How to Cure Panic Attacks?

Throughout the United States, roughly one-third of Americans suffer from panic attacks, and there are many more sufferers who have yet to be diagnosed.  As a result, there has been a great deal of attention paid to this affliction, with doctors and others in the medical community devising various ways to help people overcome and ultimately relegate panic attacks to history.  Of course, not all panic attacks are the same, some are of higher or lower intensity, and not all people deal with panic attacks in the same way.  Thus, it is important to keep in mind that certain techniques and medications that can be beneficial for one person may not always be beneficial for another.

 One of the simplest ways to stop a panic attack is to just forget about what is happening during the experience.  Part of the reason a panic attack can escalate from mild to intense is because the sufferer becomes fixated on what is happening and, consequently, whether real or imaginary, the symptoms seem to get much worse.  Although simply forgetting about a panic attack may be difficult for any sufferer, there are ways to make it easier.  For instance, if an individual feels that they may be undergoing a panic attack, this individual may chose to go for a long, peaceful walk in some comforting area.  Putting oneself in a relaxing environment will help lower an individual's stress levels which can, in turn, help lessen any potential symptoms that may arise.  Many other easy ways for curing panic attacks exist, but a second involves watching or doing something that is funny.  Often times, when one is laughing, one will forget about their panic attack.     

When stress is reduced, a leading factor in panic attacks, panic attacks generally tend to subside or disappear altogether.  People engaged in rigorous, demanding careers may experience more panic attacks than those who are engaged in easier, more relaxed careers. In order to curb some of this stress, taking a break or not working so many hours may be necessary if panic attacks are to stop. 

For those who experience major panic attacks, and ones that will not be cured by more simple techniques, taking a light sedative or going to see a psychologist may be the only way ease the symptoms of a panic attack. Because panic attacks are usually associated with some phobia, or fear, seeing a psychologist, talking about this fear, and finding ways to overcome this fear, can be a healthy method of putting these attacks into the past.  When talking does not work, mild sedatives or antidepressants, such as benzodiazepine or Zoloft, may be helpful, although it is important that one consult a physician before taking any prescription medicine.  Some, on the other hand, totally avoid prescription medicine, mostly due to poor experiences with them, and instead recommend more natural medicines, such as a 5-HTP, Relora, or, for women who are post-menopausal, Estro-Natural.  These natural cures can be found almost anywhere, but generally cost a bit more than prescription medicine since they are usually not covered by insurance.  

Panic attack news on the Web

Student dies of heart attack in Haiti school panic (AP via Yahoo! News)
Emergency officials say a 19-year-old Haitian schoolgirl died of a heart attack after students panicked that their school was collapsing.

Student dies of heart attack in Haiti school panic (The Charlotte Observer)
(The Associated Press) Emergency officials say a 19-year-old Haitian schoolgirl died of a heart attack after students panicked that their school was collapsing. Civil protection official Jean Edme says a dozen stampeding students were injured in Port-au-Prince's Tabarre district on Wednesday when vibrations from wind or a passing truck frightened them into thinking their school would fall. ...

Student dies of heart attack in Haiti school panic (KXXV Waco)
Associated Press - November 20, 2008 12:03 PM ET PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) - Emergency officials say a 19-year-old Haitian schoolgirl died of a heart attack after students panicked that their...

Student dies of heart attack in Haiti school panic (The State)
Emergency officials say a 19-year-old Haitian schoolgirl died of a heart attack after students panicked that their school was collapsing. Civil protection official Jean Edme says a dozen stampeding students were injured in Port-au-Prince's Tabarre district on Wednesday when vibrations from wind or a passing truck frightened them into thinking their school would fall. Police say Gerline Louis had ...

Student dies of heart attack in Haiti school panic (Las Vegas Sun)
Thu, Nov 20, 2008 (9:21 a.m.) Emergency officials say a 19-year-old Haitian schoolgirl died of a heart attack after students panicked that their school was collapsing.

Convert facing nail bomb sentence (Evening Standard)
Nicky Reilly, 22, faces a long jail term at the Old Bailey after he admitted attempted murder and preparing a terrorist attack. Dozens of customers at the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter fled in panic after the bomb partially exploded in the toilets on May 22.

Nail bomber blames 'war on Islam' (BBC News)
The suicide note of a Muslim convert who launched a failed nail bomb attack at a Devon restaurant is read out in court.

Buffalo Bill-esque Fan Induces Brad Pitt Panic Attack On 'Oprah' [It Pitts The Lotion In The Basket] (Defamer)
newVideoPlayer("/Oprah_Brad_Tattoos.flv", 506, 423,"");A man as famous as Brad Pitt is accustomed to enjoying a comfortable buffer between himself and any Jane Q. Psychotic with a Skype account. So...

Girl Dies After School Stampede (SkyNews via Yahoo! UK & Ireland News)
A teenager has died of a heart attack after a stampede at a school in Haiti.

The Battering Grows Harsher (New York Times)
Reports that Timothy F. Geithner would lead the Treasury Department were seen as a sign of continuity to a new administration.