Anxiety Drugs: Do They Really Treat Anxiety Attacks
Anxiety and panic attacks are problems that affect many people on a daily basis and
are more common than many people believe. if you do not suffer from one of them, then you probably know someone who suffers from these disorders, even if you do not realize it. A lot of us experience anxiety some time in our lives, but for about five per cent of people it’s so severe and persistent and contols most of their daily life.
Anxiety and panic attacks, are some of the most common psychological disorders and affect women more often than men, they are more common than you think.
If you have this disorder, you may think that drugs are the only option to treat anxiety attacks. Medication can relieve some of the symptoms of anxiety, but it doesn’t cure the underlying problem and it’s usually not a long-term solution. Anxiety drugs also come with side effects and safety concerns, such as the risk of
addiction. Many anti-anxiety drugs like benzodiazepines work by reducing brain activity, this leads to side effects beyond anxiety relief. All benzodiazepines relieve anxiety (anxiolytic) but some act as sleeping agents too.
Drug companies spend billions promoting the view that depression and anxiety are biological illnesses and can only effectively be treated with drugs. All independent research indicates that the right psychotherapeutic intervention relieves symptoms more quickly and is more likely to prevent relapse.
The truth is anxiety and panic attacks are the most highly treatable of all mental health conditions. And you don’t have to rely on controversial antidepressant drugs to treat anxiety and panic attacks.
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By: Faith (Download Natural Treatment for Anxiety Now!)
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What to Do When you Feel a Panic Attack Coming Part 2: the Shields
Benzodiazepines (ie Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, Valium): These are usually the most immediately powerful of all of the coping techniques. It usually takes about 20 minutes for benzodiazepines to kick in, and they strong enough to stop and even full blown panic attack. The main drawbacks of these medications are that if you take too much, they can make you tired, and if you take them everyday, you might get used to them after 1-3 months (i.e. they might stop working). In addition, people with a history of addiction problems can get addicted to these medications (although in general, they produce a pretty weak high, so it’s exceedingly rare for a non-addict to become addicted to these drugs). I prescribe benzodiazepines to my patients while they are learning the other coping techniques and starting the exposures. I typically recommend using benzodiazepines on an emergency basis to stop panic attacks, and occasionally I even recommend using benzodiazepines on a regular daily basis for people who are in a chronic state of panic / high anxiety. Although benzodiazepines will not cure panic disorder, they can provide relief while you are engaged in a more definitive treatment (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help you gain complete mastery over panic.
Leaving the Situation: This is one of the strongest coping techniques, but also can eventually lead to problems. Leaving a crowd, pulling over on the side of the road while driving, or avoiding vigorous exercise are examples of leaving the situation. These are effective coping techniques because they can frequently avert a panic attack. However, these techniques have the obvious drawback of encouraging agoraphobia (i.e. the avoidance of activities because of a fear of panic). I would say that leaving a situation is useful, but only if you are also engaging in a definitive treatment to help get control over panic disorder.
Relaxation Techniques: It’s hard to stop thinking about something “cold turkey.” It’s easier to stop thinking about something if you replace your thoughts with something else. Relaxation and meditation techniques aim at getting you to stop thinking by giving you an effective distraction to replace your thoughts with. For example, many Buddhist forms of meditation replace your thoughts with a focus on repeated sounds and/or breathing. In addition, various visualization exercises replace your thoughts with vivid imagery. The relaxation techniques I have found to be most effective for panic attacks are 11-muscle relaxation with Abdominal Breathing, Sensation Focusing, and Permission Breath Counting, which are all cognitive-behavioral techniques. I never teach patients just one coping technique because different techniques seem to work for different people. Relaxation techniques initially may not be strong enough to stop a panic attack, but they become much more effective once you have started doing exposures.
Thought Restructuring: This coping technique teaches you ways to stop your anxiety by talking back to it. Thought restructuring is a type of journaling done on paper for 10 minutes a day for 1-2 weeks. After 1-2 weeks, I usually encourage my patients to stop talking back to their thoughts on paper and start doing it in their heads. Much like relaxation techniques, this is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique, it gets better with practice, and it becomes much more effective once you have started exposures.
Thoughts restructuring along with Relaxation Techniques eventually form the two most healthy and permanent parts of your “shield” because they can be used extensively without having the drawbacks of avoiding situations or relying on medications. However, these “shield” techniques are usually not strong enough alone to gain complete mastery over panic disorder, most patient need to do exposures.
By: Dr. Lindsay Kiriakos (Free Treatment for Anxiety eBook)
About the Author:
Visit PanicMastery.com to to get a free pdf copy of Dr. Kiriakos’ \”The Worry Guide\”.
Lindsay Kiriakos, M.D., is a practicing Anxiety Disorder Specialist. Certified by The Academy of Cognitive Therapy for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, he has compiled his years of experience in to the \”Panic Mastery Course\” which was specifically developed for people who suffer from Panic Attacks. You can contact Dr. Kiriakos by email
Anxiety Attack Symptoms – Knowing About Your Anxiety And Dealing With It
It is a part of life for humans to feel anxiety on occasion. We all have, in some part of our lives, experienced worry, nervousness, fear, and concern. We feel nervous when we have to go for that big job interview, or stand in front of a group of our peers and deliver a speech, or just a simple doctors visit makes some people feel nervous. Pictures of insects and snakes can set some people off, or looking down from a tall building.
The majority of people can carry on with their lives without much difficulty and manage these types of feelings fairly well. Luckily, their lives are not disrupted by these feelings.
An estimated 15% of the population live in highly restricted ways due to their suffering of constant anxiety that severely affects their lives. Obsessive thoughts, extreme shyness, phobias, panic attacks, and even compulsive behaviors, are some of what these people experience on a daily basis. Their lives have become disrupted by the feeling of constant anxiety that dominates them.
Sadly, there are some who have become confined to their homes, unable to visit the market, drive or even work. Anxiety is much more serious and damaging than just an occasional wave of apprehension for these people.
There are different types of anxiety disorders out there that can go from minor to severe depending on the individual. A person’s overall behavior, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations are affected by an anxiety disorder. Depending on which type of anxiety disorder they have will determine the severity of it. People handle anxiety in different ways so the severity of their suffering will vary from person to person.
A fear of being around other people is known as social anxiety or social phobia. People suffering from from this particular disorder feel self-conscious around others. They feel that everyone is staring at them, judging and being critical in some way.
These people also learn to stay away from social situations and avoid others, because the anxiety is so overwhelming. Some stay in a room with the door closed so that they can be alone. The feeling is constant and even happens with people they know and have spent time around.
Social anxiety sufferers are aware that their thoughts and fears are not rational. They know that others are not really watching or evaluating them. But, even knowing this does not make the feelings go away.
A person that has panic attacks without warning, suffers from a condition known as panic disorder.
About 5% of the adult American population suffers from panic attacks, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For those people who experience panic attacks and never receive treatment go unknown, therefore, making the number higher than recorded.
People suffering from panic attacks experience:
Trembling
Sweaty palms and hands, tingling in the hands, feet, legs, and arms
Acceleration or pounding of the heart
Heaviness in the heart or chest pains
Feeling of terror
Dizziness and lightheaded
Fear of dying
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Feeling unable to catch one’s breath
In some instances, the person who has a panic attack does not know what causes it. It happens unexpectedly and without warning. For some people, they have encountered difficult times and have felt extreme stress and weren’t surprised that they had the panic attack.
Finding treatments for anxiety and panic attacks is the foremost step to overcoming your problem with anxiety. Once receiving the proper treatment, most people who suffer from anxiety begin to feel better in a short amount of time. Since each person’s anxiety is caused by a unique set of factors, it can be difficult to identify the correct treatment.
Seeking professional help immediately will allow you to have a diagnosis of the problem and set you on your way to conquering your anxiety . Anxiety can be overcome if dealt with properly . It takes the patient believing that his or her anxiety can be stopped and overcame.
By: Nicole Ross (Free Treatment for Anxiety eBook)
About the Author:
To find more information on anxiety attack symptoms and how to be rid of them altogether, visit my anxiety attack symptoms. I reveal all the secrets to managing anxiety attacks and how to overcome them.
Stop Suffering From Panic Attacks With Natural Treatments
Millions of people suffer from panic attacks on a daily basis. Anyone who has experienced one can tell you that they are not enjoyable. Maybe you or a loved one is suffering from panic attacks and are looking for ways to treat them without dealing with medication. You owe it to yourself to find out what options are available today.
A panic attack typically occurs without warning. Symptoms can include an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety. Your heart may begin to pound at a rapid pace, your breathing may become irregular, and dizziness may occur. Many people even experience a sick feeling in their stomachs. Left untreated, panic attacks can cause sufferers to withdraw from society simply to avoid the chances of experiencing a panic attack while tending to daily activities.
There is hope! You do not have to suffer in silence or live in fear. You can seek treatment from medical professionals such as a psychiatrist. However, many may offer medication such as anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants in order to treat you. These types of medications generally do not work instantly. They must be taken on a continous basis in order to be effective. If you are one of the many who do not want to be medicated, there are natural treatments that you can use to begin overcoming panic attacks.
Overcome Panic Attacks Naturally
1. Caffeine and smoking cigarettes have been known to trigger panic attacks in some people. It is a good idea to avoid both caffeine and smoking to help lower the chances of having panic attacks.
2. Learning how to control your breathing is another helpful tip as hyperventilating often occurs during a panic attack. By managing your breathing, it can help you to relax much faster during an attack. Deep breathing and controlled breathing help relieve the symptoms of a panic attack.
3. Take up a relaxing hobby such as yoga or meditation. Stress is often a leading factor in those who experience panic attacks on a regular basis. Relaxation techniques can help reduce stress levels and increase happier moods.
4. Experiment with other natural techniques. Many sufferes of panic attacks have dedicated themselves to researching the causes and effects of the disorder and how to treat them all naturally with amazing results.
A Natural Method You Can Use Today
Chances are you have been doing your own research on the topic of panic attacks and are probably looking for a proven and natural method to begin overcoming panic attacks. What have you got to lose by exploring your options in natural treatments for panic disorders and anxiety? Follow my resource below to discover a proven natural method you can start using today.
By: Kim Cooper (Download Natural Treatment for Anxiety Now!)
About the Author:
Begin overcoming panic attacks in an easy and natural way that you can start within minutes from now.












