30 Mar, 24

Therapeutic Approaches to Panic Attack Treatment

 

As the world around us gets more and more sophisticated with gadgets and tools, the number of people who suffer from panic attacks also increases. Worrying takes a dangerous turn when anxiety becomes a panic attack. But do not lose hope because there are efficient treatments available across various platforms to overcome panic attacks.

What Exactly Is A Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a quick, intense feeling of fear or discomfort that can reach its peak within minutes. It is common for a number of physical and mental signs to happen at the same time. Among these physical signs are a fast heart rate, chest pain, shaking, trembling, lack of breath, and feeling sick. Psychologically, people may feel great fear, terror, or a sense that things are not real, which can cause them to avoid things and cause a lot of grief.

Panic attacks can be caused by many things, such as genetics, bodily weaknesses, mental health issues, and stressful situations in the surroundings. Psychotherapy, medicine, and changes to one's lifestyle are often used together in treatment. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can help people change negative thought habits and learn new ways to deal with problems, and medications like SSRIs or benzodiazepines can help ease symptoms. Many people can learn to control their panic attacks and make them less frequent and severe with the right help, but they need to get help from mental health professionals in order to do this.

Therapeutic Approaches to Panic Attack Treatment

People utilize psychotherapy, medication, and lifestyle modifications to treat panic attacks. CBT is one of the greatest panic attack treatments. CBT helps panic sufferers examine and alter their negative thoughts and beliefs. It also teaches stress-reduction techniques like breathing and steadily placing yourself in scary situations to reduce panic attacks.

To relieve symptoms and prevent recurrence, medications may be prescribed. Many people use antidepressants like SSRIs and SNRIs. They can assist anxiety and panic attack sufferers manage brain neurotransmitters. Benzodiazepines can temporarily relieve severe panic episodes, but they can induce reliance and resistance. Along with treatment and medication, lifestyle modifications like working out, managing stress, and avoiding stimulants like nicotine and caffeine can reduce panic attacks. Support from mental health professionals and support groups can also help panickers manage their emotions.

Therapeutic approaches to panic attack treatment typically involve a combination of psychotherapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and self-help strategies. Here are some of the main therapeutic approaches:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Organized treatment that targets problematic thoughts, attitudes, and actions that induce panic episodes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps people recognize and examine panic-inducing thoughts such overestimating or catastrophizing danger. Cognitive restructuring and other ways help people perceive situations more objectively, reducing anxiety. Cognitive behavioral treatment includes exposure exercises. These activities gradually expose participants to panic attack-related fears and physical sensations. This reduces trigger sensitivity and teaches them panic episodes are safe. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches individuals how to relax and solve issues to manage stress and prevent panic episodes. CBT empowers individuals to become their own physicians and improve their quality of life.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)

It is a structured program that incorporates yoga, body awareness, and mindfulness meditation to reduce stress and improve mood. Mindfulness helps people observe their thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations without judgment. This can disrupt the worry-fear loop. People learn to address their fears more clearly and powerfully by being present. Even when their sensations are painful or transient, MBSR teaches people to be receptive and compassionate. According to study, MBSR can significantly lower anxiety in panic attack sufferers. Mindfulness helps you feel calmer and more balanced, making it easier to face difficult situations. MBSR helps patients create a healthy connection with their thoughts and feelings, reducing panic attacks over time.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) is a mindfulness-based treatment that fosters flexibility and values-based behavior. ACT helps people accept their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without trying to alter them. Mindfulness skills help people perceive their thoughts and feelings more objectively, reducing the likelihood that they may react fast to panic episodes. ACT also helps people define their values and develop objectives, giving their life meaning. Practical chores and metaphors help people stop thinking negatively and care for themselves. By motivating individuals to act on their principles even when they're nervous, ACT builds resilience and mental flexibility. ACT shifts the focus from symptoms to having a meaningful life, helping people overcome fear and live a fuller existence.

Exposure therapy

Behavior therapy called exposure therapy includes repeatedly engaging your fears in a safe and regulated way. Through gradual exposure, exposure treatment helps panic attack sufferers stop avoiding things that make them feel terrible. Exposure exercises may be done by vividly picturing or facing scary scenarios. Repeated exposure teaches people that their fears don't happen. This reduces anxiety over time. Exposure treatment helps with habituation, which reduces panic episodes after repeated trigger exposure. Exposure therapy helps people learn coping strategies and overcome their concerns. Exposure therapy is a proven panic disorder treatment. It helps patients regain control and reduce panic attacks.

Medicine

Panic attack sufferers typically utilize medicine and treatment to manage their symptoms, especially if they are severe or impair their daily life. Depression patients are typically prescribed SSRIs and SNRIs to regulate brain chemistry and reduce panic episodes. These medicines increase serotonin and norepinephrine. These molecules regulate mood and anxiety.

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques assist people manage stress and worry's bodily impacts, making them essential to managing panic attacks. For relaxation, deep breathing involves slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing. Progressive muscle relaxation steadily tenses and relaxes muscular units to reduce stress. Guided imagery uses visualization and mental pictures to relax you by removing unpleasant thoughts and sensations. These relaxation techniques can be utilized daily or when you need to calm down from intense worry or terror.

Adjust your lifestyle

One of the best ways to manage panic attacks and enhance mental health is to adjust your lifestyle. Regular exercise reduces anxiety and boosts happiness by generating endorphins and relaxing you. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, complete grains, and lean meats nourishes your brain and emotions.

Support groups

Support groups can assist panic disorder sufferers find acceptance, motivation, and symptom management. Connecting with individuals who understand anxiety and panic attacks can help. Sharing personal tales and opinions with a loving community helps reduce shame and isolation and foster acceptance and belonging.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback employs tracking devices to teach people how to manage heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature. Real-time input on how their bodies are behaving can help people manage these processes and reduce anxiety and terror. Biofeedback training uses body sensors. Sensors display or audibly report physiological signals. Practice and repetition help people consciously adjust their physiological reactions, reducing anxiety. Daily biofeedback techniques including deep breathing, gradual muscle relaxation, and guided visualizations can help people relax and reduce stress. Biofeedback can assist panic disorder patients manage their symptoms and enhance their health. Practice and a qualified therapist can help people manage panic episodes.

Self-Help Strategies

These help people manage panic episodes and enhance their mental health. Keeping a panic attack record helps patients chronicle their symptoms, identify triggers, and measure their progress. Working exercise, eating right, and getting enough sleep can reduce panic attacks and improve your health. Cognitive restructuring removes negative thoughts and beliefs, resulting in more balanced and realistic views. Fear and concern decrease. Acute panic symptoms can be managed by learning calming techniques, grounding exercises, and strategies to avoid thinking about unpleasant things. Sports and other enjoyable hobbies reduce stress and build emotional strength.

Therapeutic Solution

If you have tried everything to cure panic attacks and have seen no luck so far, give therapeutic treatments a try. Zivanza and our team of expert psychologists are all set to help you root out the causes of these panic attacks and solve them once and for all!

 

Contact us

Recent Posts

Recent Posts

Speak to our Expert

+971 52 167 7884

Consult our Doctors

Book Appointment