Best Panic Attack Treatment

by Dr. Lindsay Kramer, psychotherapist and staff writer at The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
www.KickFear.com

            Have you experienced feelings of intense fear and apprehension that seem to occur out of nowhere?  Have you been completely normal one minute and the next moment your heart was racing, you are short of breath, and your sense of terror has skyrocketed?  If any of this sounds familiar, you may have experienced a panic attack.  
            Panic attacks, or panic disorder (the condition of having repeated attacks) is not all that uncommon.  Research states that approximately 6 million people in the United States are affected by this disorder.  The most defining characteristic of a panic attack is a sudden onset of terror that is disproportional or unrelated to one’s current situation or circumstance.  Physical symptoms that may occur include sweating, heart palpitations, weakness, dizziness, hot or cold chills, chest and stomach pain, breathing difficulties, and tingly or numb hands.  “I thought I was having a heart attack!” is commonly heard after one experiences a panic attack.  These attacks can occur anytime, anywhere—on a date, walking to the grocery store, or even during sleep.  Though they are frequently short-lasting (usually ten minutes or less), panic attacks can take a huge toll on one’s life.  The unpredictability factor leaves people concerned with when the next attack will transpire, which in turn can severely interfere with daily functioning.  Needless to say, panic disorder can be emotionally debilitating … unless it is treated properly and effectively.

 Treatment For Panic Attacks

           How does one get treatment for panic attacks?  What is the best treatment out there and where does one begin the process of seeking help?  If you are reading this article, you are already headed in the right direction toward recovery and relief.

            Some people in the medical field believe that medication can be helpful in treating panic attacks, particularly anti-anxiety medications (i.e. Xanax or Ativan).  However, the underlying truth to using medication to treat panic disorder is congruent to that of a band-aid metaphor, but a band-aid that hurts in the long run.  These medications, though mind-numbing, are highly addictive.  They can also encourage more anxiety by reinforcing a desire to escape.  In fact, some studies have shown that using these medications can actually produce anxiety symptoms and panic attacks. 

            So how do you “heal” panic disorder?  The key is CBT!  Cognitive-Behavioral psychotherapy has been proven scientifically effective in not only the prevention of panic disorder but also in curing the anxiety attacks, so they eventually vanish.  At The April Center, we provide Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy or CBT to assist people in learning how to deal with the panic symptoms using various specialized techniques, such as zen meditation and exposure with response prevention.  Staff therapists focus on teaching people different methods of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations which may previously have caused heightened fear or arousal.  Working collaboratively in a safe and nurturing environment, the therapist can help the person find new and healthy ways of altering the negative thought patterns that lead to feelings of anxiety or panic.

            So, if you or someone you know is suffering from panic attacks or panic disorder, the best panic attack treatment is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy.  So stop suffering and get started!  You can break free!

All the best,
DR.  KRAMER  
from The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles

P. S.  Don't forget to sign up for our anxiety newsletter on our website's home page where you'll receive free anxiety tips!
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CBT For Agoraphobia: Progress With Treatment Awaits

 by Dr. Craig April, Director of The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
www.KickFear.com


Many view Agoraphobia as a complicated phobia, due to its tendency to permeate so many aspects of the sufferer's life.  In fact, in my field it is labeled as a "complex phobia" as opposed to a "simple phobia".  However, it really isn't that complicated or complex, just involved. Recently, I wrote a blog post on what Agoraphobia is about, in addition to its typical symptoms.  If interested, it's entitled Agoraphobia, Panic Attacks and You.  In this post,  however, I'll be focusing on treatment. 

CBT for Agoraphobia is the key form of treatment and the only one that is research proven.  Unfortunately, rather than receiving phobia treatment from an anxiety doctor or specialist who can provide it, many with this phobia are still wasting time with traditional therapy that has not been proven to work.  As far as CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) is concerned, it easy to see why it has been scientifically shown to help those with this anxiety disorder make progress.

Why CBT works for Agoraphobia and all other phobias:

The only way to overcome fear is by taking action, not by talking about it and reviewing why you have it.  CBT is about ACTION.

"What kind of action?"

The action of CBT takes many forms.

One form of action is identifying the perspectives that encourage one's Agoraphobia.  These perspectives, because they are false and only lead to fear, need to be changed.  Working on changing these perspectives and seeing one's life experience differently is one form of taking action.  For example, Agoraphobic thoughts tell you that you are trapped with no easy escape or without any help easily available.  This then encourages a panic attack or leads to panic attack symptoms.  However, CBT can help you shift your perspective in these anxiety producing moments, so that you realize you're in no present danger.  This perspective shift is one aspect of the Cognitive Therapy piece of CBT. 

Another form of action is the type that most associate with CBT.  This is called Exposure therapy.  In order to truly overcome Agoraphobia, one must face fear and anxiety.  You might anxiously be asking, "But is CBT going to force me to face all of my anxiety at once?"  CBT doesn't force anyone to do anything they're not ready and willing to do.  Also, based on how quickly an Agoraphobia sufferer is ready to move forward, Exposure therapy is best done gradually.  Each step builds confidence as one begins to face panic attack symptoms and situations they have been avoiding.  Taking action in this way is empowering and a great confidence booster.  Once you begin, you'll see that progress can provide comfort with:

standing in lines,
being stuck in traffic,
being on a crowded elevator,
driving out of your comfort zone,
being alone without a support person . . .

and all the other classic symptoms of Agoraphobia you thought you could never face.  More importantly, once your brain adapts to your anxiety provoking stimuli (your scary, anxious situations), it will no longer trigger the fight or flight response and adrenaline surge that encourage panic attack time!

Agoraphobia, though involved, is just like any fear.  And fear can be conquered!

For information on our treatment options for Agoraphobia at The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management, just follow the link.

 All the best,

DR. APRIL 
Director of The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles

P. S.  Don't forget to sign up for my anxiety newsletter on my website's home page where you'll receive free anxiety tips!
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photo credit: Kaptain Kobold via photopin cc

Panic Disorder is a fear of fear?

Panic disorder is created from a fear of fear.  

If you have ever had a panic attack, you most likely can relate.  More often than not, due to the intense experience one undergoes during their first panic attack, one then fears having another.

This fear of having another panic attack is really just a fear of experiencing bodily sensations many associate with fear - rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, difficulty breathing, tingling in the hands and feet, etc.  

Unfortunately, the more you fear panic, the greater the likelihood that you'll panic.  

Remember this reality that panic disorder is just fear of fear.  It might put things in perspective.  If fear can't really hurt you, than fearing fear is certainly unproductive.

Follow this link for more on panic attacks and how to resolve them.