Tips About How To Treat Agoraphobia And Panic Attacks
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People who suffer from agoraphobia and panic attacks encounter episodes during which they feel a sudden intense fear that something horrible will happen to them and they will be unable to escape. Over time, the individual comes to fear the panic anxiety itself, which can lead to the fear of being in places outside one’s sphere of control. Sometimes this means being in a crowded place, while other times it could mean being in a moving vehicle. Panic and anxiety coupled with agoraphobia occurs in a third of all panic attack disorder cases and is almost always debilitating.
The treatment for agoraphobia and for panic attacks is aimed at helping individuals function better in everyday life. The success of treatment depends upon how bad the agoraphobia and panic is. Some people with agoraphobia begin to feel nervous in public, while others remain in their homes for weeks on end, absolutely petrified of the outside world. The most successful treatment combines medication with cognitive-behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to give the patient a newfound sense of control by helping the individual understand what is happening during panic and anxiety attacks and how to handle unwanted thoughts or physical reactions. The individual learns what is realistic and unrealistic and gradually learns to control irrational fear through continued exposure.
Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors are a class of antidepressant drugs used to treat agoraphobia and panic attacks. This panic attack medication increases the levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine by preventing their reabsorption into brain cells. Side effects include upset stomach, headaches, insomnia, sexual dysfunction and a slight blood pressure increase. However, the prevalence of side effects is greatly diminished compared to other medicines designed to stop panic, and SNRIs are often used as a first line defense against the symptoms of anxiety attacks.
Deciding whether or not to take medication to treat agoraphobia and panic attacks is a big decision. Many patients may begin with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and relaxation techniques. However, some patients find that they can’t stop worrying, they are unable to complete homework assignments or they wish to avoid treatment. In this case, adding medication treatment may be the best way to get over that initial hurdle. It may take some time to find which drug works best with your system, so exercise patience and keep an open mind to trying other options if the first drug doesn’t work how you expected.
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