Panic attacks Treatment and Prevention

A fundamental step of treatment is to understand the cycle and the psychological dimension involved in panic attacks.

The treatment of panic disorder usually involves a combination of medication and behavioral therapy and / or cognitive. The goals of treatment are to reduce the number and frequency of panic attacks and thereby improve the quality of life of the person.

The doctor may also make the recommendation of a behavioral therapy such as exposure therapy or relaxation in order to reduce fear and anxiety. During exposure therapy, the patient is slowly exposed to the same position as that triggered the panic attack, until the fear and anxiety decrease to reach a sustainable level or to end disappear. In the case of relaxation therapy, the patient is given of techniques that allow it to relax in situations that previously triggered panic attacks.

We can also recommend cognitive therapy (psychotherapy). Cognitive therapy attempts to change the thought patterns of the patient by helping them analyze their reactions to the triggers of panic attacks.

Psychotherapy, combined with a number of relaxation methods, such as acupuncture, meditation, etc., give very good results. It is of course the patient, assisted or not, to adopt those that best fit.

In addition, techniques such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), originally planned for the Treatment of post-traumatic seizures, or mild hypnotic techniques (Ericksonian hypnosis) can reconfronter people with panic attacks their memories of crisis, and especially to clear these past-their emotional hyperintense major factor avoidance and thus of increasing attacks.

The technique TIPI (Technical Identification of sensory unconscious fear) which is to revive the body what he remembered as a result of trauma most often intra-uterine devices) can "turn off" the lasting and very quickly origin of anxiety.


The drug may be indicated in cases of repeated crises. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam, lorazepam, alprazolam and clonazepam are usually prescribed for this purpose. The mere fact that the patient has the medication in their possession may be anxiolytic and prevent the development of a crisis. However, these drugs can cause addiction, and are not always effective, especially during crises which appear in a brutal way. A beta blocker non-selective propranolol (Avlocardyl), to block discharge of adrenaline and stop annoying symptoms such as palpitations, tremors, and can be taken promptly, with good tolerance and non-addictive. Propranolol works
very well for example in the prevention of trac artists.


Some doctors prefer prescribing SSRI antidepressants (much better tolerated than tricyclic antidepressants called), which after a specified period are effective in preventing panic attacks. Taking antidepressant or anxiolytic may put off some people, but it is sometimes necessary.

It is also common for patients, feeling better after a short period of treatment, decided to stop all treatment, this is a mistake.

Indeed, the abrupt cessation of Treatment type antidepressant and anxiolytic without cessation or long (weeks to months) may bring back symptoms even worse.

With the help of a treatment, not only medical but also psychotherapy, patients with panic disorder are usually able to regain their balance, however, relapse is possible.

Panic Attacks Symptoms

occurring simultaneously with the sudden appearance or repetition at least four of Symptoms the following:

• with chest pain or discomfort in the chest;

• Suffocation;

• dizziness, feeling faint or loss of balance;

• the impression of not finding a place in its environment;

• fear of losing control on self;

• fear of dying;

• hot flashes or chills;

• nausea, stomach pain or diarrhea;

• numbness or tingling;

• heart palpitations;

• transpiration;

• tremors;

• difficulty breathing.

Panic Attacks Symptoms

usually last no more than 10 minutes. However, because the symptoms affecting the lungs, heart and other major organs, the person may fear that she suffers from a severe disorder that makes the use of an emergency medical treatment necessary.

However, the panic attack symptoms is usually completed when the doctor examines the person who has just undergone a crisis.

Since panic attacks symptoms

are not expected, often the person worries of the appearance of a new crisis. When the person starts avoiding places where she had a panic attacks is that it may develop a condition called agoraphobia. This type of anxiety disorder pushes the person to avoid many places (including places where there are many people) to the point of sometimes confined to her home.


In other words Panic attack Symptoms

Diagnosis of panic attacks

The doctor will diagnose panic attacks based on symptoms of the patient, family history and physical examination. The doctor also rule out any other medical factors may be involved before establishing this diagnosis.

Causes of Panic Attacks

There appears to be some genetic component in panic disorder. However, those with no family history of this disorder may develop.


The events distressing or contact with an element related to a phobia may contribute to the onset of a panic attack. This can also occur following an episode of depression, thoughts too repetitive, intense feelings of insecurity, events that become too heavy to carry.

The panic attacks can also accompany a physiological functioning of the heart, mitral valve prolapse.

We do not know completely the exact cause of panic disorder. However, research suggests that panic disorder may be caused by imbalances of certain chemicals in the brain. panic disorder also tends to be hereditary, and the presence of an important genetic factor is likely. Too much stress and a history of trauma are also factors that may be associated with the onset of panic disorder.

Panic disorder can also be caused by certain conditions such as overactive thyroid gland (called hyperthyroidism) and some disorders of the heart.


Some the phenomena triggers for panic attack include:

alcohol in large quantities;
excessive consumption of caffeine (eg. coffee, tea, cola);
taking stimulants or cocaine;
taking or suddenly stopping of some drugs sold on ordo.

Description of Panic Attacks

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. People with this disorder may experience such a degree of anxiety, a situation that they feel affect their lives daily. Although most people have already experienced a panic attack during their life, precipitated by specific events or situations, crises of panic disorder often arise suddenly and for no apparent reason.

Panic disorder affects up to 3% of people in Canada and produced two or three times more often in women than in men. This disorder can occur at any age but is most common in young adults.

The risk of suffering from panic disorder increases if one of your family has a history of the disease or have been abused, if you have experienced a traumatic event, many stress the need to adapt to major changes in your life.

Introduction to Panic Attacks

The majority of patients prone to panic attacks report a fear of dying, «going crazy» or losing control of their emotions or their behavior. These impressions usually result in very painful need to escape the gaze of others seeking an isolated area where only shut until the sense of unease disappear partially or completely, or, according to DSM-IV-TR, «an urgent desire to flee the place where any kind of attack is occurrence».

To the extent that it often feels chest pain or breathing difficulties, the patient feels that his life is in danger, which causes frequent use of emergency services (EMS).

The panic attack is distinguished from other forms of anxiety by its intensity and its sudden, episodic nature. The subjects often suffer from other anxiety disorders such as agoraphobia or other psychological disorders related to anxiety - panic attacks are not symptoms of mental illness. About 10% of the general population knows the experience of an isolated panic attack per year, about one in 60 is subject to panic disorder during her lifetime.

Phobias the persons can experience panic attacks in response to exposure to the object of their phobia. These crises are usually short and resolve when the exposure ceases.

Chronic anxiety can lead to situations where a crisis immediately succeeds another, creating a burnout in a few days.