Is Anxiety Curable?

A person who suffers from GAD, or generalized anxiety disorder, may also experience panic attacks. Sometimes an anxiety attack can cause you to experience a panic attack. Anxiety disorder is often characterized by worrying more than normal. The worrying becomes excessive and can trigger a panic attack. A panic attack usually lasts for about thirty minutes and is characterized by extreme fear. A panic attack can sometimes mimic a heart attack because it can cause chest pains and shortness of breath. Once a doctor has determined you are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, the next step is to find an Anxiety Cure.

The causes of anxiety disorder can be due to genetics or certain factors in the environment. Treating anxiety may be easier than finding the cause. However, finding the right Anxiety Cure can take trial and error when it comes to curing anxiety disorder. There are medications available to help with the side effects of anxiety disorder. SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, are the most commonly used medication to help treat anxiety disorder.

SSRI medications are usually the first choice for prescription medications used to treat anxiety because the medications pose a low risk for possible side effects. Some SSRI medications include zoloft and paxil. The antidepressant medications help to ease the symptoms of anxiety disorder and are safer than some of the other medications that are used to treat anxiety disorder. Benzodiazepines are another class of drug used to treat severe anxiety. However, benzodiazepines usually are not the first choice of doctors since the medications can be addictive. However, benzodiazepines have proven to help with treating long term anxiety disorder when looking for an Anxiety Cure.

Medications can be successful in helping anxiety disorder, but therapy can also help with an Anxiety Cure. Cognitive therapy helps to change patterns of thinking, which can help reduce anxiety. The therapy also shows you how to deal with worries in a more realistic way. Not only will the therapy show you how to change your thinking, but it will also help you react better to anxiety triggers. A combination of therapy and medication is sometimes used to treat anxiety disorder; with the hopes of curing the disorder.

Anxiety Symptoms Are Like A “Heart Attack”

Over 4 million Americans suffer from one form of anxiety disorder or another. For those that have the misfortune of dealing with it, the symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack can be quite alarming. Many people confuse their anxiety symptoms with those of a heart attack, and it is easy to see why! Listed below are some anxiety symptoms. As you read through them, you will see why it is not surprising that someone would be confused as to whether they were suffering from anxiety or a true heart attack.

  • Chest pain and heart palpitations
  • Excessive sweating
  • Tingling in the extremities
  • Muscle tension or weakness
  • Excessive worry, tension
  • Nausea
  • Tiredness
  • Irritability
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Restlessness
  • Having an unrealistic view of a common problem

Several of these anxiety symptoms fall right in line with what you might experience if you were having a heart attack, particularly the chest pain, heat palpitations, excessive sweating and tingling. If you are experiencing any of them, you should seek medical attention immediately.

The treatment for anxiety symptoms is quite different than for those who have suffered a heart attack. First and foremost, a person who has anxiety disorder needs to seek psychological counseling. While anxiety is not a mental illness, a person who suffers with it needs to learn to get control of it. There are some medications that can be prescribed to help with anxiety, too. These include:

  • Anti-depressants: SSRIs, Tricyclics, and MAOIs are commonly prescribed for severe anxiety. This type of medication needs to build up slowly within a person’s system for the full benefits to be felt.
  • Anti-anxiety drugs: These drugs are usually only prescribed for a short amount of time, as the body seems to build up a tolerance relatively easily.
  • Beta-blockers: Also prescribed for those who have suffered from heart issues, this type of medication can help to curb some of the physical anxiety symptoms that are listed above.

For those who are prescribed medicine for their anxiety symptoms, it is important that they follow the physicians direction closely, as some of these medicines interact with other over-the-counter treatments. They should talk to their physician as well as their pharmacist should they have any questions or concerns.

Panic Attacks Are Real

It may be common to Dismiss the notion Panic Attacks can be real.  Many think that those that suffer panic attacks are just overreacting, or even worse, may think that the individual is just looking for attention.

The truth is that panic disorders and panic attacks are very real and are medically documented. During Panic Attacks, the individual may feel intense fear and even, possibly pain, but there is usually not an obvious cause.  They may even feel as though they are having a heart attack during this episode.  The attack can be so painful and scary causing some individuals to feel as though they may even die.  Other symptoms may include the following:

Feelings of dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, faintness, trouble swallowing, hyperventilation and a general feeling of dread may be associated with a panic attack.  However,there are no known causes to this condition, but it is thought to have something to do with genetics, stress, or slight changes in brain chemistry.  Some individuals may have this occur only a few times in their life, but for those that have this happen often and live in constant fear may be determined to have what is known as a panic disorder.

An individual does not have to let their fear of Panic Attacks and the attacks themselves from keeping them from living stress-free lives.  A doctor can help with this troubling condition with different treatment options.  The treatments options that are used are psychotherapy and medications.  A doctor can best determine what treatment regime may be right for you.  They may start out with one, then go from there in trying to find the right combination to help you during this trying time.

If you suffer from Panic Attacks, do not let people convince you that it is all in your head and not a real condition.  This is a medical condition that people do suffer from, but there is treatment available to help them.  A doctor can help those that suffer get back to their lives without letting this condition win.  Talking with a doctor about what is right for you is the best first step to take.