Pounding heartbeat, shortness of breath, cold sweats, and the fear of losing control are only a handful of symptoms associated with panic attacks. These attacks can happen without warning, leaving sufferers with fears that can develop into severe panic disorders if left untreated. This condition is nothing to be ashamed of, and an effective panic attacks treatment is just a reach away.

Common treatments include drugs, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. There are several FDA approved drugs from the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and benzodiazepine families that are used to treat panic attacks. Although effective, these medications are not without risks. They can have side effects that range in severity, and should only be used as a last resort.

Of course, panic attack treatments don’t always include drugs. Sometimes addressing the initial cause of the attacks and taking gradual steps to work through your fears via psychotherapy is enough to reduce or eliminate them.

Substance abuse increases the severity of panic attacks, so drugs (unless prescribed by a doctor) and alcohol should be avoided. Exercise reduces anxiety, and releases endorphins in the body. So panic attack sufferers should aim to get 45-minutes to one-hour of moderate physical activity at least five days a week. Meditation techniques that reduce stress and anxiety levels such as yoga can also work to alleviate them.

Panic attacks can also be a symptom of emotional illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, or post traumatic stress syndrome. If underlying emotional issues are a contributing factor, in addition to panic attack treatments, the emotional problem will need to be treated as well.

If left untreated, they can persist for years and eventually cause debilitating panic disorders and phobias such as agoraphobia (the most common) that may leave you depressed, suicidal, and unable to function in your everyday life.

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