Panic Disorder: Understanding Symptoms and Treatment

Living with Panic Disorder can be challenging. But with the right understand and treatment, you can find relief and regain control over your life again. In this blog post, we’ll explore what panic disorder is, common symptoms, effective treatment options, and how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you overcome your panic attacks.

What is Panic Disorder?

A panic attack is a short period of intense fear accompanied by a number of unpleasant physical sensations. Such as heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, tight chest, nausea and feeling dizzy. The intense feelings reach a peak within minutes – unlike an anxiety attack which can build more slowly and last a lot longer.

Panic Disorder is when someone experiences recurrent panic attacks, and they frequently worry about having further panic attacks. As a result they might change their behaviour to try and avoid having a panic attack, such as avoiding going out or stopping activities like running.

Signs of Panic Disorder

Have you ever found yourself wondering ‘do I have panic disorder?’. Here are the most common symptoms of panic disorder I see in my clients:

• Having frequent panic attacks, which often seem to come out of the blue, and can even sometimes happen at night time when you’re asleep.
• Believing that something bad is going to happen whilst you’re having a panic attack, such as fainting or having a heart attack or that you’re losing your mind.
• Constantly worrying about having a panic attack, and adjusting your behaviour in some way to try and avoid a panic attack occurring.
• Anxiety symptoms that came on very quickly and peak within 10 minutes, with the peak lasting for approx 10 minutes.
• No longer doing certain activities that you think could bring on a panic attack, such as going on the tube or exercising or getting too hot.

Panic Disorder Treatment

Fortunately, there are several effective treatments available. These include:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT is considered the gold standard treatment for panic disorder. It involves identifying and challenging negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to panic attacks. And teaching individuals coping strategies to manage anxiety and panic symptoms more effectively.
2. Exposure Therapy: This is a specific type of CBT that involves gradually exposing you to feared situations or sensations to desensitise them and reduce anxiety over time.
3. Medication: Antidepressant medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or benzodiazepines, may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of panic disorder. These medications can help regulate mood and reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.

How to Overcome Panic Disorder with CBT

CBT has been shown to be highly effective in treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Research shows significant reductions in symptoms and improvements in overall functioning. By targeting the underlying thoughts and behaviours that maintain the obsessions and compulsions, CBT helps you develop healthier coping mechanisms and strategies for managing anxiety and distress.

Key components of CBT for Panic Disorder may include:

• Psycho-education: Learning about the nature of panic disorder, its causes, and treatment options.
• Formulation: Understanding how your panic problem developed, how it presents itself, and what maintains it.
• CBT Tools: Understanding triggers and patterns that contribute to panic attacks. Challenging and reframing negative thought patterns and beliefs to reduce the anxiety of panic symptoms. Gradual exposure to learn that feared outcomes are unlikely to occur leading to decreased anxiety over time. Coping skills to manage panic symptoms and reduce anxiety levels.
• Relapse Prevention: Putting together a plan at the end of therapy to help you continue progressing towards your goals and so you feel confident about what to do should you experience any future panic attacks.

The Power of CBT for Panic Disorder

CBT plays a crucial role in the treatment of panic disorder. By helping you understand your triggers and challenging negative thought patterns, CBT helps you develop effective coping strategies and reduces panic attacks.

Here are some of the therapy benefits my panic clients find most powerful:

• Learning how to cope with unpleasant physical symptoms of anxiety
• Understanding the theory behind why panic attacks aren’t dangerous
• Learning how to deescalate a panic attack or stop it from happening altogether
• Feeling confident about doing activities that you’d stopped doing out of fear
• Building awareness of your triggers to panic attacks and how to manage these
• Learning how to control constant worrying about having further panic attacks

If you or someone you know is struggling with panic disorder, consider reaching out to a qualified therapist who can provide support and effective treatment. With the right help and support, it is possible to overcome your panic attacks and live a life free from the constraints of anxiety and avoidance.

Find Out More

I specialise in working with perfectionists. Perfectionism and panic disorder can coexist, with catastrophic thinking and a desire to feel in control being common overlaps. As a result I have lots of experience in helping clients successfully overcome their panic attacks. If you’re looking for a BABCP Accredited Senior CBT Therapist for panic disorder therapy, you can book an appointment here.

Useful Links

• What CBT is and How it Actually Works
• Subscribe to The Diary of a Perfectionist