Panic attacks are episodes of intense fear or discomfort.
During an attack you may feel shortness of breath, tingling sensations, stomach distress, ringing in your ears, a sense of impending doom, trembling, light-headedness, and sensations of choking, chest pain, sweating and heart pounding.
Individuals with panic disorder may live in fear of having another panic attack and significantly change their behaviour as a result. If left untreated, panic disorder may lead to chronic debilitating anxiety and it rarely goes away by itself. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is extremely effective in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia.
How can Cognitive-behavioral therapy help?
- Understand the nature of anxiety, panic and agoraphobia
- Learn and practice breathing and relaxation techniques
- Identify and change behaviors and thinking patterns that cause and contribute to panic
- Reduce your symptoms and learn how to keep those symptoms from returning