Treatment for Panic Disorders

Panic disorders on the other hand can include panic attacks as well as some other symptoms. In general some common symptoms of panic disorder are:

• feeling “out of it”, or detached from reality
• trembling, shaking, rocking, scratching, numbness, or tingling
• chest pain and heart palpitations
• dizziness, light-headedness, mild vertigo
• feelings of sudden, extreme fear
• chills, hot flashes, sweating
• nausea, upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea

It is so important to seek care if you think that you or a loved one may be experiencing a panic disorder. Some of these symptoms can be a result of many other things. 

Medications are often prescribed for those with panic or anxiety disorders. Intensive treatment and therapies usually last from six months to one year, although medicine may be required for the remainder of the person’s lifetime. These work to counteract the extreme stimulation that is felt during a panic or anxiety attack because they are usually part of a class of medicines known as depressants.

It is important to remember that these medicines will not cure a panic disorder but studies show that up to 90% of people with panic disorder are helped by therapy and medication in combination.

Some common examples of medications prescribed for these disorders are:

Some data suggests that panic disorder, like anxiety or depression, is more likely to occur in those who have a family history of it. Other things to consider when thinking about the causes of mental health disorders in general, panic disorder included, is risk factors.

Risk factors are things that cause you or a loved one to be more likely to experience these disorders, illnesses, or symptoms. Panic disorder risk factors are:

• Those with childhood trauma are more likely to have a panic disorder
• Women are twice as likely to have a panic disorder
• A person with a family history of panic disorders is more likely to be diagnosed with a panic disorder

The general understanding of the science suggests the cause of panic disorder is unknown. Some scientific evidence points to major life changes or triggers. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Going to college
• Losing or changing jobs
• Marriage or divorce
• Death in the family

Diagnosis of a panic disorder is done by using the classification outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5). This is a source of classification and diagnosis guidelines for mental illnesses that is used across the world.

According to the DSM-5, a person must have recurrent and often unexpected panic attacks and at least one of these attacks needs to be followed by one or more, or fear of more attacks. This is a disorder that requires a professional diagnosis. This will help rule out other causes of some symptoms like: drug use, medication side effects, other mental disorders such as phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), etc.

Aside from the causes and risk factors related to panic disorders, most people are focused on their signs and symptoms related to panic disorders and panic attacks.