Posted 5/9/2010 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
You have several other very good options besides relying simply on psychotropic medications. There is a wonderful new book recently released by Dr. Daniel Siegel - Mindsight. He describes an effective approach to panic disorders that does not rely on medications, and Dr. Siegel is a psychiatrist. One of your many options is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. That is my preferred mode, but there are several others. First, I highly recommend that you read Dr. Siegel's book, or at least the chapter in which he describes his treatment of a client with a panic disorder. Another excellent therapy for dealing with panic d/o is EMDR. It sounds like an insane approach to therapy, but it has well-documented successes in situations like yours (and it doesn't hurt or cost much:)). I am a psychologist with experience in treating panic d/o. I'm sorry no one has exposed you to your other options much sooner. The usual approach is that psychotropic meds ease the immediate symptoms, but are not expected to cure the problem. Psychotherapy, and other wholistic approaches would be necessary for a "cure."