Panic Attack Treatment

If you’ve ever rushed to the hospital thinking you were having a heart attack, only to be told there’s nothing wrong with you, you may have had a panic attack. It’s a common disorder that’s easily treatable at Online Psychiatrists, which serves New York, New Jersey and Florida with in-person and telepsychiatry solutions. Don’t continue to suffer from the excruciating consequences of panic attacks; call today for an evaluation.

What Are Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks are sudden rushes of fear or anxiety that typically reach their peak within minutes and disappear within a half hour.

Many people suffering from panic attacks think they have a physical disorder and seek immediate medical help. But many doctors don’t know how to recognize panic attacks. They tell you there’s nothing wrong with you physically, which reinforces your shame and fear.

Panic attacks don’t need to be debilitating. With treatment from an experienced and compassionate psychiatrist at Online Psychiatrists, panic attacks can become a thing of the past.

What Is a Panic Disorder?

Panic Disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by spontaneous and repeated panic attacks. People with panic disorder typically worry a lot about having additional attacks and about what the attacks indicate or could cause. Some start avoiding certain situations or environments due to repeated episodes.

What Are the Symptoms of a Panic Attack?

During a panic attack, you may experience both physical and psychological symptoms.

Physical symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Cold sweats
• A pounding heart
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Abdominal distress
• Shakiness
• Muscle tension
• Trouble breathing

Possible psychological symptoms of a panic attack include:

• Feeling like you’re not getting enough air
• Fear of going crazy or dying
• A feeling that reality’s disappearing
• Anxious and irrational thinking

Many panic attacks don’t seem to have any trigger, but they can become associated with certain settings. Your problems really start if you begin avoiding important situations due to fear of having a panic attack. This is a normal human response, but it leads to worse problems and a very restricted life, or even a disorder called agoraphobia, which is when you refuse to even leave your house.

Treatment for Panic Attacks at Online Psychiatrists in NYC, NJ, and FL

Considerate and thorough psychiatrists at Online Psychiatrists offer panic attack therapy to assist you in managing these distressing episodes and achieving the balance you're seeking. Both children and adults in NYC, NJ, and FL can benefit from a customized approach that combines Eastern and Western traditions. To treat these crippling symptoms, the licensed staff use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), anti-anxiety prescription drugs, and other evidence-based techniques. The specialists will carefully review your medical history and listen to your concerns in order to match your specific needs and pair you with the most effective therapist and therapeutic approach.

The leading mental health specialists offer both in-person and online therapy services and are here to help you if you or a loved one is suffering from panic attacks. Call or book an appointment online today to regain composure and control so you can live in peace and harmony.

Are There Medications to Treat Panic Attacks?

Panic attacks really do feel like a medical problem, and they do have a physical aspect. That’s why you need a doctor who can treat both your mind and body. You need a medical doctor to manage your medications to ensure you receive the correct dosage and the proper medicine. Options include:

• Modern antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work well in preventing panic attacks, but they can take a few weeks to go into effect.
• Benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, are used to treat anxiety disorders, and they can work as a panic attack medication. They also take a little while to kick in, so you may not get the full effect unless you take it at the very beginning of a panic attack. Benzodiazepines can be used as needed, but they also have high addiction potential.
• Beta blockers are prescribed to calm your heart rate and treat the physical symptoms of panic attacks.

What Type of Talk Therapy Eases Panic Attacks?

Talk therapy, technically called psychotherapy, helps you deal with panic attacks better. Talking about it decreases the occurrence of attacks. Talk therapy also makes sure that your panic attack symptoms don’t have a seriously negative impact on your life.

The best process for fighting panic attacks is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT uses techniques to:

• Teach you to examine your thoughts
• Train your mind to go in a more productive direction
• Help you learn how to cope when you’re having a panic attack
• Possibly identify triggers that set off your panic attacks
• Help you face situations that make you anxious

How Do I Stop a Panic Attack?

You may not be able to avoid all panic attacks, but there are certain techniques that help you make it through them, such as:

• Recognizing that you’re having a panic attack, which makes it more manageable
• Doing some deep breathing
• Focusing on your physical senses — naming things you see, hear or touch
• Taking an as-needed medication before a potentially stressful situation

Mindfulness, which can be part of CBT, is an effective tool when dealing with panic attacks. Mindfulness teaches you to be aware of what’s happening in and around you. It reduces judgment and fear. Contact Online Psychiatrists today to learn how to bring together your mind and body for the best results against panic attacks in NYC, NJ, and FL.

Prevalence of Panic Disorder

According to diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) fielded between February 2001 and April 2003, the prevalence of panic disorder among U.S. adults aged 18 or above was as follows:

• An estimated 2.7% of individuals in the United States were diagnosed with a panic disorder
• The prevalence of the panic disorder was greater among adult females (3.8%) than adult males (1.6%)
• The level of impairment in adults diagnosed with Panic Disorder ranged from mild to severe. An estimated 44.8% of people were severely impaired, 29.5% were moderately impaired, and 25.7% were mildly impaired

Based on diagnostic interview data from the National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) fielded between February 2001 and January 2004, the lifetime prevalence of panic disorder among U.S. Adolescents aged 13 to 18 was as follows:

• An estimated 2.3% of adolescents were diagnosed with panic disorder, with 2.3% suffering from a severe impairment
• Female adolescents had a greater prevalence of panic disorder (2.6%) than males (2.0%)

The lifetime prevalence of panic disorder among Adolescents in the U.S was as follows:

• Age 13 to 14 - 1.8%
• Age 15 to 16 - 2.3%
• Age 17 to 18 - 3.3%