Panic Attack and Its Treatment Options

Wed, 05/14/2008 - 12:49 — Bolton Wellbein...

Panic attack is a frightening but harmless episode of intense anxiety, irrational fear, mounting physiological arousal, stomach problems or physical discomfort that occurs suddenly. Persons who have undergone a trauma or experienced an unpleasant dream are more prone to panic attacks than others. They are exposed to the factors that trigger in them a sensation of having a panic attack. Repeated attacks are indicative of the presence of mental or physical illnesses. About five percent of the population experiences these attacks in their life. In brief, panic attack is the most upsetting and uncomfortable experience.

Panic Attack Symptoms

A panic attack manifests in a number of physical symptoms. The most common panic attack symptoms are:

- Sweating
- Palpitation
- Shaking and trembling
- Derealization or depersonalization
- Hyperventilation
- Abnormal distress or nausea
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, dizzy or faint
- Smothering or shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Choking sensation
- Hot flashes or chills
- Tingling sensation or numbness (paresthesias)
- Chest pain
- Fear of going crazy
- Sensation of dying
- Burning sensation in the neck or facial area

Panic Attack Treatment

Patients who tend to experience panic attack can take care of themselves at home if the symptoms are not severe. However, patients who experience symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath should resort to immediate medical assistance.

Home Treatment Options: First, let your shoulders calm down and then, feel if there is any tension in the muscles. Take in a deep breath and hold it while tightening the left leg. Then, loosen the left leg and release the muscles while giving off breath.

Slow your breathing down. Take in deep breaths and leave heavy sighs. This way you can control the symptoms that you usually show the moment you experience a panic attack.

Think about a positive picture or utter an affirmative saying in your mind. This will relieve you from unnecessary tension of muscles, irrational fear and sensation. Convince yourself that you are not getting short of breath. You can talk to yourself at the time of such a distress. This will save you from severe sensations.

In case, a person who is affected with a severe medical illness like heart disease should immediately consult a doctor. Reliance on home treatment is not good for the being of a patient, if worrisome symptoms appear repeatedly.

Medical Treatment Options: Generally, a panic attack is treated with relaxation and reassurance techniques. The doctor administers blood pressure medicines to patients if they experience panic attacks due to a cardiac cause. Some doctors prescribe anti-anxiety medicines like diazepam or lorazepam for the evaluation of patients’ heart and mind.

Doctors often recommend the intake of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine are some effective inhibitors. Studies have shown that SSRIs reduce the risk of having panic attack by 75 to 85 %.

Another mode of drug treatment is the intake of benzodiazepines like alprazolam and clonazepam. They effectively reduce the frequency of panic attack almost immediately. Initially, patients are advised to take this drug four times a day. Side effects caused by these drugs include sedation and memory loss.

MAO inhibitors like phenelzine and Tricyclic antidepressants like imipramine are effective but not without side effects.

How Bolton Wellbeing Clinic can cure patients suffering from panic attack

David R Behan’s Bolton Wellbeing Clinic at 10 Harley Street in Bolton is the destination for those patients who want to get rid of panic attacks. David R Behan is a highly experienced consultant and hypnotherapist. He excels in treating patients who are victims of psycholgical or physical ailments created by the mind. Many people from around the world have benefited from his treatment.

 

 

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What do our clients say?

David exceeded my expectations as i'd previously seen many practitioners who just couldn't deliver on their promises. My Phobia that had held me back for many years has now completely gone and i am now living life to the full.

Laura, Wigan

After only 3 sessions my stress and the weight i was carrying had started to melt away. With the stress management tools and actionable life changing steps we worked on, i can now handle any stresses that life throws at me.

Sarah, Bolton

I am truly grateful to David and Bolton Wellbeing Clinic for giving me back control of my life. Using various subtle techniques such as Hypnotherapy, TFT, EMDR, etc, I experienced profound change allowing me to let the past go.

Andy, Manchester

 

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