Can You Cure Panic Attacks?

A panic attack is the abrupt onset of intense unease and fear. Your breathing becomes irregular and your heart is beating so rapidly it feels like it wants to escape from your chest. You feel like you’re going to choke, you’re sweating like crazy, your stomach is reliving your butterfly days, you’re shaking uncontrollably and you feel like you’re going to faint. You may even feel stabs of pain in your chest. If left untreated, panic attacks may lead to worse conditions such as panic disorder. But the question most people ask is how can you cure panic attacks?

Contrary to most beliefs, panic attacks do not happen on schedule.  Oftentimes, they usually come out of the blue and occur without any reason. Panic attacks also vary in the time of occurrence. Some people experience panic attacks once while others experience reoccurrence over time. This makes it even more complicated to cure panic attacks.

Although administration of medication plays a major part in the treatment of panic attacks, therapies are usually used as a form of primary intervention. Cognitive behavioral therapy is mainly used for people with panic attacks because it is believed to be the most effective form of therapy in this case. It is a “talking therapy”, which intends to solve dilemmas that directly affect emotions, thoughts and behaviors by means of a goal-oriented, methodical process. It centers on the thought patterns and behaviors that may aggravate or trigger the panic attack thereby making you see your condition more realistically. Cognitive behavioral therapy is also widely used to treat panic disorders and agoraphobia.

Another therapy, the exposure therapy, can also be used in the treatment of panic attacks. This therapy is done by exposing the person to a physical perception of panic in a controlled environment by exercises that create the same physical manifestations of panic attacks. This therapy provides you with a chance to gain better ways of coping in stressful situations.

Alongside therapies, people suffering from panic attacks are also given several medications to help ease their symptoms. Benzodiazepines are usually given on the initial onset of a panic attack. It is an anti-anxiety drug that increases the effect of Gamma-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) in the brain. This causes sedation, drowsiness, decreased anxiety, prevents convulsion and muscle relaxation. Benzodiazepines can be grouped into short-term and long-term acting anti-anxiety drugs. However, long-acting benzodiazepines are commonly used in patient with panic attacks and other anxiety disorders. Its side effects include lack of coordination, depression, decreased sexual libido, problems with impotence and hypertension. Liver toxicity is also known to occur but it is very rare.

For long-term control of panic attacks, antidepressants are usually given. The therapeutic effects of these drugs are only noticeable after continuous intake of 2 to 4 weeks so it is important to take them religiously.

You should also avoid foods that have alcohol and caffeine in them. Practicing relaxation techniques and learning as much as you can about your condition is also helpful. To cure panic attacks, it is also essential that you are disciplined and determined to stop it.