Monday, December 7, 2009

Cure Panic Attacks - Treatment Options

By Greg Anderson

Anxiety and one of its key symptoms - panic attacks ? need treatment. The most obvious reason to seek treatment for anxiety is to eliminate the often crippling impact it has on sufferers? lives. An equally important reason is that without treatment, anxiety sufferers risk of developing even more serious anxiety-based disorders and behavioral problems. It is essential to seek an effective treatment for anxiety that will address current symptoms and prevent them worsening.

Finding the treatment that you feel comfortable with is very important in the treatment of anxiety. There are several effective options available, and it is just a matter of finding the one that is the best fit for your situation. If you find one treatment ineffective, you will likely find another an ideal solution. There is something out there for every patient.

Being at ease with your anxiety treatment is of course a key element of how successful it will be.

Here are the main options for the treatment of anxiety:

Medications Prescribed for Anti-Anxiety

There are many drugs available that treat anxiety specifically or in the process of treating related conditions. For instance, many anti-depressants also have a positive impact on anxiety and panic attacks. Drugs specifically for anxiety included Ativan, taken ?as needed? at the onset of a panic attack, and Valium (diazepam), used to reduce general anxiety levels.

Using medication to treat anxiety can be effective, but it is not really a long term solution. These drugs can be very addictive, and should not be taken for extended periods. Additionally, such medications are not able to stop the core causes of anxiety, they just deal with the symptoms.

Anxiety Treatment With Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis is a completely natural and for many, highly effective option for treating anxiety. Hypnotherapy combats anxiety by inducing deep relaxation, allowing underlying causes to be explored and responses to be retrained through hypnotic suggestion.

However, anxiety can present a real problem in hypnosis. Many people who suffer from anxiety are unable to relax sufficiently to be hypnotized. Hypnotherapy is also less effective on panic attacks. Especially in the case of severe panic attacks, hypnosis alone will not generally be sufficient to combat the problem. Most hypnotherapists who take on new patients with severe panic attacks will insist on the patient getting concurrent cognitive therapy or psychological counseling.

Self-hypnosis exercises practiced in the safe and familiar environment of home can provide some relief from anxiety but again, does little for acute anxiety expressed as panic attacks.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is often used in anti-anxiety treatment and is one of the more popular treatments today. CBT based programs help the patient to respond differently to their anxiety and panic attack triggers. CBT looks for the faulty thought patterns that allow anxiety to occur,and help the patient to change these patterns.

Cognitive therapy for anxiety and panic attack sufferers typically involves exercises with timetables to ensure progress but it can be a lengthy process. However, it is an anxiety treatment that safely and effectively addresses the root causes of anxiety and provides a lasting, usually life-long solution.

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