Psychotherapy as A Cure For Anxiety Attack

There are many patients who suffer from unreasonable fear.  And these fears are usually life threatening or it may even be a cause for social withdrawal.   This is called anxiety disorders and these are unfounded fear of something or fear of a situation.  These fears cannot be explained logically.  They are sometimes silly and the sufferer or patient knows this fact but there is the feeling of helplessness when confronted with this situation.
According to medical literature there are four types of this so-called anxiety disorders:  Generalized Anxiety, Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  The common symptoms include    muscle tension, faster heartbeat, hot and cold flushes, nausea, profuse sweating and cold extremities.
One way for overcoming panic attacks is the so-called psychotherapy or “talk therapy”.  Psychotherapy was developed by Sigmund Freud.  Freud is considered the father of psychotherapy.  This is a method where the sufferer lies on a couch and freely discusses his concerns and fears to the psychoanalyst present.  This method is a form of release for the sufferer.  The psychoanalyst is there to assists him in finding a solution.  In medical parlance this is also called “free association.”

However, with the advances in sciences and medicines specifically as regards the field of psychotherapy, there are currently over 400 methods and theories of psychotherapy.  Many practitioners are not sticking to one type of treatment or method instead they combine several to come up with heir own treatment.  Therefore, there is no sure best medicine for panic disorder treatment.  Treatment depends upon the patients with what generally works for him or her.

The therapy can be conducted on a one on one basis or it can be conducted on a group session.  Psychoanalysts call this treatment behavior modification. This is also frequently utilized in treating disorders like alcoholism, smoking, over eating and drug addiction.

Under behavior medication treatment are classified these techniques:

•    Aversion Therapy – where an undesirable behavior is connected with a punishing response.
•    Desensitization – this calls for the gradual exposure to the feared object until that fear is eliminated or minimized.
•    Bio-feedback – this method teaches the patient to control their involuntary reactions like cold extremities and increased heartbeats.
•    Relaxation Training – the patient is taught to concentrate and be in a tranquil and meditative state.  This makes the patient focus on something peaceful as compared tpo the cause of his panic and anxieties.

Medical experts believe that some people have the tendency to be destructive in their thinking patterns.  These aberrations in their thinking patterns can cause them to react negatively or inappropriately to a certain object or situation.

Most therapists’ goals are aimed at reshaping these distorted thinking patterns and change their responses to a specific object or situation.  This is one cure for anxiety attack which is currently being utilized right now.

The causes of anxiety attacks can be attributed to genetics, physiological or environmental.  Excessive stress or anxiety can be experienced in any stages in life.  Whether one patient is a teenager or people advanced in years.  The inability to handle any stress more than the normal may make certain people vulnerable to certain mental illnesses.

Another cause of stress and anxieties can be difficulty at work or the working conditions, unhappy family life like problematic children or polygamous spouse, financial problems or the lack of means to support a family financially as well as poor health conditions.  Most people are overwhelmed by the presence of these situations leading them to a life of stress and anxiety.

Thus, it is very much important that once symptoms of anxiety attacks are observed it is best to consult with qualified medical professionals.  Early diagnosis and early treatment are the best cure for anxiety attack.  There is no need to make the situation worse by taking matters into your hand and applying self-medications or self-treatments.

People respond differently to different treatment methods and medications.  Medical professionals know best what is effective to a particular patient or sufferer.  One such treatment for anxiety attack available today is psychotherapy.