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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for panic disorder treatment
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for panic disorder treatment - learn how to manage your panic attacks, identify the root cause, its symptoms & triggers
Panic disorders explained
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times; it's a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations. But if you experience severe feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly at any time, often, and for no apparent reason, you are likely to be suffering from a panic disorder.
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks often occur without warning and start for no apparent reason or can be triggered by something specific such as a large social event. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or, in most extreme cases, dying. An attack can usually last for 5 or 10 minutes, though some come in waves over an hour or so.
Panic attacks are usually accompanied by a range of symptoms such as:
● Palpitations
● Shortness of breath or choking
● Sweating, trembling, feeling sick, dizzy or faint
● Numbness or pins and needles
● Chest pains
● Fear of dying or going mad, seeming unreal or detached
● Hyperventilating
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Hyperventilating in more detail
Hyperventilating is a typical response that can lead to new symptoms, such as confusion or cramps, as well as more of the same symptoms; making them worse and making you hyperventilate even more and become more panicky.
Our approach to treating panic disorders
Feelings such as worry, anxiousness, fear or panic can be mild, moderate or severe. The emotions of panic and anxiety can be constant, long term and can affect people’s daily life. At Pinnacle, you’ll work collaboratively with a trained panic disorder specialist who will help guide you through your therapy. You’ll learn how to manage your panic attacks, identify the root cause, its symptoms and triggers.
Using CBT treatment for panic attacks
At Pinnacle we know that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ and that each of our clients is different and has their own set of unique needs and circumstances. We use a combination of therapies to treat panic attacks, one of the primary treatments is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
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What is CBT and mindfulness CBT?
CBT, or mindfulness CBT as it is sometimes referred to, is about looking at the relationship between your thoughts and feelings, and how they make you ‘default’ to certain behaviours. It’s seen as a different kind of ‘talking therapy’ that aims to solve a person’s current problems. In effect it helps you become your own therapist, where you use the skills you have learned.
By using CBT, we can help make you aware of what your own defaults are: sometimes they help us, sometimes they don’t – CBT helps you recognise those different responses for what they are.
How does CBT treatment for panic disorder help?
CBT has good results when applied to someone suffering from panic attacks. Through cognitive therapy, your therapist can help you to tackle negative thought patterns you may direct at yourself or that you perceive from the world around you. It is usually these negative thoughts that trigger an episode of anxiety.
After you have recognised these negative thoughts and when they occur, you can work to replace them with something more rational and positive which will allow you to manage your panic attacks in a calm and controlled manner.
CBT is a way to rewire the software of your brain, rehearsing troubling situations in your mind in order to create alternative ways of thinking when that situation arises again. In effect, you’re creating new mental circuitry by challenging and changing old responses that feel hardwired in, but aren’t.
With CBT, the therapist acknowledges that there may be behaviours that you cannot control through rational thought. Rather, these harmful coping strategies are as a result of prior conditioning from the environment and other internal or external stimuli.
By taking (what can feel like) insurmountable tasks and teaching you how to apply a pragmatic and objective viewpoint to these issues, CBT gradually changes the way you look at everyday challenges.
“We all have our default ways of dealing with situations. Most of us aren’t even aware of what they are. And some of the time they work. But like a tradesmen who turns up to every job with the same couple of tools, there will be situations where those tools just aren’t the right ones. CBT is particularly helpful in treating someone suffering panic attacks. Therapy helps make you aware and gives you a versatile practical set of life skills to become more agile and resilient for whatever life throws at you.”
Richard Reid - CEO, Therapist & Coaching Psychologist
How can CBT reduce anxiety and panic attacks?
CBT has good results when applied to someone who suffers from a panic disorder. Using cognitive therapy, your therapist can help you to tackle negative thought patterns you may direct at yourself or that you perceive from the world around you. It is usually these negative thoughts that trigger a panic attack or a period of anxiety.
After you have recognised these negative thoughts and when they occur, you can work to replace them with something more rational and positive which will allow you to cope with anxiety in a calm and controlled manner.
CBT is a way to rewire the software of your brain, rehearsing troubling situations in your mind in order to create alternative ways of thinking when that situation arises again. In effect, you’re creating new mental circuitry by challenging and changing old responses that feel hardwired in, but aren’t.
With CBT, the therapist acknowledges that there may be behaviours that you cannot control through rational thought. Rather, these harmful coping strategies are as a result of prior conditioning from the environment and other internal or external stimuli.
By taking (what can feel like) insurmountable tasks and teaching you how to apply a pragmatic and objective viewpoint to these issues, CBT gradually changes the way you look at everyday challenges.
A panic attack therapy case study
This female client suffered from panic attacks and anxiety, particularly when dealing with stressful situations such as work presentations, queuing in supermarkets or travelling on the tube. She had experienced these feelings regularly though the symptoms seemed to become particularly acute on a cyclical basis, approximately every two to three years.
The client was referred by her doctor after having been signed off work for two weeks with stress. She had previously been prescribed anti-depressants but, whilst they seemed to reduce the level of her anxiety, they had never fully eradicated it. She wanted to deal with her problems for the long-term.
We recommended eight sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy focused on teaching her practical coping techniques, challenging her prevailing beliefs and behaviours, and setting regular homework in between sessions to gradually desensitise her to the original stimuli. We also undertook two sessions of hypnotherapy to deal with the blushing she experienced when anxious. She is now able to travel comfortably on public transport and has not reported any feelings of anxiety or blushing in over six months since completing the therapy.
What can you expect from a CBT for panic disorder session
Our panic disorder therapy sessions are tailored to suit your needs. We work with individuals, couples, and teens. Our sessions usually last from 30 minutes to an hour; and our courses usually consist of around 6 to 12 sessions.
“I had suffered from panic attacks for 10 years, they were ruining my life. I never believed I would lead a normal life. I was too scared to go out of the house, unable to work and lost touch with all my friends because they didn’t understand what was wrong with me.
I saw Richard because I was recommended to him, and didn’t really expect too much, but was pleasantly surprised… Even after the very first session I felt a lot better, and for the first time I actually had hope, he actually understood me and knew what I was going through, he specialises in this field…
Now six months later I am leading a normal life… I have Richard to thank for giving me back normality, and I now appreciate life every day. This was the best investment I have ever made - how can you put a value on quality of life - and would recommend him to anyone suffering from anxiety. Thank you Richard.”
Nicola, Teddington, London
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