Klonopin Panic Attacks: What You Need to Know

Many individuals experience panic attack once or a few times in their lives. However, this is a more serious condition for some people who seem to be plagued with it on almost a daily basis. Panic attack is an extreme feeling of anxiety and fear as a reaction to stressful and traumatic events. This comes without warning. Panic attacks usually involve extremely intense symptoms that last for more than 10 minutes, even longer.

Some people think that panic and anxiety attacks are two similar things. However, this isn’t the case. Though both have similar symptoms, panic attack and anxiety attack are still different in many ways. Anxiety attack is usually triggered by certain situations, causing fear and extreme worry in the process. However, such feelings could easily disappear once the situation is over.

Panic attack, on the other hand, can be experienced even without any provoking circumstances. Individuals suffering from mild to severe cases of panic attacks may avoid situations, places or activities that triggered panic in the past. By doing so, a person’s normal lifestyle and quality of life may be affected in the process as a result. 

Causes

Primary causes of panic attacks are still not clear, even among experts. This is because the very factors that trigger the attack vary, just like most mental illness in general. According to studies, the most common reported causes of panic attack include stress, change in brain functions, physical and/or sexual abuse during childhood, serious illness, certain medical conditions, traumatic events and excess intake of caffeine/substances to name a few. Research also indicates that it is hereditary.

Whether you have mild or severe panic attack, it is best to seek professional help immediately. This condition could become dangerous if left untreated, even life threatening. A physician could guide you accordingly and advice the best possible options to treat your condition and solve issues.

Panic Attack Symptoms

There are a number of indicative symptoms that a person may experience prior to an attack. Listed below are most of the common reported signs:

·         A strong desire to escape or flee from the situation

·         A sense of impending doom

·         A sense of dying

·         Hyperventilation

·         Fatigue

·         Difficulty swallowing

·         Tightness of the throat

·         Headache

·         Cold and clammy hands

·         Disturbing thoughts

·         Diarrhea

·         Insomnia

In some cases, panic attack also strikes along with other types of anxiety disorders. Because of this, it is advisable to pay attention to individuals who also experience the following:

·         Particular social phobia

·         Unusual fatigue

·         Heart or pulmonary ailment

·         Abdominal illnesses

·         Restless leg condition

·         Severe or chronic headache

·         Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Panic Attack Treatment

Psychotherapy and medication are usually the most common recommended treatment to fight panic attacks. The process often takes some time, but definitely helps improve your condition.

Medication

There are a lot of anti-anxiety medications available in the market. Klonopin, by far, is one of most popular and strongest medication around. You need to be extra careful when taking it though. Follow the right dosage prescribed by your physician since Klonopin is also known to be highly addictive.

Other medications that your doctor may possibly prescribe are SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). These are FDA approved drugs that also treat panic disorder. Patients may experience a number of side effects when using medications during the beginning and end of the process. This is completely natural. As such, your physician will more likely increase the dosage of your medication at the start of the treatment program, and then gradually decrease it when it’s about time to stop. Typically, treatment process could take a year, or even more, before the symptoms are finally controlled.

Psychotherapy

Other alternative treatment process for panic disorder is psychotherapy. There are several psychotherapy treatment procedures available, cognitive-behavioral therapy being the most popular. This particular method comes in two parts, the cognitive part and the behavioural part. The cognitive aspect is where you will learn more about panic attack and different ways to handle it, the triggers, symptoms, how to cope and how to control the disorder. 

The behavioural aspect, on the other hand, involves exposure therapy or desensitization. This is all about getting rid of unhealthy behaviours and changing your lifestyle to make it better. A therapist may help you slowly get out of your comfort zone and face certain situations and places that trigger your anxiety until you’re able to gain control or become free of it.