Panic Attacks And Panic Disorder: Prevention

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Prevention

Although panic disorder cannot be prevented, you may be able to prevent or reduce the number of additional panic attacks with proper treatment. Simply avoiding certain situations or places does not guarantee that a panic attack will not occur under new circumstances. In fact, avoiding situations and places where panic attacks have occurred often increases your level of anxiety.

You may be able to reduce the severity of future attacks if you follow home treatment practices such as:

• Reducing anxiety and limiting triggers like caffeine and alcohol.
• Continuing medical treatment and counseling, such as exposure therapy.
• Calling your doctor if symptoms recur or get worse.

Last updated:	September 16, 2008
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC