What causes panic attacks isn’t always clear but the symptoms are intense. The victim begins feeling dizziness, chest pain, a choking feeling, hot flashes or chills, nausea, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, trembling and numbness. They may have a fear of being out of control, going crazy or even dying. This panicked sensation might make them feel as though they need to escape the situation somehow, and yet they are paralyzed to inaction. Agoraphobia involves anxiety about being in situations that are hard to escape, the fear of being alone, the fear of detachment from others, a sensation of utter helplessness and the fear of losing control in public places. In a third of all panic disorder cases, agoraphobia and panic attacks are combined.
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.
The first line of defense against agoraphobia and panic attacks are the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor and the Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor class of antidepressants because of their limited side effects. Not all patients take to these types of panic attack medication options, however. Sometimes doctors prescribe Benzodiazepines, a type of sedative that is good at reducing muscle tension and promoting relaxation; although Benzodiazepines may lead to tolerance, dependence and withdrawal anxiety. Since these concerns worry doctors, they might prescribe Tricyclic Antidepressants for their more severe patients instead. While this kind of antidepressant is very effective at combating attacks of panic, side effects include a drop in blood pressure, constipation, urinary retention, blurry vision and dry mouth in some patients.
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.
