added here that the “quiet spot” does not include close-up spaces like wardrobes, shoe cupboards or alleys but a less busy place or setting like a quieter supermarket aisle or popping into an unoccupied phone booth.  Sufferers can then use these spots to stabilize their breathing and rest their minds for a few moments before rejoining society.
-    Deep breathing techniques.  Usually, psychotherapists will teach sufferers the skills of deep breathing correctly – to breathe in from the nose into the diaphragm and abdomen, and exhaling through the mouth slowly.  This helps the flow of oxygen into the brain and enhances rational thoughts.
-    Breathing into a paper bag.  Not to be seen as a permanent panic attack cure, breathing into a paper bag (or plastic, if the situation calls for it) is a quick method of managing an attack when one is the least prepared.  However, it would be good to remember that this paper bag breathing technique should only be done when the sufferer has a companion who can monitor their breaths and rid the bag once the attack is under control.
These anxiety treatments may not be enough for severe cases of panic attacks, particularly those whose attacks stem from some deep-rooted psychological trauma.  For these serious sufferers, panic medications may be necessary.  These, however, are always taken in tandem with the techniques mentioned above.  As with all drugs, these panic attack medications should never be taken without the correct prescription (and only upon personal consultation) and supervision of a licensed medical practitioner.
Anxiety treatments may vary from patient to patient, depending on the severity of each panic attack case.  Both sufferers and medical practitioners should not to resort to panic medications unless required and drugs will encourage only encourage total dependence on them in the long run.
To know if a person is experiencing a real panic attack is difficult unless one is a medical practitioner.  The best thing to do when there is a suspicion of an attack is to consult a doctor as soon as possible.  When it comes to correctly diagnosing a panic attack and avoiding the recurrence of one, the doctor’s visit should never be considered a wasted or unnecessary effort.