Stopping Panic Attacks: A Beginners Guide

Have you been diagnosed with either panic attacks or panic disorders?  This is more common that you would think.  It appears that the pressure of modern living are causeing more and more people to become victims of this stress and anxiety bases illness.  There is a difference between raised stress levels and a panic attacks.  One of the defining aspects of a panic attack is the way in which it takes you by surprise and the extreme physical reaction.   A panic attack is not only being overhelmed by fear and anxiety it is also a selection of physical symptoms, often including trembling, shortness of breath, a racing heartbeat and possibly chest pains.  Many people suffering a panic attack, especially if it is their first, will think that they are having a heart attack. 

The feeling of total despair during and after a panic attack is indescribable to anyone who has never suffered one.  The good news is that these are controllable with a combination of medication and therapy.  Stopping panic attacks is possible, but you will need to take positive action, without making an effort to stop panic attacks they are likely to get worst and lead to panic disorders.

The first port of call in stopping panic attacks is to visit your doctor.  He will be able to prescribe medications such as beta blockers, although these are not the solution to stopping panic attacks they will help to control the racing heart beat and other physical symptoms associated with panic attacks.  If you are looking at stopping panic attacks altogether then you will have to consider cognitive behavioral therapy as well.  Once you have been referred to a psychotherapist or psychologist they will try to work with you in stopping the panic attacks by finding out what the triggers are for the attacks and then trying to rationalize the irrational emotions which cause the physical reaction of a panic attack.

During therapy designed specifically for stopping panic attacks you will learn to identify the situations and triggers for your panic attacks and then you will learn to change your reaction in these situations.  You will learn to react to these situations with and emotion which will not lead to a panic attack.  This change in behavior will help to prevent panic attacks and will be a technique which you will be able to use in any stressful situations.

There is no actually cure for stopping panic attacks, but the treatments do have a good success rate.  Do not delay in seeking help if you have suffered a panic attack, the sooner you deal wit the situation the less likely you are to develop a panic disorder.