Do You Take Panic Pills? – Three Reasons Why Panic Pills Might Not Be Your Right Choice

Allow me to describe to you some important 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. Therefore, it is no surprise that perhaps the first thing you might look for is medical help. This can happen even more so if you already suffer from real physical problems like lung or heart issues. However, visiting your physician just to receive a "quick-fix" recipe of panic pills or panic tablets may not be the best idea. Let me describe to you what I feel are the main pros and cons of using panic medication.

So how to stop panic attacks then? A crucial aspect to fully be aware of when learning how to stop panic attacks is that panic attacks are not a physical ailment as such, but are much more related to your mind. This certainly doesn't mean that "you must be crazy". But the fact that panic attacks symptoms are not dangerous has been well researched. They are upsetting, uncomfortable etc. but not dangerous. So a large part of learning how to get rid of panic attacks is related to your beliefs about the 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?

Here's when I feel you perhaps should take panic medication:

1. If you truly have a completely disrupted life because of panic attacks, so much so that you just cannot function in a normal way. For instance, your social and/or close relationships are suffering indireclty (fewer meetings, stress in the family etc.), or you are just not functioning at work, or your life is getting very tough indeed because of you avoiding certain places or situations.

2. If after a long time (you decide what is long) you have been unable to solve panic attacks in other ways (counselling, relaxation, controlled breathing, lifestyle changes, other methods etc.)

3. If the reason you experience panic attacks is a result of some other problem you have, and which does need medication.

Of course you could not just look at the situations I described above and if none of them are the case for you, then perhaps panic pills are not the solution. Yet, I want to add 3 extra and important reasons for avoiding panic tablets.

1. If you don't feel too much disrupted by your panic symptoms, and this is, in your opinion, very unlikely to get worse.

2. If you feel a temptation for a quick-fix solution, but realize within yourself that panic can only really be solved by psychological strategies.

3. If you have a history of dependency on medication (if not addiction).

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 general though, it really is important to be aware that your first resort solution to get rid of panic attacks shouldn't always be panic pills, as overcoming panic attacks long term is not likely to be achieved by medication alone. 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.