Panic Disorder Treatment

A racing heart, aggressively shaking hands and feet and profuse sweating. These symptoms hit you like a train and there is nothing you can do because you are practically frozen to the ground and not able to think straight. That is what it feels like when a person suffers from panic disorder.

A type of anxiety disorder, a panic disorder is a mental problem in which fear is triggered by external stimuli. A patient lives in a constant fear of recurring panic attacks which worsens the symptoms over time. However, panic disorder treatment includes therapies and consistent counselling sessions for a patient to recovers completely.

Here is a comprehensive guide for those who wish to learn more about this disorder and support those affected by it.

What is Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is a sudden panic attack or a series of panic attacks suffered by a person in a stressful situation. It includes a feeling of fear and panic even when a patient is not exposed to any specific stimulant.
A person is said to suffer from a panic disorder when the frequency of these attacks is very common. A panic attack happens without any warning and is not always because of an existing health problem.

Symptoms of Panic Disorder

Before discussing any panic disorder treatment, it is important to understand the symptoms. There are two sets of symptoms exhibited by a patient suffering from panic disorder. They are:

• Physiological Symptoms: These symptoms are felt by a person’s body and the response of organs is evident as other people can see it. Hot flashes, nausea, trembling or shaking of the body, loss of sensation in hands and feet and a sudden tightness in the throat are certain symptoms felt by a person.
• Psychological Symptoms: These symptoms are felt by a person in his mind and the other person might not be able to see it. A sense of impending doom, intense fear of having a subsequent attack and fear of death are some of them.

Certain symptoms resemble a heart attack like shortness of breath and tightness of the chest. Therefore, it is advised to consult a physician as soon as possible if the symptoms persist for long.

Causes of Panic Disorder Among Individuals:

To come up with a panic disorder treatment, a therapist must learn about the causes and history of the patient. A person can suffer from a panic disorder because of multiple reasons.
Here are four main reasons attributed to this mental problem:

• Unaddressed Trauma: A traumatic event can trigger a panic attack. Traumatic attacks scar a person mentally and if left unaddressed, can lead to many problems. A traumatic event can be the death of a loved one, an incident of sexual or physical abuse or even a disease.
  Therefore, a person suffers from a panic attack when he or she is in a similar situation in life again.
• Genetic Reasons: Genes play a major role in triggering a panic attack. An individual is more likely to be sensitive to stressful situations if there is a family history of anxiety disorders.
  The mind of the person will overanalyze a situation and respond to stress accordingly.
• Smoking and Caffeine Intake: A high intake of caffeine mimics the fight-or-flight response of a body. Nicotine in cigarettes increases the blood pressure and heart rate of the body.
  For a person who is prone to panic attacks, this can be mistaken for a response to danger and people can suffer from a full-blown panic attack.
• Substance addiction: Addiction to substances can trigger anxiety attacks because an addict’s cognitive abilities get impaired. Consumption of alcohol disrupts the balance of neurotransmitters and hampers the body’s response system.
  Opioids, on the other hand, make a person more sensitive to stress. The ability to make logical decisions and think rationally gets impaired with increased exposure to drugs and substances.

What Is The Treatment for Panic Disorder?

A panic attack disorder treatment starts with a diagnosis. Diagnosing the severity of the situation is the first step of treatment. Here is how a mental health expert diagnoses if a patient is suffering from a panic disorder:

• Therapists start by interviewing the patient to know about the family history.
• He or she then rules out medical problems like a heart attack, muscle spasms etc or any other such problem that resembles a panic attack.
• Conduct interviews with the patient to learn about his or her history. Therapists then try to analyze what kind of mental health issues the patient’s ancestors suffered from.
• He then makes a diagnosis according to risk factors and other symptoms. Once the severity of the problem is assessed, a treatment plan is formulated accordingly.

Medications Recommended by Mental Health Practitioners:

There are certain certified drugs which provide relief to patients suffering from this mental disorder. However, these panic disorder treatment medications must not be consumed casually. Moreover, casual consumption of these drugs is strictly prohibited.

• Antidepressants Antidepressants are prescribed during a panic attack disorder treatment. Certain antidepressants improve the mood of a patient and enable him or her to think properly. These drugs also manage pain and increase the energy levels of the body.
• Anti-Anxiety Medication Anti-anxiety medication is particularly helpful for patients who experience an increased heart rate during a panic attack. Panic anxiety disorder treatment can be effectively managed with this medication as it reduces nervousness and treats other physical symptoms like sweating, palpitations etc. These medications should be consumed if they are prescribed by certified psychiatrists as side effects can be harmful. A premium panic disorder treatment centre will only prescribe these medicines when it is of utmost importance.

Other Management and Prevention Techniques:

Maintaining overall brain health and ensuring physical well-being is a must to lead a mentally active life. Along with therapies and medications, lifestyle changes are a must. Here are a few changes suggested by psychologists that must be included in panic disorder treatment.

• Regular exercising: A proper exercise regime is a must for people who suffer from panic disorder. A brisk walk of 30 to 40 minutes will keep your blood pressure in check, prevent diabetes, and keep you active during the day.
• Consuming a healthy diet: Avoid packaged food that is packed with artificial sugars. Consuming fresh fruit, seasonal vegetables and eight to ten glasses of water will ensure a healthy gut.
• Avoid caffeine: Over-consumption of caffeine is not good for anyone, especially those who suffer from anxiety disorders. Therefore, make sure that you avoid coffee after 4 pm so that your circadian rhythm is maintained and you get enough sleep at the right time.
• Smart stress management: Avoid stressful situations and maintain distance from people or things that disturb your peace of mind. An experienced psychologist will train you to maintain composure in difficult situations.
• Supplements: Taking supplements like Vitamin D3, B12, and Omega-3 ensure optimal proper mental health. Nuts like walnuts and almonds are highly recommended to people as they improve brain functioning. Magnesium, zinc and folate supplements are prescribed for emotional well-being as these minerals support hormonal balance.

How To Stop a Panic Attack?

Here are a few steps that every patient must remember. The following steps will ensure that a patient remains safe and can handle himself or herself safely.

• Accept that you are having a panic attack. Timely realization is a must to prevent the attack from getting worse. Do not take any hasty steps.
• Deep Breathing helps a lot as it lowers the blood pressure, regulates your breathing speed and calms you down. It will give you some time to concentrate on your condition and enable you to think clearly.
• Relax your muscles and try to calm down. Let your arms loose, stretch a bit and sit down if your legs feel weak. Keep your back straight and shut your eyes so that you can concentrate on your breathing.
• Be mindful and aware of your situation. Check your surroundings and try to divert your attention. Do not look for the trigger and do not think about it.

Conclusion

The best treatment for panic disorder is the perfect combination of therapy, medication and counselling. With cognitive behavioural therapy and exposure therapy, a panic disorder can be treated very effectively. Patients can live a normal life without getting affected by triggers if they make the required lifestyle changes. Taking the right medicines and visiting a good panic disorder treatment with experienced mental health experts is a must.

Jagruti Rehabilitation Centre is a great panic disorder treatment centre for people who wish to lead normal lives and manage this problem. With state-of-the-art facilities and access to premium technological tools, experts at Jagruti rehabilitation centre perform the best treatment.