How To Treat Panic Attack

Wondering how to treat a panic attack? Every year approximately 40 million Americans will be affected by an anxiety attack while 6.8 million will be afflicted with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Symptoms of a panic attack include shortness of breath, accelerated heartbeat, feelings of terror, nervousness, shaking, dizziness, anxiety or trembling. Some people may even experience tingling in their fingers and toes, hot flashes or sudden chills.

1. Diagnosis. Recognizing that anxiety is the problem is half the battle and learning how to treat panic attacks is essential for recovery. People who experience these attacks typically will avoid shopping malls, restaurants, churches, classes, driving, airplanes and elevators in an effort to ward off an attack. This type of isolation can lead to agoraphobia, and if left untreated, these symptoms can lead to psychological depression.
2. Medication. Panic attacks are currently treated with such medications as Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, Sinequan, and Tofranil. A primary care physician can prescribe these medications, but they can take up to four to six weeks to start working against panic attacks. As these medications build up in the system over time, they reach a certain level that brings relief of the panic attack symptoms.
3. Meditation. This is an alternative to traditional medicine, but it can be very effective at controlling anxiety. Patients use meditation to focus the mind on a thought or object, while letting go of other thoughts or problems. There are many resources available for meditations that are geared towards how to treat panic attacks. Mindfulness meditation is one that has been known to work very well.

Many sufferers are at their wits end when it comes to how to treat panic attacks. It can be a terror so paralyzing that it can cause heart palpitations, trembling and even chest pains. Treatment is critical to the recovery process and medication and alternative therapies may be able to help. A physician is the best resource for how to treat anxiety attacks, but many patients have learned how to manage this debilitating condition on their own.