Anxiety Attack Treatment

By Dr.Stephen Antony, MD (Psychiatry) 

Anxiety attacks can be debilitating and can stop you from achieve your goals and living the life you have always dreamed of.

There are many approaches to treating anxiety attacks. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy are two effective treatments for anxiety attacks. Both are types of behavioral therapy, meaning they focus on behavior rather than on underlying psychological conflicts or issues from the past. Behavioral therapy for anxiety usually takes between 5 and 20 weekly sessions.

Anxiety Attack Treatment:

Cognitive-behavior therapy:–

As the name suggests, cognitive-behavioral therapy focuses on thoughts—or cognitions—in addition to behaviors. When used in anxiety disorder treatment, cognitive-behavioral therapy helps you identify and challenge the negative thinking patterns and irrational beliefs that are fueling your anxiety.

It focuses on creating an understanding of the negative thought patterns that bring on anxiety. It helps the patient separate pessimistic from realistic thoughts.

Exposure therapy:–

In exposure therapy for Anxiety Attack Treatment, you confront your fears in a safe, controlled environment. Through repeated exposures, either in your imagination or in reality, to the feared object or situation, you gain a greater sense of control. As you face your fear without being harmed, your anxiety gradually diminishes.

Relaxation Training:–

Relaxation therapy is based on the premise that a person experiencing anxiety attacks has a hyper-aroused physiological system. The therapy brings in the element of relaxing the body through the use of vivid imagery while suggesting the patient to breathe and relax deeply. The patient is trained to think of a relaxing scene when anxiety levels start to rise. These techniques are known to lower heart rate and blood pressure.

Drug treatment for anxiety attacks:

• Anti-depressant (SSRIs) are the preferred drugs for the treatment of anxiety attacks.
• Benzodiazepines are also used in the treatment of anxiety attacks, they provide short-term relief to the patient, but it is not used as long-term treatment due to the risk of developing dependence.
• Medications are most effective when combined with behavioral therapy. When compared to those who use medication alone, anxiety sufferers treated with both therapy and medication benefit from a greater reduction in symptoms and a lower risk of relapse. Provide us with your valuable feedback and comments on this.

Self help tips:

• To cure anxiety attacks you will have to modify your attitude and behaviors towards anxiety and fear.
• Increase your observation skills, watch out what factors increase your levels of anxiety and check for any triggers that may cause these anxiety attacks.
• Keep a journal where you can quickly note down the factors that are contributing to anxiety.
• Watch your diet – Avoid caffeine rich drinks, caffeine acts as a nervous stimulant and having more than one cup of coffee per day may trigger feelings of anxiety.
• Cut down on alcohol and smoking as they are known to increase anxiety.
• Take up a regular exercise routine.
• Read through the Linden-method of curing anxiety attacks . This will provide you a  clear and depth knowledge on anxiety attack treatment
• Develop a relaxation routine by participating in yoga, meditation or deep breathing classes.
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