Its well understood that a million or more people across the globe are victims to Anxiety Disorders, this disorder causes fear, distress and, at worst depression, despite being relatively treatable. Among the many probable ways that people find useful in managing and treating this condition is by the use of Anxiety medications.

These Anxiety medications are very vital and useful in treating the trite and most distressing of symptoms of anxiety disorders. One of their plus factor is in reducing the effects of panic attacks and assisting people to achieve a greater degree of control over the illiness. This in turn makes handling of issues that crop up during bouts of anxiety disorder quite easy to deal with. Anxiety medication for treatment of anxiety related disorders are therefore only available under physicians prescription and non the less.

Two Category of Anxiety Medication Widely used

Physicians who prescribe anxiety medications usually have a list of generic and brand names of these drugs, to facilitate quick dispensing. The purpose of using this drugs is chiefly to contain the symptoms of anxiety disorder while other therapy forms help the patient cope with the symptoms. An example is Psychotherapy, which is more often advised for anxiety disorders, other types of therapy include relaxation techniques and many more other forms. The general idea behind this, is to provide a patient of anxiety disorder with some level of relief and calm momentarily, while offering remedies that ensure long-termed ability to cope.

Two Major class of anxiety medications include:

Anxiolytics or anti-anxiety drugs. These ones work by reducing the pressures caused by anxiety itself. They are quite effective and fast acting, popular among these are brand names like Xanax and Valium, their biggest setback though, is that they are habit forming especially when used over long periods of time. They may also have negative impact on a persons ability to stay awake over extended periods, hence result to inability to carry out necessary functions. They are therefore prescribed only for short-term use.

Another one is Antidepressants, popular among these class of anxiety medication are brand names like Paxil, Lexapro and Prozac which are widely used in the treatment of the symptoms of anxiety disorders. They are often-times prescribed together with anti-anxiety medications. These anti-depressants are commonly used for extended periods of time and are not as fast acting as anxiolytics in releasing their effect. Additional to combating anxiety related symptoms, similar medications can also help with depression. Though, this is unfortunately, a common known negative effect of anxiety disorder.

Its never easy nor comfortable to leave a life laden with anxiety disorders. Where panic attack induced fears looms large and symptoms ride high in full gear. Due to the high habit-forming potential and other long-term side effects of these drugs, they may not be the only recommended form of treatment. Their use in conjunction with other coping mechanism can greatly help people have control of their lives once more.

(c) 2008 Sandy Adamson

Before we dive into learning the different types of panic attacks, it may be worthwhile to first clarify the difference between anxiety and panic. In our daily communications, people tend to use these two terms interchangeably without realising their difference. Sure, these two have lots of in common with respect to their symptoms, but panic attacks usually last only a short while, though more intense. As a contrast, anxiety strikes you more gradually, is less intense, but lasts longer.

Based on whether a panic attack connects to a triggering situation and how it connects to such situations, panic attacks are grouped into three types:

1. Unexpected Panic Attacks

This type of attack is often associated with panic disorder. It occurs spontaneously without any clear reasons, and irrespective of whether you are relaxing or working. This means that we can hardly relate the occurrence of a spontaneous attack to any specific situation or place. As you may have seen in the movies, people can be awakened from sleep with this type of attack.

2. Situationally-bound Panic Attacks

As its name suggests, this type of panic attack is triggered by a specific situation. For example, if you fear flying or public speaking, exposure to these situations will result in immediate panic attacks. This ‘cued’ attack is rarely experienced in panic disorder.

3. Situationally-predisposed Panic Attacks

This type of panic attack is similar to the above one in that it is also triggered by a specific situation. However, the difference is that the attacks only sometimes occur and may not always occur immediately after exposure to the feared situation. For example, if flying is your feared situation, there are times when you take a flight without having a panic attack. However, in some other times, you do not suffer panic attack until you finish your journey for some while. In other words, you are predisposed to having attacks while taking flights, but the attacks are not a sure response to the fear of flying. People with panic disorder may experience this type of attack.

As you may probably understand, some panic attacks are just phobias over a particular event or place, but others may be truly medical conditions which you should take seriously. It is reported that approximately 19 million people in the United States are panic attack sufferers and they experience a variety of symptoms during panic attacks. Many, however, do not take panic attacks seriously or believe they deserve treatment as a medical condition. It is true that many people who have experience of panic attacks never have further episodes or complications. However, you should keep in mind that chronic occurrence of panic attacks can be a sign of panic disorder, which deserve immediate medical help. Quite often, major disorders could prevent a sufferer from pursuing normal daily routines.

With different types of panic attacks and their different levels of complications, various ways of medical interventions are used. Those commonly used ways of treament include traditional medicine, behavorial therapy, and alternative medicines. In many other instances, however, people are able to live with their panic attacks or use self-help techniques to get out of the situations.