Let me mention to you some important factors about dealing with panic attacks. In previous articles I have talked about dealing with panic attacks and the awful experiences panic attacks can bring to people, and the worry that panic symptoms such as chest pains, breathing problems or dizziness can cause. Nobody will be surprised then that people often visit their doctor as soon as possible. This can happen even more so if you already suffer from real physical problems like lung or heart issues. However, visiting your physician just to receive a “quick-fix” recipe of panic pills or panic tablets may not be the best idea. Let me describe to you what I feel are the main pros and cons of using panic medication.
So how to stop panic attacks then? A very important thing to remember about how to stop panic attacks is that the main part of the problem lies in your mind. Of course I’m not saying you have an automatic mental illness, but it has been well described now that symptoms of panic attacks are actually not dangerous. They are upsetting, uncomfortable etc. but not dangerous. Thus you need to learn to really start paying attention to what your personal beliefs are about your panic symptoms. But despite that, of course your panic attacks can feel so awful that you honestly think you’re left with no choice but to visit your doctor and get panic pills. Can panic tablets be a solutions?
Here’s when I feel you perhaps should take panic medication:
1. If your life is so disrupted by your panic symptoms that you feel it is impossible to function normally. This might mean that you cannot work, your relationships might be affected, or all you can do is to avoid places or situations that you would normally go to, and where that avoidance is making your life very difficult.
2. If after a long time (you decide what is long) you have been unable to solve panic attacks in other ways (counselling, relaxation, controlled breathing, lifestyle changes, other methods etc.)
3. If why you get panic attacks is related to another physical issue which does need medicated.
Of course you could not just look at the situations I described above and if none of them are the case for you, then perhaps panic pills are not the solution. Yet, I want to add 3 extra and important reasons for avoiding panic tablets.
1. If the disturbance of by panic attacks symptoms is low and is also unlikely to get worse in your opinion (your opinion counts here!)
2. If what you want is immediate help every time, yet, you are also aware that panic attacks can only truly be overcome through a psychological approach.
3. If you can confirm to yourself that in fairness, you suffer from a high level of dependency on, or addiction to, tablets or medication.
Of course, if you do take ‘panic pills’, you need to make sure that they do not interfere with other medications you are taking. You also need to feel comfortable with taking the tablets for a prolonged period of time.
In any case, please realize that you should try not to grab the panic pills immediately when trying to get rid of panic attacks, because controlling your panic attacks for the long-term can really best be done without relying on them. It will help you get rid of panic attacks better perhaps, and also, in might make it more possible for you to use psychological treatment.