The most common way to treat panic disorder is with psychological help. Some common things which are thought to help reduce panic attacks and symptoms of agoraphobia are:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on how important it is to understand and control anxiety and panic attacks by changing how you act and think. This treatment focuses on ineffective, harmful and illogical behaviours, plus ways of thinking that keep the symptoms going. For example, having unchecked thoughts about what might or might not happen if you have a panic attack could in fact worsen your symptoms and cause you to avoid certain situations (behaviour).
CBT has been studied by scientists as a way to treat panic disorder. Research shows that this type of treatment can ease many symptoms of panic and anxiety. If you use CBT techniques, you can expect to work on changing your thoughts and actions – this will help you control your symptoms more quickly.
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Cognitive Behaviour Modification
Panic disorder, agoraphobia, and other anxiety disorders often cause people to think and act in certain ways which make it more difficult to get better. This change to cognitive behavioural therapy doesn’t have as much data to back up its effectiveness in treating panic disorder as some of the following other methods do. If you change how you talk to yourself and tell yourself stories, you will probably also change how you react to things which make you anxious.
Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
This is a cognitive-behavioural method that has been shown to be effective in treating several anxiety disorders. The cognitive and behavioural techniques that REBT uses to treat panic disorder have been shown to work effectively.
Panic-Focused Psychodynamic Therapy (PFPP)
Based on psychoanalytic notions, panic-focused psychodynamic psychotherapy is a treatment for panic disorder. These theories generally posit that early relationship experiences mold individuals and that unconscious motivations plus psychological conflicts lie at the heart of some contemporary symptoms and behaviours. The subconscious (or unconscious) mind is where unpleasant feelings hide. Suppose these unpleasant feelings can be brought into the conscious mind. In this case, they can be dealt with more appropriately, and the symptoms of panic disorder and related behaviours can be eradicated – or significantly decreased.
Group Therapy
The benefits of group therapy include:
- Providing a discussion of experiences among people who have similar symptoms and challenges;
- Providing possibilities for modeling, inspiration, and reinforcement by other group members;
- Providing a naturally-occurring exposure setting for patients who dread experiencing panic symptoms in social contexts.
Couples and Family Therapy
The symptoms of panic disorder can make it difficult for family members or significant others to get along with each other. Furthermore, family therapy that addresses the panic sufferer’s need for support, communication and education – as well as their need for dependence – can be helpful. People with panic disorder shouldn’t just use family therapy as their only form of treatment.
Choose Forward Thinking Psychological Services
Our team focuses on helping people with OCD and other related disorders. We also know how to treat anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, health anxiety, panic disorder, and phobias using treatments which have been shown to work.
Our team also helps people with depression, trauma, changes in life, and problems with relationships, among other things.
Forward Thinking offers virtual services in Ontario and British Columbia at the moment. In 2022, we also plan to offer in-person meetings. For more information, visit us online or email us at info@ftpsych.ca today.