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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    I still take my medication so why have my panic attacks returned?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health Panic Attacks
    I've been taking medication for my depression for about a year and all was going really good until a couple weeks ago my panic attacks have returned nightmares etc. why is this happening again?? I'm so tired of feeling this way! I just wish it would all go away!
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  • Grant Dempsey

    Counsellor

    With a passion to see people move forward and break free from the barriers holding them back, Grant is a highly experienced counsellor with over … View Profile

    Hi, I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties. I guess I'm asking myself, "what have you been doing to understand and address the cause of your panic attacks? Unfortunately many people see medication as a magic bullet but it doesn't solve the initial problem, it makes them more manageable so you can then address and get on top of the problem. 

    I'd suggest you keep in contact with your GP but also see a Psychologist/Counsellor who specialises in Panic Attacks. It generally takes a bit of time but it is worth getting sorted so you can get on with your life. Good luck.

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  • Dr Clive Jones

    Counselling Psychologist, Counsellor, Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Sport Psychologist

    Dr Clive Jones is a registered psychologist specialising in the assessment and treatment of mental health issues and disorders and High Performance Sport psychology. He … View Profile

     As a general rule of thumb, medications that treat panic attacks have addictive qualities. As a consequence the body can build resilience to them thus requiring a larger dose for the same effect.
     
    Medications for panic attacks should not be long term. They should be used to offer some relief while broader psychotherapy takes place to deal more effectively with the primary origins or reasons behind the panic.
     
    Psychotherapy can also help significantly in strategies to abate such attacks. Relaxation and breathing are some fundamental examples of very practical things that can help.
     
    Addressing the secondary loop – or the panic over the panic – is another component of psychotherapeutic treatment that is vital to work through.
     
    These are just a few quick ideas for you to consider. Feel free to email if you need a little more clarity on some things.
     

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    Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    I think that all of the clinical professionals have offered you good ideas.

    Adding to what Clive wrote about the importance of breathing:

    I am not meaning to invalidate your experience of panic attacks but often they have a physiological cause - breathing shallowly so the CO2 levels in the blood get abnormally high.

    My clinical psychologist taught me this breathing exercise:

    (1) Sit in a chair, eyes closed, hands around your navel, fingers just touching.

    (2) Breathe in deeply so your stomach expands and your fingers move apart.

    (3) Count to five.

    (4) Breathe out so your stomach contracts and your fingers touch again.

    (5) Count to five.

    (6) Repeat (2) - (5) for about ten minutes.

    This “deep breathing” exercise works for me (it brings blood CO2 levels back to normal) and I hope that it will work for you as well.

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