Understanding and treating panic attacks & phobias

Panic attacks and phobias are disorders marked by extreme anxiety, feeling out of control and feeling fear to the point of being unable to function. Read on for an overview of these disorders and their treatment options.

A phobia is a fear that is so severe that it interferes with the ability to live a normal life. It is often a fear that has no basis in reality.

A panic attack is anxiety that surges so violently and quickly that it tricks many sufferers to think they're having a heart attack. Panic attacks may or may not be related to an actual event.

Many people are debilitated by these problems and live a life centred around circumventing their fear. The good news is that both of these disorders are treatable.

The following are some of the main treatment options used to help those suffering from phobias and panic attacks.

1. Cognitive behavioural therapy. This treatment focuses on helping patients see the problem in a more realistic light. Therapists present options for different ways of thinking about issues to challenge the pattern of reasoning. For example, someone who has panic attacks or a phobia about flying due to a fear of crashing might be encouraged to substitute positive alternatives for the emotions they are feeling.

2. Mindfulness and relaxation. Learning techniques to decrease the physiological symptoms of anxiety or phobia can be a very effective method to decrease the incidence of panic. Mindfulness is a meditation technique aimed at building awareness of each moment and staying in that moment, rather than letting past thoughts or feelings interfere. Relaxation techniques aim at physiologically calming the body, based on an understanding that panic and relaxation can't exist in the same space. Both can be helpful in decreasing extreme feelings.

3. Exposure therapy. With this treatment, one is exposed to trigger of the phobia or panic attack in a controlled, safe environment. By continual exposure, seeing that nothing negative happens, one learns to control the fear and change the physical and emotional reactions.

4. Medication. There are many medications that physiologically reduce the symptoms of anxiety, making it easier to cope with the panic or phobia. It is best to seek this help through a psychiatrist who has experience in treating these disorders.

There are aspects of the first three approaches that can be undertaken as self-help. There are also self-help or therapy groups in many communities that focus on approaches like mindfulness or cognitive behavioural methods to decrease panic attacks and phobias.

If you or someone you know suffers from a phobia or panic attacks, take heart that there are effective treatment options available. By seeking help, you can take the first step to overcoming these disorders.