What is a good form of treatment for panic attacks? There are a few viable options available to you if you are suffering from panic attacks, but you first need to understand your problem if you are successfully going to deal with it. Panic attacks are sudden periods of anxiety or fear often accompanied by more physiological symptoms such as nausea, stomach discomfort, or chest pain, among other things. Those who experience panic attacks say that they are one of the worst feelings that they have ever felt; that they feel like they have lost total control of themselves. Panic attacks are actually a human form of the 'fight or flight' response found in animals and are therefore an ingrained way in which the human psyche deals with stress.

So how do you cope with panic attacks? Well, an easy first step is to seek counseling. Often, simply speaking to a professional about your problems will be enough to help you deal with them. It is a big step to admit that you have such problems, but if you are having panic attacks, it is time to deal with it. Rest assured that licensed professionals, such as psychologists or psychiatrists, take on patients with much more serious issues than yours and will not sit in judgment of you. Like your physician, they are there to help.

Another option is medication. Often, your counselor will be able to recommend someone to you that can write you an appropriate prescription for the medication you need. If you are already seeing a psychiatrist, they can write you a prescription. There are a few medications available that successfully treat panic attacks. First, there is paroxetine (AKA Paxil) and sertraline (AKA Zoloft). Both are antidepressants that have been approved by the FDA for long-term treatment of panic disorder. These antidepressants can often vanquish the panic attacks altogether and have mild side effects, if any. They are mild medications that don't change your personality or any of the other horror stories you may have heard. They allow you to be you.

A couple of other effective medications available are alprazolam (AKA Xanax) and clonazepam (AKA Klonopin). These medications are used to treat fear and anxiety and are only for use for short periods due to their potency. Because of this, you should stick to your doctor's recommendations (as you always should when taking medication) when taking these medications.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, you should rest easy knowing that there are treatments available for you if you are suffering from panic attacks. Panic attacks are a relatively common problem among our populace that has been successfully treated for years and you should not be embarrassed if you are one of the many that has to deal with them. They are an evolutionary way that our species deals with stress, left over from days of old. A licensed professional can free you of your burden with counseling, medication, or both. Seek treatment for panic attacks, you won't be sorry.