Treatment of panic attacks: how to recognize them and how to help yourself

Before you understand how panic attacks are treated, you should understand what kind of disorder it is, the reasons for its development, who is susceptible to it, and what the symptoms are.

The human body responds to stress by releasing the hormone adrenaline. It triggers a mechanism that prepares the body to confront a dangerous situation or escape: the heart begins to beat faster, breathing quickens. This leads to increased ventilation of the lungs and, as a result, the level of carbon monoxide in the blood decreases, causing dizziness, tingling in the fingers, numbness of the arms and legs.

Nature initially instilled in people just such an algorithm for responding to danger, so this is quite normal and characteristic of all representatives of homo sapiens. However, if such a mode “turns on” for no reason, then this will already be a manifestation of a panic attack, which is a mental disorder - one of the subtypes of anxiety conditions.

Description of the drug

Novo-Passit is a combined medication, the mechanism of action of which is provided by the substances included in the composition. All components are extracts based on healing plant materials with a calming effect. It is also characterized by anti-anxiety effects.

The drug has a complex effect on pathological neuropsychic processes, fights excitability, anxiety, and irritability. The product has proven itself to be effective in restoring normal sleep. It is also actively used for the purpose of carrying out preventive measures to prevent various diseases.

Drug therapy

Certain medications can help reduce some of the symptoms of a panic attack. If the patient’s brain has a disturbance in the exchange of neurotransmitters, the balance of the processes of excitation and inhibition, then they are prescribed much more than in milder cases.

At the first stage, medications relieve the attack, and then restore the functioning of various brain systems. They are able to eliminate the panic state altogether, or weaken it.

1. Tranquilizers are prescribed at the very beginning of treatment and not for long, as they cause addiction. These drugs extinguish the severity of the attack, stabilize the autonomic system, and normalize sleep.
2. Antidepressants require caution - you need to be careful about their contraindications, so the selection is strictly individual. It is interesting that similar products from different manufacturers can have different effects on the patient.
3. Antipsychotics are used extremely rarely - only if panic disorder cannot be cured with other medications, as well as in the presence of a personality disorder or metabolic disorders in the brain. In addition, they are very difficult to find.
4. Neurometabolic drugs are very active, so they are used strictly in courses and administered in the presence of a doctor. They allow you to reduce the doses of other psychotropic drugs.

It is necessary to emphasize once again that all of the above medications are prescribed personally. The doctor should pay special attention to their effect on the patient, especially in the first days, monitor the intake, cancel and re-prescribe in case of adverse events.

Release form and composition

Novo-Passit is produced in the form of film-coated tablets and in the form of a solution for oral use. The medicine contains only natural ingredients. Contains:

• muscle relaxant and anxiolytic – active ingredients;
• St. John's wort, characterized by antidepressant effects;
• valerian is characterized by a calming, mild hypnotic effect;
• black elderberry flowers;
• medicinal lemon balm;
• hawthorn flowers and leaves;
• passionflower incarnate.

The effect of the drug is due to the properties of each component. There are 30, 60 or 100 tablets in a jar, or 10 tablets per lozenge.

What to do in case of a sudden attack

If you feel the onset of a panic attack, you can prevent it using the following recommendations:

• in the first seconds, the gas balance provoked by hyperventilation should be normalized. To do this, you need to breathe into cupped palms or a paper bag;
• you need to close your eyes, relax, think about something good. It doesn’t hurt to lie down and at least take a nap;
• switch to the process that was affected by the crisis and continue to carry it out. On the street, you can start counting people passing by, solving arithmetic problems in your head, etc.;
• start singing your favorite song loudly – ​​cheerful, energetic. The most suitable option is a children's room;
• surging heat and clouded consciousness can be cooled and cleared in the shower or by washing the face and skin behind the ears with cold water. Next, you need to look at yourself in the mirror and try to catch the moment the attack recedes;
• drink a cup of hot tea with honey and lemon balm - this soothing drink will calm you down and make you fall asleep;
• Massage your ears or palms - press the membrane between your thumb and index finger and hold it there for a count of five. Do this until the fear passes;
• chew chewing gum, which you should always have with you. The brain will switch, the numbness and excitement will go away. At this moment, you should start doing some distracting but pleasant things;
• Having auto-training skills, you can repeat to yourself - nothing bad happened, there is no danger, everything will pass very quickly.

Recommendation for those who are close to a person who is in crisis: do not be nervous, but take him by the hands and in a very calm voice convince him that everything is fine and will end well.

Indications for use

Novo-Passit is indicated for mild forms of neurasthenia, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• fatigue;
• impotence;
• fears;
• absent-mindedness;
• memory impairment;
• exhaustion;
• increased anxiety.

The product is also used for milder forms of sleep problems, increased neuromuscular excitability, migraine attacks, vegetative-vascular dystonia, menopausal syndrome, functional diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, dermatoses accompanied by itching.

Contraindications and special instructions

Novo-Passit is contraindicated for:

• myasthenia gravis;
• hypersensitivity to the components in the composition;
• epilepsy;
• pregnancy;
• lactation.

The presence of these conditions is an absolute prohibition on taking the drug. The drug is prescribed with special caution to children under 12 years of age, as well as to people suffering from disorders of the gastrointestinal tract.

During therapy, you should refrain from driving and using machinery, as taking the medication reduces attention and slows down mental and motor reactions. This can cause trauma to the patient.

Do not drink alcohol during use. Patients with fair skin should avoid exposure to ultraviolet rays. If all symptoms of the disease persist for a week, it is important to consult a doctor.

Why panic attacks need to be treated

The syndrome may not appear too often: the interval between attacks can be quite significant, but sooner or later, the panic will return anyway, that is, nothing will go away on its own.

The consequences of this are:

1. Since a panic attack can take you by surprise at any time, in any place, in public, the person suffering from the disorder begins to avoid loved ones, friends, does not go anywhere, and withdraws into himself.
2. Various phobias develop - fear of open space, darkness, phenomena, i.e. anything.
3. Psycho-emotional disorder leads to personality disorder.
4. Self-doubt develops, which affects personality, appearance, family relationships, and professional activities.
5. Sleep is disturbed, appetite is lost, and the body becomes dehydrated. As a result, the body suffers.
6. Refusal to share problems causes problems in the nervous system.

It is imperative to get rid of this problem, since, judging by the above, it brings problems in social adaptation, worsens the quality of life, interferes with normal work, and negatively affects the physical and mental state.

Side effects

Taking Novo-Passit may provoke some unwanted reactions. The main ones include:

• drowsiness;
• general malaise;
• tight circles under the eyes;
• headache;
• nausea and vomiting;
• muscle weakness;
• constant feeling of fatigue;
• allergic rashes;
• cramps and heartburn;
• problems with stool.

If side effects occur, you should stop taking the drug. You will need to contact your doctor, who will select an analogue.

Instructions for use and dosage

Adult patients and children over 12 years of age take 1 tablet or 5 ml of suspension three times a day before meals. It is advisable to take every 4-5 hours. It is possible to increase the dosage to 2 tablets, but only after consulting a doctor. For constant fatigue, powerlessness, depression, use half the dosage.

It is advisable to use Novo-Passit in elderly patients with mental disorders. Start treatment with the minimum dosage. The drug is not used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Prescription is possible only after agreement with the doctor. During lactation, stop breastfeeding for a while.

Psychotherapeutic treatment

Panic attacks cannot be cured without psychotherapy using the following techniques:

1.Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered the most effective in this area - it is called the “gold standard”. The patient, with the help of a specialist, goes through several steps:

• changes your thoughts about panic to more positive ones;
• learns techniques that reduce anxiety;
• learns to overcome agoraphobia, etc.

This therapy models thinking and behavior during an attack. For example, the following situation is played out: you have a panic attack while you are driving a car. If you pull over and stop, will anything bad happen? Will you crash your car or die? Hardly! It is precisely this belief that the patient develops, and he ceases to be afraid of an attack.

2. Classic hypnosis involves putting the patient into a trance state, in which he is encouraged to get rid of panic disorder. This method shows good results, but not all people succumb to it.

3. Ericksonian hypnosis allows you to resolve internal conflicts. It is softer, since the person himself enters a trance with the help of a psychotherapist. Moreover, in this case it is believed that there are no non-hypnotizable people. In addition, the patient learns self-hypnosis, which helps him prevent panic attacks by reducing anxiety levels.

4. Body-oriented therapy is a whole set of methods that involve working with the body (by influencing it and regulating sensations, you can reduce the level of anxiety). This includes:

• breathing techniques;
• relaxation according to Jacobson.

5. Systemic family psychotherapy sees the cause of panic disorder in the family, in the relationships and disharmony existing there. That is, the patient’s condition depends on all members of his family, and therefore work is carried out with all of them.

6. Psychoanalyst sees the causes of panic attacks in unconscious conflicts - meaning feelings of guilt, problems with parents, internal aggression, etc. Therefore, the psychoanalyst will clarify these very conflicts for several years. It is this prolongation that is the disadvantage of this method.

Physiotherapeutic procedures such as:

• relaxing and tonic physical therapy;
• massage course;
• aromatherapy;
• mesodiencephalic modulation of the cerebral cortex (MDM therapy);
• electrosleep;
• color therapy.

During the course of treatment for PA, the patient may begin to doubt that it is happening correctly, that he needs psychotherapy and that it is truly successful, and that the medications have a positive effect. In addition, circumstances may turn out to be such that he violated the doctor’s recommendations and the prescribed regimen. At the same time, he may have a seizure. Therefore, the patient should not hesitate to ask for help or consult with his leading specialist. The latter will be ready at any time to answer all the patient’s questions both over the telephone and in a face-to-face meeting. Such communication, especially in the early stages, should be continuous.

help yourself

Early diagnosis and timely treatment allows you to completely get rid of panic attacks, of course, if they have become chronic. You can contribute to professional treatment at home or know how to relieve an attack and alleviate it, strengthen the body and eliminate negative factors.

The following folk remedies will help reduce fear:

1. Pour 300 ml of boiling water over a teaspoon of dry oregano, leave for 10 minutes, strain. Drink 150 gr. four times a day.
2. 100 gr. pour 500 ml of boiled water into young birch leaves. After infusion, strain for five hours. Take 100 ml every day.
3. Infusion of linden or chamomile. Pour boiling water (a glass) over a teaspoon of dried inflorescences and after half an hour you can drink it as tea, having first strained it.

Motherwort juice is also good; alcohol tincture of oregano; decoctions of lemon balm and mint; infusions of valerian, wormwood, nettle, hops.

You can help an upset psyche by walking on grass or bare ground with bare feet (even in the cold season) - this calms you down.

Aromatherapy gives excellent results - candles with essential oils of pine, eucalyptus, juniper. A massage with these substances won't hurt either.

Experts advise drinking as little strong tea and coffee as possible, sitting less at the computer and in front of the TV, walking more in the fresh air, playing sports and being physically active. The day should be distributed correctly between time for work, rest and sleep. You need to monitor your diet - it should be rational and not contain spicy seasonings. Avoid bad habits (smoking, alcohol), take vitamins.

Those susceptible to panic attacks should adhere to the following rules:

1. Don't be alone, don't isolate yourself. Communicate with family and friends, tell them about your condition - they will help you cope with it. Keep a diary, share your thoughts with him, analyze them, tune in to something pleasant.
2. Relax more often - read, spend time in nature, watch a fun movie, take a bath, listen to good relaxing music, that is, have a good rest. You can learn to meditate and do it at home, in silence, in a calm environment.
3. Learn to breathe correctly, master a breathing technique that reduces hyperventilation of the lungs and thus alleviates panic symptoms - through a paper or plastic bag. An excellent option is Pilates, that is, breathing exercises. Sign up for the section and practice it under the guidance of an experienced instructor.
4. Gradually, with the help of training the nervous system, develop immunity to stress, do not engage in self-hypnosis of fear of anything, do not scold yourself.
5. If the situation gets out of control, immediately contact a specialist.
6. Set yourself up for positivity. When anxious thoughts appear, try to switch to something good.

Customer Reviews

Reviews of Novo-Passit for insomnia are extremely positive.

Igor, 29 years old

“A year ago I lost a friend, after which a terrible depression began. His departure left a significant imprint. I started having health problems, became nervous, tense, and aggressive. I could not sleep at all. I went to see a doctor who recommended Novo-Passit. I took it strictly as prescribed and within a couple of days I felt improvements. The feeling of fear and anxiety has passed. My sleep has improved significantly, I can fall asleep normally, and I don’t wake up at night.”

Alina, 35 years old

“Recently I have become very ill, and the constant lack of sleep has provoked irritability and nervousness. Without even wanting to, I offend people. I drank Novo-Passit and am pleased with the result. The drug has a very mild effect, so it does not cause harm. I feel calmer and sleep well.”

Signs of a panic attack

Many people, unfortunately, do not understand that they were “visited” by a panic attack, believing that their heart suddenly “grabbed”. Indeed, the symptoms of a panic attack are similar to a vegetative crisis: rapid heartbeat, pulsation in the temporal regions, lack of air - difficulty breathing, pain in the chest and abdomen. However, medications taken “for the heart” do not improve the condition in any way.

Also, at these moments, a person begins to either sweat or feel chills, his limbs tremble, the skin becomes numb or tingles, there may be dizziness and nausea, and an upset stomach. Everything seems unreal to him, blurry, that this is not happening to him (derealization and depersonalization), he goes crazy or dies. The patient experiences incredible fear, but there are also individuals who, instead, feel sadness; they always want to cry or be aggressive.

We can talk about the presence of a mental disorder such as panic attack syndrome if attacks occur several times a day or a couple of times a month, and last several minutes or up to an hour (the average is from 15 to 30 minutes).

The attack appears unexpectedly, without any pretext, and not in some frightening or alarming situation: in a store, on the street, in a cinema, while driving a car, at home - on the sofa, and even in a dream. A person at this moment can either be among people or be alone.

It can hardly be said that all of the above is dangerous to health, but panic attacks can lead to the development of neuroses, depression, and phobias. A patient, having experienced an unexpected attack, even a very short one, several times, tries to do everything to avoid a recurrence. He becomes suspicious, loses confidence, constantly “listens” to himself, gets nervous and tries to avoid places and situations where and in what case this happened. That is, now he is afraid of just such an attack and lives in constant anxiety and phobic avoidance.

The mechanism of the onset of panic disorder is very simple to explain using an example. A completely prosperous person, usually a strong personality, living a normal life, received a very strong emotion (anger, fear, etc.) in a certain traumatic situation. The brain absorbs this experience and stores it in the unconscious. That is, the individual himself seems to have forgotten everything, but this is far from the case: the negative is securely stored in a distant corner of the memory and, over time, added to it are memories of the troubles that inevitably accompany our life, no matter how wonderful and calm it may be .

One fine day, some significant event happens, very joyful or sad (the birth of a child, the death of a parent), and it, by coincidence, becomes the last straw that overflows the vessel with memories. Then it “explodes” and the person has a panic attack.

This sudden attack worries and worries a person, even if it passed very quickly. Such a lack of understanding of what happened, anxiety, tension and excess emotions about this can provoke another attack, and then they will happen again and again. The patient is frightened by his physical and mental state at these moments, he tries not to visit those places where he was overtaken by an attack - phobias appear. As a result, panic disorder develops, and if this problem is left to chance, the consequences can be very sad.