Assessment

• 1
  Medication may help in the short term.Health image by Greg Carpenter from Fotolia.com
  
  Visit the physician and explain your symptoms. Give the doctor a history of any traumatic events leading up to the first panic attack. The doctor will examine you and exclude any physical problems. Ask for a referral to a cognitive behavioral therapist. Your doctor may prescribe some short-term medication to help with the immediate symptoms.
  
  
• 2). Explore your symptoms in a controlled environment with the therapist. Cooperate with any exercises the therapist asks you to do. These may include keeping a diary, or rating your symptoms on a 1 to 10 scale. The therapist will probably ask you to visit for several sessions. Learn techniques that will help you to deal with the panic attacks. You will learn ways of facing the panic, rather than trying to escape from it.
  
  
• 3). Learn other coping mechanisms. These might include yoga, meditation and simple relaxation techniques. Using relaxation tapes and music, spend a period of time every day practicing relaxation. Exercise several times a week, as this generally improves the mood and releases stress.
  
  
• 4). Develop a pattern of positive thinking. Look at your diet and coffee intake. Include fruit and vegetables and try to eat regularly. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake. Try to establish a regular sleep pattern.