Panic attacks are frightening experiences, especially if you’re unsure of what is triggering them. For many people, a panic attack is a brief episode of extreme fear which often results in severe physical reactions, particularly when there’s no obvious cause or threat. Most individuals have only one or two panic attacks over their lifetimes, usually after a stressful event, and they usually go away after a while. Others develop panic attacks more frequently and may find them to be a recurring problem. While panic attacks can be terrifying, the disorder itself is quite treatable, as long as it’s identified and treated early.
The most common trigger for panic attacks is caffeine withdrawal. When an individual stops taking medications for any reason, such as for depression, they may experience a craving for their medication of choice. This is why doctors prescribe medications like Celexa or Lexapro for those who take anxiety medications in order to alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Other possible triggers for panic attacks include certain types of foods and drinks, as well as respiratory disorders, hypoglycemia, PMS, and many other illnesses and conditions. Because every individual reacts differently to their environments, it’s important that you visit your doctor regularly to check up on your health and make sure you aren’t suffering from underlying disorders. These can range from more serious disorders such as bipolar disorder to much more minor problems with anxiety or depression.
In order to better understand panic disorder and determine its severity, it helps to look at its symptoms. These symptoms can occur all of a sudden, or they can occur over time. For example, some people only experience panic attacks during times of high stress, or panic attacks, which only happen once in a blue moon. Generally, these panic attacks occur when someone is faced with a real or perceived threat and then turn into a general anxiety or depression. They also generally don’t occur in situations where there are no threats.
When it comes to panic attacks and the various treatment options available, there are two main approaches used to treat them. The first is known as psychotherapy, and the second is known as medication. Each approach has its pros and cons, and you should discuss your symptoms with both your doctor and a qualified therapist so that you can decide which one is right for you. Medication, while effective for some, can also be quite dangerous and have serious side effects.
Psychotherapy is an approach which attempts to determine the root cause of a person’s panic attacks by helping the patient discover the triggers that lead to panic attacks. Often this involves identifying the negative physical symptoms which lead up to the attacks, as well as the physical symptoms that occur after the attack occurs. In many cases, this kind of therapy is recommended as a means of preventing future attacks. In addition to identifying the triggers that cause panic attacks, psychotherapy helps patients discover the emotional factors that lead up to their occurrence.
Medications are a method of dealing with panic disorder often recommended by doctors if other methods have been tried unsuccessfully. Though they do not cure panic attacks, these drugs usually manage to reduce the symptoms associated with them. This medication may be taken in an oral form or can be taken by placing it under the tongue. Though they do not cure panic attacks, they can certainly manage to bring down their severity and duration.
No matter what form of therapy is used in conjunction with psychotherapy, it’s important to remember that panic disorders are not necessarily caused by mental illness. Although serious medical conditions like depression can also result in intense fear, most panic attacks are caused by a person’s own psychological fears. So when taking any sort of medication, it’s important to ensure that it is appropriate for your particular type of panic disorder. The wrong medication could also make things worse, causing more problems than it already is.