An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness characterized by constant and overwhelming fear and apprehension. While everyone feels nervous from time to time in new or challenging situations, the degree of nervousness suffered by someone with an anxiety disorder is overwhelming and often disabling. Panic and anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders. It’s estimated that one in four Americans will suffer debilitating anxiety during his or her life. The most common types of anxiety disorders are:

1) Generalized anxiety disorder – chronic unrealistic fear and worry that are not focused on any specific thing or situation. This is the most common anxiety disorder among adults.

2) Social anxiety disorder – a fear and avoidance of public embarrassment or disapproval. People with social anxiety are overwhelmingly worried and self conscious in everyday social situations.

3) Obsessive compulsive disorder – involves recurring obsessions (distressing and intrusive thoughts and/or images) and urges to perform repetitive routines or rituals. A common example is someone who obsesses about germs and repetitively washes his or her hands.

4) Post-traumatic stress disorder – evolves out of a traumatic incident such as a sexual assault, war, or natural disaster. PTSD symptoms frequently include anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, anger and depression.

5) Panic disorder – involves brief, unprovoked attacks of terror, accompanied by physical symptoms like shaking, dizziness, heart palpitations, sweating, and trouble breathing.

6) Separation anxiety – excessive and inappropriate feelings or anxiety when separated from a particular person or place. Separation anxiety is a normal part of childhood development, but poses a problem if it occurs in late childhood or adulthood.

7) Specific phobias – An intense and overblown fear and avoidance of a specific thing or situation, such as spiders, bridges, heights, or flying.

While each anxiety disorder has its own unique set of symptoms, they all tend to be characterized by repeated negative thoughts, feelings of fear and uneasiness, nightmares and trouble sleeping, and physical symptoms like nausea, headache, dry mouth, muscle tension, palpitations, cold or sweaty hands and difficulty staying still.

While scientists aren’t sure what causes anxiety disorders, they believe it’s a combination of genetic and environmental factors, including stress and trauma. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families, and are suspected to be connected to an imbalance of the brain chemicals which control mood, much like depression. Caffeine and alcohol contribute to anxiety, as can some over the counter and herbal remedies.

Fortunately, anxiety disorders are among the most treatable of mental health conditions, and are commonly addressed with a combination of medication and therapy. Antidepressant drugs are generally the first medication of choice, in particular SSRI antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). Depression medication works by affecting the concentration and activity of neurotransmitters in the brain, addressing both anxiety and the depression that so often accompanies it. Some patients may be prescribed an anti anxiety medication such as a benzodiazepine along with their anti depression medications. If necessary, beta blockers may also be prescribed to minimize physical anxiety symptoms such as shaking and a rapid heartbeat.

Combining antidepressant medication with therapy offers the most effective and rapid relief for anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is generally considered the most appropriate type of psychotherapy. Relaxation therapy is also helpful, and many anxiety sufferers report that they benefit from meditation.

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Generalized anxiety disorder
Social phobia
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Specific phobia

There is no preknown cause to panic disorder but genetics, biological misbalance, family history, stressful lifestyle are some of the common cause of anxiety or panic disorder.

A physical and psychological evaluation can diagnose the existence of panic disorder but there are some common symptoms that are present in most of the patients. These common symptoms include:

Palpitations, pounding heart
Sweating
Shaking
Feeling of choking
Chest pain
Fear of losing control
Fear of dying
Chills
Sensations of shortness of breath.
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, and faint

According to the American Psychological Association, the symptoms of panic attacks generally stay for thirty minutes, but it may last as short as fifteen minutes or last long for some hours.

These days, medical science offers an extensive range of panic attack medications which includes:

Medicine:

The frequently used firstline treatment of panic disorder are, Selective Serotonin-Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), or the Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) Venlafaxine (Effexor). And for chronic forms of panic attacks Antidepressants, like Tricyclic antidepressants may be prescribed. But the problem with these kinds of medicines is that it has severe side effects like suicidal tendencies.

Benzodiazepines are generally safer to use daily. But long-term use causes dependencies and abuse and it takes long time to work too.

Buspirone is recommended to treat generalized anxiety disorder.

Beta Blockers like, Propranolol (Inderal) and Atenolol are also used for treating anxiety attacks.

For treating major depressive types of panic disorder Atypical Antipsychoticsis very useful. But excessive use of this may cause weight gain problems.

Besides these, Anticonvulsants (Antiseizure Drugs)like, Pregabalin (Lyrica) and Gabapentin (Neurontin) are also given by the doctor for treating other forms of anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy:

According to the American Psychiatric Association, a specific form of psychotherapy called “Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy (CBT)” is the most effective cure to panic disorder. The objective of this therapy is to gain control over someone’s reaction to sudden situations so as to reduce the feeling of helplessness. Several reports say that another useful psychotherapy is “Panic Focused Psychodynamic Psychotherapy”. Another form of psychotherapy is the “SystematicDesensitization”. Systematic desensitization is a special technique to break the link between the anxiety-provoking stimulus and the anxiety response. There is emotion-based psychotherapy (EBT) also to cure anxiety attacks.

Herbs and Supplements treatment:

A dietary supplement Inositol which is part of the vitamin B complex is proved to fetch benefits in the context of treating panic attacks. For some patients, herbal aromatherapy is used as a relaxing aid for treating panic disorder.

Diet and exercise:

A healthy diet, regular exercise like walking, cycling, and normal lifestyle can contribute effectively to keep away panic disorder. Besides, one has to completely avoid caffeine and alcohol, soda and sugar plus fruit juices.  Junk food has a high Glycemic index (GI) which is more susceptible to panic attacks. It is advisable to take more fruits, vegetables which have low GI.

Surgery:

A surgical technique named Cingulotomy is sometimes used as a last hope for treating severe panic attacks.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Other Neurostimulation treatment

This treatment involves high frequency magnetic pulses for targeting and stimulating specific areas of the brain.

In the assessment of managing anxiety or panic disorder, we should stick to a balanced, healthy lifestyle to have a natural cure. After all it is always said that “Prevention is better than cure”.

[1] DSM stands for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association. It is used in the United States as a system to classify, describe and diagnosis mental disorders. The DSM has undergone five updates since its first publication in the early 1950s. In 1994, the fourth update, the DSM-IV, was published. A “text revision” was added to the DSM-IV in 2000, making the most current publication the “DSM-IV-TR.” The DSM-V is currently in the works and is scheduled for publication in 2012.

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i guess what my question is…..are these meds going to make me feel funny or woozy.(which i hate feeling like) and if so, what would you recommend taking for anxiety and panic attacks.

any help on the meds or how to control anxiety better will be much help!!!

thank you

what other ways are there to help them?

1. Accept and recognize that you are having a panic attack. Even though you may have other symptoms for e.g. chest pain and breathlessness, they are not indicators of other serious conditions. On the other hand, it is a medical condition. The symptoms are real and not imagined. Therefore, don’t berate yourself for feeling scared if you are having them.

2. Try to find out what causes your attacks. This is not as easy as it sounds. What you think may be very different from what really is the trigger.

3. Try to know the exact category of the disorder you are having. You might need to consult a doctor to get a correct idea. This is crucial to find the right panic attack cure for you.

4. Follow behavior modification techniques. You can avoid the situation which is causing the attacks in the first place. Else, you can try to control the reactions you have to it by engaging in active mind control. Try relaxing techniques like deep breathing, blocking off negative thoughts and positive reinforcements. You can try focusing your mind on reiterating that it is just a panic attack and not something more serious.

5. Finally, know when you need professional help. This is crucial because the severity of this disorder may vary from person to person. Your treatment will also depend on the severity of the condition. For this reason, it is very important to get a correct diagnosis. If your doctor finds that you need medication, he may put you on an antidepressant or other medications.

You can explore any of the panic attack cure options which pass through five basic steps that you must follow. Strictly follow the below mentioned tips and attain knowledge for better understanding. In fact this step is the beginning of your journey to cure panic attack.

1. Introspect and accept your condition that you have been suffering from panic attack disorder. Although other illness and symptoms are there including chest pain and breathlessness, such symptoms are not much serious. Remember that this situation is a serious medical condition and the symptoms must be taken seriously. If you have them don’t curse yourself, neither feel scared.

2. You should evaluate the reason and cause which have triggered such attacks. Finding out the cause is not easy though because these observations can differ tremendously.

3. It is important to comprehend actual type of disorder. This can be done by consulting doctor for better opinion. Such prudent step helps you find out better panic attack cure option.

4. Use those techniques which have behavior modification. If the attack is for the first time you can even normalize the situation by avoiding its impact and reason. When you are controlling your mind actively and keeping yourself jovial you are rather trying to control the reactions of such disorder. Apply different relaxing techniques including deep breathing, avoiding pessimistic thoughts and adopting optimism. Having control over the situation by giving focus on the mind while panic attack occurs and making oneself normalized is reasonable.

5. And, last but not the least you should have better idea when and how professional support be given. As the impact of this disease changes from person to person professional support is important. Entire treatment process depends upon the specification of disorder. That is why better and fitting diagnosis is a must. When doctor assesses your medicinal requirement he/she may ask you take antidepressant or other such medicines.

Try any of the panic attack cure techniques available. All of them are sub-divided into five basic categories. They should be followed in attaining better result and comprehending actual reason. Cure from such attacks become easy with these steps.

1. You must agree that you are suffering from panic attack and are ready to recognize it. You can have other symptoms alongside this one like chest pain or breathlessness but all should be dealt specifically. Agree that this case is a medical condition and requires cure as their symptoms are entirely original and no imagination is there. Don’t berate yourself due to scaring situation.

2. Find out the reason of attack and its impact. Don’t take it easily as it is of course a tough task to perform. There can be variations in thinking level and actuality.

3. You should be well aware of actual cause and type of disorder you suffering from. This is crucial occasion when professional support from specialized doctor is important to for panic attack cure.

4. Know and effectively follow behavior modification techniques to understand situations efficiently. Your first step should be avoiding the aspects which are reason of an attack. Have proper control over your mind and remain aware of how to control such reactions. Follow different techniques including one which offer you relaxation through deep breathing, keeping negative thoughts away and welcoming things having positive impact. Focus on your mind and its role in managing disorder because nothing serious is there.

5. Lastly, you should approach specialized doctor for professional help. This makes easy to assess actual type of disease. Such professional assessments are important because this disorder varies from person to person. Appropriate diagnosis is important. In case doctor requires medication you can be prescribed antidepressant or medication if required.

Panic attack cures can be simple but effective. You just need to be determined and focused.Determination and focused approach is necessary in panic attack cures which are both simple and effective.?Panic attack cures are crucial and systematic. What you should have is focused approach and determination.

The doctor may prescribe medicines for panic disorder if it is found that only behavior therapy is not enough for you. These medications are not supposed to do away with your attacks totally. They are meant to help you cope with the physical manifestations of the disorder.?When your doctor assesses that behavior therapy is not enough for you he/she prescribes medicines for panic disorder. Remember that these medicines are not capable to cure your attack completely. These medicines are helpful in coping with the physical situations of disorder through active suppression.Medicines for panic disorder is prescribed by the doctors when it becomes clear that behavior therapy wouldn’t be sufficient. Such medicines can’t cure completely but may of course lessen the impact. These medicines play great role in keeping one sustainable physical condition even in the panicky situations.

The medications used to control panic attacks can be broadly categorized into antidepressants, beta blockers and anti anxiety medications. Perhaps the greatest benefit that these medications can provide is to provide motivation to the patients. Medications can help in controlling any one of the two stages in a panic attack. The first stage comprises the various degrees of unease that the patient might face just before an attack. The second phase is the panic attack itself.?Antidepressants, beta blockers and anti anxiety medications are the three broader categories of medications for panic attack control. All such medicines are helpful in providing excellent benefit to the sufferers. Usually medication is helpful in controlling any one of the above mentioned major stages of panic attack of which first stage is the variation and degree of problematic situations patients have before attacks and panic attack is the second phase.?Three specifications which are broadly categorized into antidepressants, beta blockers and anti anxiety medications are major controlling powers of panic attacks. These medications offer tremendous benefit through the motivation which it provides to the sufferers. You can control panic attacks through medications on two broader stages. The very first stage is how to understand the unrest patients have been encountering before attack whereas the second phase is of course panic attack which one have.

Medicines for panic disorders may include antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and the benzodiazepines. These may be used separately or in combination with each other. Your doctor may even prescribe the trycyclic antidepressants like Prozac or luvox. About 80% of the patients being provided with medication respond well to them.?The antidepressants selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines have proved excellent medicines for panic disorders. Such medicines are often used in combination medication or individually. At times doctors prescribe trycyclic antidepressants such as Prozac or luvox too. The assessment is that nearly 80% patients having this medicine intake respond properly.Major medicines for panic disorders are antidepressants particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepines amongst others. Such medicines are either used in combination of many or separate medicines. Doctors also suggest you taking trycyclic antidepressants particularly Prozac or luvox medicine. As much as 80% sufferers who took these medicines responded effectively.

The most popular benzodiazepines used for panic attacks are alprazolam or klonopin. These are popular because of their capacity to act quickly. Most patients report a positive reaction in about two weeks. Your doctor might put you on a regular routine with these drugs. Alternatively, he may prescribe it as and when you need it. The only aspect you need to be careful about is the withdrawal effect of these drugs. Though drugs like alprazolam have fewer side effects compared to antidepressants, they may have strong withdrawal symptoms when you start cutting them down.Alprazolam or klonopin is most popular benzodiazepines preferred to cure panic attacks. Such medicines are renowned for quality to act immediately. Usually patients find the difference in two weeks time. Doctors start treatment by keeping you on certain regular routine of medicine intake. On the other hands they can be prescribed for certain period when need occurs. After all you should be too much vigilant about the withdrawal effect of such medicines. Although the medicines such as alprazolam don’t have many side effects unlike other antidepressants they may have extreme withdrawal symptoms when avoided.Out of the many benzodiazepines prescribed to cure panic attacks, alprazolam or klonopin is most popular due to their quality and quick impact. Most often patients observe difference in a fortnight’s time period. Doctors may ask you to follow regular routine with these specific medicines or may also tell you to use them only when specific need occurs. The problem which must be dealt with prudently is the withdrawal effect of these medicines which occur when they are not taken frequently. Alprazolam has lesser side effects unlike antidepressants but their withdrawal symptoms are too much.

Other medicines for panic disorders may include minor tranquilizers like oxazepam (serax), clorazepate or chlordiazepoxide. These drugs may help in temporarily calming down the patient; however, their efficacy in treating the symptoms on a long term basis has not been established.?Minor tranquilizers such as oxazepam (serax), clorazepate or chlordiazepoxide are other medicines for panic disorders. Although these medicines are too much helpful for timely cure of a patient they are not still established as a great reliever for longer period.?Besides them other medicines for panic disorders are minor tranquilizers like oxazepam (serax), clorazepate or chlordiazepoxide. Such medicines are helpful for short term treatment and proves better in that but these medicines have still not been proved effective for long term treatment.

It has often been found that these medications work best when they are used together with behavioral therapy. This therapy is aimed at finding a more durable and effective treatment for this disorder. The best way out, especially for patients who have symptoms that are more severe, is to go for a combination of both medication and behavior therapy.?The general observation is that such medicines are effective in treating critical disorders when applied with the behavioral therapy. Such initiatives are meant to make the treatment more efficient and durable. Those patients who are suffering from chronic disorder and have critical symptoms should go for the combination treatment of medication and behavior therapy for early and easy recovery.?The assessment is very much clear that treatments by medication have better grip when behavioral therapy becomes an integral part of one’s treatment. Such special therapies are meant to explore more quality and sustainable treatment of panic. Those patients having critical symptoms can choose the combination treatment in which medication and behavior therapy are equally shared.

 Most doctors have the best intentions but simply do not spend all their time in finding alternatives for these chemicals that may cause many unpleasant side effects.

 Here you will find some very good reasons to treat your anxiety without medication – and the best natural alternative for doing exactly that.

Why should you try to get rid of anxiety without medication?

First of all, you must know that medication will not cure anxiety disorders! It can only keep them under control while, and if, you receive psychotherapy!

Second, anxiety medication can cause different problems – from mild to severe ones. The most common side effect is drowsiness. You really don’t need that while you are working, driving, or doing anything else. High-potency benzodiazepines have few side effects other than drowsiness. You can very easily get used to them and may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect. In short, they are very addictive.

Other possible side effects include:

Headaches, nausea
dizziness
unsteadiness
problems with coordination
difficulty thinking or remembering
increased saliva
muscle or joint pain
frequent urination
blurred vision
changes in sex drive or ability

Another reason to cope with anxiety without medication:  The minute you stop taking them, anxiety will return full blown. Do you need any more reasons for managing your anxiety without medication?

#1 Alternative for treating anxiety without medication – Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is very useful in treating anxiety disorders. The cognitive part helps you change the thinking patterns that support your fears, and the behavioral part helps you change the way you react to anxiety-provoking situations.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches you to understand and change your thinking patterns so you can react differently to the situations that cause you anxiety. Makes sense, right? And this is exactly how you should eliminate your anxiety without medication – and forever.

 How does it work?

You are probably well aware that a panic attack is a ‘fight or flight’ response to a perceived threat. In short, a separate part of your brain becomes more active during a panic attack.

The problem, as you well know, is that once the panic attack begins and that heightened state of fear starts, it is very difficult to calm yourself down. In order to calm yourself you need the brains mental activity to change. Deep breathing, for instance, will not help you. All deep breathing does is try and restore calm to the body. Trying to mentally calm the body is like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.

Just coping with this condition is not good enough. Cognitive Therapy will teach you how to free yourself from ever having another panic attack.

I want to be 101% free from agoraphobia again and start living the life I had before !

Thanks for your comments in advance !

In many cases, depression can also be treated using the same medications used for social phobias anxiety. Two of the major anti-depressants used for treatment of social phobias are Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor anti depressants.

SSRIs – The Understanding
Medications for social phobias anxiety in SSRI type functions by stopping serotonin, a neurotransmitter from getting reabsorbed into particular cells of the brain. This ends up leaving more amount of serotonin in the brain. Issues with serotonin are being connected to depression and anxiety disorders.

There are many brand names for SSRIs. Medications for social phobias anxiety such as Zoloft and Prozac are SSRIs

MAOIs – The Understanding
Similar to SSRIs, MAOIs function by inhibiting some chemical activity in our brains. MAOIs medication for social phobias anxiety prevents the breaking down of a chemical called monoamine, again leaving more of the chemical at the brain. This type of medication for social phobias anxiety is used for curing social phobias disorders, depression and many other types of mental health concerns.

There are many numbers of names for MAOI drugs such as Nardil, Aurorix and Marplan.

The Importance of Medications

Medications for social phobias anxiety are just one part of an overall treatment for this condition. Social phobias can sometimes be overcome when left untreated but most of the times they might tend to become worse, hence therapy and medication are both important.

Therapy actually just gives the persuasion to the people having social phobias so that they are able to cope up and overcome the phobia. For people to cope up with the symptoms, medications are used, and so are they freer to undergo the needed therapies.

The patients are also given exercise for building up their self esteem during therapies as it is crucial while tackling with social phobias.

Medications for social phobias anxiety are considered priceless for treatment. Scrutiny, fear of rejection, failure and more plagues a person and makes him avoid interaction, and hence quality of life degrades. Using the right treatments, social phobias can be cured and people can regain control of life and enjoy it once again.