Panic attack treatments have been given by doctors to those who suffer from the condition for a long time. Anyone who has had to cope with the debilitating fear and discomfort of an attack will certainly put them to use when they feel the effects of an attack building up. But many have had cause to question their effectiveness.
Typical panic attack treatments used to calm oneself during an episode can be illustrated with a familiar scene:
You’re standing in line at the supermarket, waiting your turn, another chore in an ordinary day. Suddenly, you feel a familiar and unpleasant sensation in your throat, making your breath come in shorter gasps. A tightness forms in your chest, and your heart begins to beat erratically. You know this feeling. You dread this feeling. The more you begin to recognize and fear what is happening to you, the worse it gets: now you feel dizzy, you begin to tremble, and your stomach begins to cramp. Despite your whispered plea that you be spared this ordeal, you’re convinced it’s only a matter of seconds before you’re going to tip over into a full-blown panic attack. So in an effort to cope, you do what you’ve been taught to try to nip this crisis in the bud.
First among the panic attack treatments in your arsenal is an exercise in breathing deeply. Breathe in through your nose, breathe out through your mouth, all the while concentrating on thinking relaxing thoughts. But out there in public, you can’t help feeling self conscious, and the stress level continues to grow, rendering this technique pretty useless.
Next you try the second of the panic attack treatments your doctor recommends: a gradual relaxation of your muscles. You begin by tensing your shoulders, holding that for about 10 seconds, and then releasing. You do it a second, and then a third time. But as each repetition yields no result, your stress increases with each failed attempt. As you realize your stash of coping techniques is running out, your fear increases and negative emotions begin to escalate.
The last of the panic attack treatments you know of is finally put into action: you drop the groceries and get out. Adrenaline is pumping through you, and fleeing is the only option you feel is left to you. Your panic has convinced you that these are possibly your final moments, the end has arrived, and you’re finally going to go bananas right here, right now, in front of God and everyone. Running at least might get you somewhere private for your ultimate meltdown.
In time, perhaps in 10, 20, 30, or 60 minutes, your panic will have gone and you can breathe easier. But you are still feeling terrible, and you are still without your groceries.
There are differences in triggers, physical sensations, and intensity, but the above is probably very familiar to people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks. It is an intensely real and overwhelming fear that something very, very bad is about to happen, and while they may find no comfort in this fact, they are not alone. It’s estimated that about 5% of the population suffer from some form of anxiety disorder.
But if the panic attack treatments they’ve all learned to manage their symptoms aren’t doing the job, what’s left to try? Is there an alternative to simply suffering, or a lifetime of medication? Isn’t there a way to stop a panic attack before it starts, eliminating the need to cope with them, with little success, after the fact? The fact is, it’s entirely possible to put an end to the vicious cycle of panic attacks. It’s not another of those panic attack treatments that don’t work; it’s a method whereby the fear is eliminated by facing it squarely. We all know, deep in our hearts, that we can only conquer a fear by turning to look it in the face. No matter where we run, the fear will only follow. While it seems contradictory, the best of all panic attack treatments is to deliberately dare one to come.
The fact is, it’s entirely possible to put an end to the vicious cycle of panic attacks. It’s not another of those panic attack treatments that don’t work; it’s a method whereby the fear is eliminated by facing it squarely. We all know, deep in our hearts, that we can only conquer a fear by turning to look it in the face. No matter where we run, the fear will only follow. While it seems contradictory, the best of all panic attack treatments is to deliberately dare one to come.
If you voluntarily move toward an anxiety attack, instead of fighting to hold it off, the control begins to move back to you. You begin to wield the power over the situation, not your panic. You’ll learn that consciously choosing to experience and confront a panic attack renders it far less likely that you’ll even be able to have one. While you may understand on an intellectual level that a panic attack can’t hurt you, it’s only when you realize this emotionally that you will start becoming victorious over your demons. This technique will prove to you that you can face, confront, and conquer your fear.
