Panic attacks are a fact of life for some people. Often, the attacks are a transient phenomenon that begins after some sort of life trauma and fade as the individual begins to heal. At other times, nutritional issues trigger anxiety and panic, and will fade as the individual begins to pay attention to his or her physical well being. Regardless of the origin of the attacks, people going through them tend to recover more quickly when they have some mechanisms for panic attack support in their lives. Here are some examples of the most effective kinds of support for many people.
One of the first lines of panic attack support comes from the medical community. In order to begin dealing with the attacks, it is necessary to determine the causes for the episodes of panic. Bloodwork and other tests can determine if the origins lie in such factors as a thyroid problem, a compromised nervous system, or nutritional deficiency.
Once the physical issues are addressed, the individual often benefits from seeking at least preliminary discussions with a counselor. This is especially true if there appears to be no physical reason for the attacks. Together, the primary care physician and a mental health professional can form a strong panic attack support team and determine the treatment process that will be best for the individual.
Along with medical support, loved ones are extremely important to the process of recovery from panic attacks. This type of personal panic attack support comes in the form of being a sounding board for the patient, allowing him or her to articulate frustration and fears in an environment that is non-judgmental and loving. Loved ones also can motivate the patient to keep working toward recovery, even when he or she feels totally discouraged and unhappy with the constant back and forth pattern of progress and setbacks that earmarks the path of most panic attack sufferers.
Panic attack support groups are also very important to the recovery process. Many cities and towns have at least one anxiety and panic attack support group that is open to anyone suffering with the condition. Counselors may also have private anxiety and panic attack support groups composed of their clients. These groups can be helpful not only in providing a means of reminding the sufferer that he or she is not alone in the struggle to overcome panic disorder, but also provide patients with some place to go regularly, thus helping to keep phobias such as agoraphobia at bay.
Thanks to the Internet, there are also online anxiety and panic attack support groups. This resource can often be employed to augment the participation in a local panic attack support group, in that the online group is often available twenty four hours a day. Some of the online support groups are international in scope, making it possible for people in many different cultures and places to share and support one another in their journeys toward recovery.
Recovery from anxiety and panic disorders is rarely an overnight phenomenon. The origins of the health disorder may go back for a number of years and could take some time to overcome. By seeking panic attack support from several different sources, the person suffering with panic disorder can and will recover and be able to enjoy life once more.