It's discouraging to be told there is nothing wrong when repeated panic attacks prove there is something wrong. A panic sufferer may come to believe he or she is going crazy. Desperate to find a way to prevent more attacks, people often begin avoiding situations they associate with their attacks. They sometimes end up homebound or able to leave their home, apartment or residence hall room only with a trusted person. In this way, panic disorder can strain relationships with spouses, family members and friends.
Effective treatments involve various medications and specific behavioral and cognitive therapies.
Behavioral therapy exposes the person to the feared situation in carefully planned steps. This method teaches the person to tolerate the feared situation and the feelings it causes. Cognitive therapy helps patients identify feelings and beliefs that intensify the negative effects of panic attack. Medication plays an important role for some patients by helping to block panic attacks or making them less intense or less frequent. This allows the person, after awhile, to reenter feared situations.