Panic attacks are a common problem around the world. People can experience a huge range of symptoms, some mild while others may be very severe. Fortunately, despite the misery caused by panic and anxiety, there are a number of things that a person can do in order to get the panic attack relief they need.

The most common symptoms that rear their head would be the shakes, sweats, and an increase in a person's heart rate. Being aware of these can help a person experience far less fear than if they did not know about them. The severity of the symptoms can depend heavily on the sufferer's mental, emotional and physical makeup, and what is happening in their life.

Issues that relate to work or personal problems can all set off panic attacks. There are numerous other things that can also prompt them as well. For some folks, all it takes is any situation that will make them react in an emotional manner, and the anxiety sets in.

Being able to help a person who is having their first panic attack relax somehow can be very helpful. Sometimes just being with the sufferer can help a great deal. The symptoms of a panic attack can seem life threatening but it is generally acknowleged that such is not the case; knowing that they are not going to die can provide a bit of relief. People who are all alone when they have that first attack often assume the worst and can be exceptionally scared.

Ignoring the situation is another approach taken by a lot of people. This can only lead to making things worse down the road. Somebody who experiences multiple attacks should seek the advice of a doctor, probably a specialist. They will be able to help figure out if the situation is being brought on by other medical issues or if it is a stand-alone condition. Proper treatment of this is essential to prevent a downward spiral.

By learning to control the thought processes leading into an attack it is possible to control the extent of an episode. There are exercises that one should learn in advance, which will guide the natural mental responses in a more productive direction, thus curtailing the length and severity of the attack.

Various treatment methods such as cognitive therapy are successful for many people. Using meditation and deep breathing techniques can also be helpful. Any method that can help the sufferer to calm down and relax is likely to be beneficial when combating an attack. Surprisingly the internet has many resources that can help provide panic attack relief.

Drugs are also needed for some situations. The doctor--usually a specialist--will be the one to consider which option of treatment would be best suited to a given situation. There are many different drugs on the market now and this is a common route taken to get things under control, usually as a part of other therapy techniques. Being monitored consistently by the doctor is essential to ensure that the dosage and medication are working in the desired manner. Often they will need to see the patient on a bi-weekly basis, if not more frequently. Hopefully the administration of prescription drugs will be a temporary situation.

Issues that have occurred throughout a person's life can be some of the key triggers to attacks like these. Often people block traumatic events and don't realize it until things are out of control. This is when many doctors will recommend a combination of both drugs and counseling in order to get things back to normal. There is hope, but it does take time.

The bottom line is that, despite the distress created by anxiety and panic attacks, they are not physically dangerous by themselves. Furthermore there are numerous approaches for treatment, some of which are quite inexpensive. Sometimes the solution comes by way of a dramatic course of treatment, but often a combination of relaxation, mental preparation and even exercise can have excellent results.