Cure for Panic Disorder: Where the mind is without Peace…

Worry, anxiety, tension, problem, trouble, agony, disquiet, angst, nervousness, stress, strain – one and all, loose synonyms of each other. One and all meaning roughly the same thing – the absence of peace and quietude from the mind.

A condition that is becoming worryingly common these days. More and more individuals of the hustled and hassled world of today are falling victim to it. The need of the hour is to get anxiety disorder help.

The first step towards this would be to consult a registered psychotherapist, who would proceed to, in the first place, correctly diagnose the patient’s conditions. There are a set of guidelines agreed upon by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) that help in accurate diagnosis. Some of these important guidelines are:
1.    Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
2.    The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months). Note: Only one item is required in children.
o    Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
o    Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
o    Irritability
o    Muscle tension
o    Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
3.    The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

If these and other criteria, if found in the subject, he or she is characterized as a anxiety disorder patient. This is a disease of the mind, and has a general debilitating effect on the individual.

The next step after diagnosis would be seeking the cure for panic disorder. Relaxation is the best and most potent anti-thesis of anxiety and can be obtained in a variety of ways:

1)    Talking sessions with the psychotherapist – these are trained listeners and soothe the patient by their display of sympathy and understanding, thereby relaxing him.
2)    Hypnosis – this is a controversial, albeit powerful method that works on certain subjects but not on others. Safe only when conducted by trained professionals, this method is not only helpful in sending the subject into a deep, relaxing slumber, but can also be utilized to probe the recesses of his mind and, if possible, to come up with some significant fact that can throw light on his present condition. This aids in channelizing the forthcoming treatment procedures correctly.
3)    Warm or hot water ablutions in various forms – Long hot baths, spa treatments, sauna or steam baths generally function by making us sweat out our tensions and toxins, thereby acting as relaxants. They generally induce sleep, which indeed is nature’s sweet restorer and a great cure for panic disorder.
4)    Massages – kneading of the muscles by trained masseuses removes the stress out of them. Ayurvedic and aromatic oils used in the massage help in easing of the individual. Specialized techniques like acupressure and acupuncture also help by regulating the flow of energy in the body.
5)    Exercises – Yoga and Tai-Chi are good exercises to release the negative energy out of the body and help it in attaining complete repose.
6)    Laughter Therapy – taking a respite from the usual hubbub of life and giving laughter a chance to cure you of anxious thoughts is indeed a good idea. 3rd May is celebrated all over the globe as World Laughter Day. Laughter creates a nice and happy atmosphere and is quite an economical cure for panic disorder.
In some cases, however, the simple relaxation techniques are not enough. At times, the individual may even need immediate medical care and cure. Several anxiety attack medications are available in the market. Of course, these are all prescription drugs. Most are tranquilizers or sedatives and thereby end up calming the individual. Important groups of medicines used are:
•    Benzodiazepine
•    Buspirone
•    Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors
The drugs must be consumed under strict medical supervision, as they are open to overdose and abuse. In fact, drugs on their own are rarely used in therapy – they are just another keg in the wheel, so to say, and form only a part of the treatment regime of a patient.