Panic Attack Treatment & Panic Disorder Medication

Genetics can play a major role in those who develop panic disorder. If there is a family history of panic attacks or panic disorder, you have a greater risk. In these cases, a clinical evaluation can determine if panic attack medication is an appropriate tool to help stabilize the body’s physical fear response.

Generalized anxiety disorder is worrying about things that happen every day. People with this disorder may have panic attacks, and they may also have panic disorder.  Chronic stress about everyday issues like money or a career path can also lead to panic attacks.

If you tend to feel anxious a lot of the time, you might be more likely to experience panic attacks. People with specific phobias, like a fear of spiders or heights, can sometimes have a panic attack when they come face-to-face with what scares them. The same goes for someone with agoraphobia, where just being in a place that feels hard to escape from can trigger intense fear. Even social situations can set off a panic attack for those with social anxiety or other mental health conditions. Everyone’s triggers are a little different, but that fear response can be incredibly real.

Women are twice as likely to have panic attacks as men. Because these episodes can start in the late teens and persist throughout adulthood, early access to anxiety attack treatment is vital for preventing long-term disruption to one’s mental and physical health.

Fear of panic attacks can cause you to avoid places you need to go or that you once enjoyed. It can cause you to avoid going out with friends, so you isolate yourself. It may put a strain on critical relationships in your life and make going to school or work difficult.

People who have panic attacks can try to fix them without proper support. However, seeking a specialized panic attack treatment is essential to prevent turning to drugs or alcohol when fear becomes overwhelming.

Panic attack symptoms can take a toll over time. Physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing are taxing on the body, and for some, the right panic attack medication can reduce the frequency and intensity of these physical episodes. You may stop exercising or eat more junk food to avoid going to the store.

Panic attacks also affect you mentally. They can create debilitating anxiety and lead to anxiety disorders. They may cause conditions such as depression or suicidal thoughts. Research shows that people with panic disorder are at high risk for agoraphobia and other mental health issues.5

Effective panic attack treatment usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This evidence-based approach focuses on managing the negative thoughts and triggers that lead to overwhelming fear. The goal is to manage false and negative thoughts to help prevent that overwhelming fear from taking control. For example, thinking you are in danger while standing in the grocery store.

Behavioral therapy deals with how you act when you think false or negative thoughts. For panic attacks, your heart rate increases, and you start having problems breathing.

In some situations, a mental health professional may treat panic attacks with exposure therapy. This is a form of talk therapy that confronts the fears and beliefs that trigger the anxiety. With exposure therapy, you are gradually exposed to something that makes you fearful, but in a safe space to keep you from losing control. Exposure therapy can use relaxation techniques and deep breathing to help you remain calm.

You may need more than one medication along with talk therapy as part of your panic disorder treatment, especially if there is excessive anxiety or other mental disorders. A doctor might prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) to help balance brain chemistry and control physical symptoms of a panic attack or other mental health conditions.

Treating anxiety can involve a combination of therapies along with lifestyle changes. The therapist may suggest you don’t drink alcohol and lower your caffeine intake. They may help you learn relaxation techniques or deep breathing exercises to cope with stress and get enough sleep.

They may recommend regular exercise to help you relax, as well. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals that make you feel good. This may help control the symptoms of a panic attack. A healthy diet rich in omega-3 and whole foods can support your overall health.