Do You Take Panic Pills? - 3 Factors Why Panic Pills Might Not Be The Right Option

Let me explain to you some essential factors related to dealing with panic attacks. In previous articles I have talked about dealing with panic attacks and the awful experiences panic attacks can bring to people, and the worry that panic symptoms such as chest pains, breathing problems or dizziness can cause. It is unsurprising, therefore, that the first plan action often involves seeing your physician. Especially if you fear something is physically wrong with you, e.g. worries about having a heart problem, a brain tumour, a lung problem etc. Yet, a trip to your doctor to get a quick “panic pills” or “panic tablets” fix can be premature. Allow me to show you some important reasons for and especially against the use of panic medication.

So how to stop panic attacks then? What is essential in learning about how to stop panic attacks is the notion that the core problem is not physical at all but is in your mind. Of course I’m not saying you have an automatic mental illness, but it has been well described now that symptoms of panic attacks are actually not dangerous. They are upsetting, uncomfortable etc. but not dangerous. Thus you need to learn to really start paying attention to what your personal beliefs are about your panic symptoms. Having said that, the panic can be so bad that you might feel you have no choice, you simply need to go see a doctor and get medication. So when are panic tablets a good idea?

Let me first tell you when I think they have a role to play:

1. If your current life is regular, if not totally disrupted because of panic symptoms, to the extent that you don’t function normally any longer. For example, you just cannot go to, or function at work, or the quality of your relationships is going down, or you just seem to be avoiding situations or places for fear of panic, and where this avoidance makes your life a lot harder.

2. If quite some time has passed you did not yet overcome panic attacks with other help, such as from controlled breathing techniques, distraction, counselling etc.

3. If why you get panic attacks is related to another physical issue which does need medicated.

For reasons why you should not take panic tablets you could of course simply look at the opposite of the reasons given above. But here are three additional reasons why panic tablets might not be the best option.

1. If the disturbance of by panic attacks symptoms is low and is also unlikely to get worse in your opinion (your opinion counts here!)

2. If you feel tempted by short-term improvement, but know in yourself that you really should try control panic with psychological means.

3. If you can confirm to yourself that in fairness, you suffer from a high level of dependency on, or addiction to, tablets or medication.

If you do decide to go ahead with “panic pills”, then please make sure you understand if this has any negative effect on other medication you are currently taking. Also, be aware that you could be taking panic tablets for quite some time, and not everybody is comfortable with that.

In any case, please realize that you should try not to grab the panic pills immediately when trying to get rid of panic attacks, because controlling your panic attacks for the long-term can really best be done without relying on them. It will help you get rid of panic attacks better perhaps, and also, in might make it more possible for you to use psychological treatment.