CBT for Panic Attacks

Posted on December 3, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized |

Panic attack therapy has been an effective way of alleviating panic disorders for many people.  Since every person and their situation is unique, the time frame the therapy can take to show improvement can differ greatly.  Sometimes you may need to wait a few months before you can begin to notice any improvements.

Patience is the most important factor when beginning panic attack therapy.  One form of therapy may work for one person very fast, while another person might need more time, or even a combination of different therapy methods to help their anxiety attacks.

Try to be flexible and avoid setting specific goals for progress such as “I’m going to quit if I don’t see any results in one month.”  This is a guaranteed way to disappoint yourself and ensure that you don’t see progress.  Give whatever treatment method you try a fair chance and give it time to be effective.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a commonly-used and usually successful way to ease panic and anxiety disorders.  CBT is used to encourage people begin to change their thinking and behaviors.  If you are looking for anxiety or panic attack therapy treatments, it is very probable that you will be exposed to this in some form.

When you do CBT, you will probably design a plan with your doctor.  You may be asked to do homework to be finished on your own such as jotting down your personal goals that you will use to gradually expose yourself to situations that may cause anxiety or panic episodes for you.  You will likely be keeping a journal to record your thoughts and feelings as well as a means of looking back to measure your progress in your recovery.

Depending on your situation, you may also be prescribed medicine.  There are a lot of medications for anxiety attacks out there that can be quite effective.  Medication, though is not a solution.  It just eases your anxiety so that you can start to try out an effective recovery program.

Here are some good exercises you may be asked to do as part of your panic attack therapy regimen.  Please talk to your doctor though before you try any of these on your own.  These tools are intended to emulate some of the physical symptoms of anxiety attacks so that you can get used to feeling them knowing that you are in full control of the situation and gradually desensitize yourself from them.

First, you might try to hyperventilate for thirty seconds or so.  Most panic attacks begin with hyperventilation, so if you can start to do this on your own, you can start to feel more relaxed and stop a panic attack in the future.

Also try turning in circles to create a feeling of dizziness.  Dizziness is another common precursor of panic and anxiety attacks.

Run in place or take up an aerobic exercise program to increase your pulse and get used to that experience.

Panic attack therapy can be a useful way of eliminating anxiety disorders by gradually getting you accustomed to typical physical symptoms of a panic episode.  Again, it may take some time to experience noticeable success in your recovery so stick with whatever program or form of therapy your doctor suggests.

Comments

Copyright © 2007 alternativemedicinetech.com • Using Niches-In-A-Box theme created by JP Schoeffel