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Tips for Handling Panic Disorder

The very best first step is to get an evaluation by someone who specializes in the treatment of panic disorder. This is a specific psychiatric condition, and as a rule a specialist will get better results.

If you are a person who believes in medication and responds well to medication, consider going to a psychiatrist; again, however, a psychiatrist who is a specialist in this area is preferable. If you would prefer an approach that either is medication free or designed to augment results already attained with medication, try to find a behavior therapist or a cognitive-behavior therapist who has much experience treating this problem. Therapists with this training have substantially more research supporting their approach.

Behavior therapists and cognitive therapists reduce or eliminate sufferers’ fears of panic attacks. They provide their clients with current information on the harmlessness of panic and anxiety symptoms, and they teach coping skills and the technique of floating with anxiety instead of fighting it. Most importantly these types of therapists provide their clients with regular practice facing anxiety symptoms and any situations that are avoided. This is absolutely crucial to overcoming the condition, and some behavior therapists actually accompany their clients into anxiety-provoking circumstances

Specialists also know to determine if the condition is actually panic disorder and not some other psychological or physical problem which appears to be panic disorder but is actually something else. For example, hyperthyroidism, mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVPS), regular pot smoking, and hypoglycemia all may have symptoms falsely appearing as panic attacks.