Alcohol Abuse Advice

A Cure for Panic Attacks? What Does Not Work

Copyright (c) 2010 Peter Rubel

If there is a magic bullet to cure panic attacks for you, and certainly there are ways to overcome panic, finding out what works for a given individual may take a little work. Along the way, it may help to know what does NOT work.

I. Avoiding what makes you feel anxious

People with significant anxiety and panic attacks commonly avoid things. Of course there are things one ought to avoid like actual danger or low priority things that distract from higher priority ones. But here we are talking about avoiding normal life events and circumstances like going out in public or various responsibilities.

Avoidance is deceptive. Initially, backing away from some anxiety-producing setting or person can feel relieving. Next time, you avoid the circumstance altogether. And sometimes it can work. For a while. But when avoidance interrupts life, when deadlines are not met, when one has to mold life in order to avoid what are otherwise normal things, when avoidance becomes a way of life…

What had seemed like a way out becomes a trap. We have deceived ourselves into thinking that avoidance behavior is a cure for fear. Of course we don’t always go to extremes, but among panic attack and anxiety disorder sufferers, extremes in various degrees can be more common than average. Some people are afraid of leaving their own house.

II. Depending on pills … too much

There is a place for prescription drugs or their natural alternatives in treating anxiety and panic. Occasional or intensive initial use is often most helpful. But such substances can also fail to address primary causes or not be healthy if used continuously long term or become a crutch enabling avoidance behavior.

Are the pharmaceutical drugs or natural supplements curing your panic attacks, a supplement to other remedies, or are they masking symptoms as long as they are being used? Are there negative side effects? Does your doctor know of any long term alternative treatments that are in your individual best interest? Drugs or natural calming substances are not necessarily bad, but often they need to be used in conjunction with other long term solutions such as emotional or behavioral therapy.

III. Alcohol

Sometimes a drink can calm the nerves. This can be useful quick fix. So can drugs or natural substances. But some anxiety sufferers feel under constant or severe stress. Alcohol consumption can become regular or addictive. Long term, over-consumption of alcohol drains bodily health, encourages depression, and facilitates avoidance of duty and normal life.

IV. Self-Pity and Blaming

Granted. Panic attacks make you suffer big time. There are awful. And they can be a sign of other problems, some of them significant. Sometimes abuse or negligence by others can contribute to the panic condition. But self-pity and blaming do not serve as remedies to panic attacks.

If a counselor or friend asks you about your panic attacks, what are you going to say? Maybe you need not omit how you were abused or neglected, but are you interested in venting rather than getting to a solution?

Of course self-blame can easily become twisted too, and that is no help. Accepting the empathy and ear of others can be encouraging. Be encouraged and keep moving toward what works.

V. Certain substances

There are certain prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs that may increase or cause anxiety symptoms. If you are on a prescription drug and feel that it may cause you anxiety, talk to your doctor. And by the way, read the labels on soft drinks to see if they contain caffeine. Caffeine can increase anxiety level. Adding to your troubles does not help to remedy anxiety and panic.