Coping with Panic
A person's life can be severely disrupted and negatively affected by panic episodes. They frequently make the sufferer feel like they are losing control or maybe even dying because they can happen quickly and unexpectedly. Because of this, having panic attacks can cause a person to avoid particular situations or activities, which has a significant impact on their quality of life.
Fortunately, panic episodes can be effectively treated with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of talk therapy that aids people in recognising and altering the unfavourable thought patterns and behaviour that cause their panic episodes. The goal of CBT is to assist people in developing symptom management skills and regaining control over their life.
Getting accustomed to the bodily symptoms of panic is a key element of CBT for panic attacks. The physical signs of panic attacks, like perspiration, rapid heartbeat, and trouble breathing, may be feared by many people who encounter them. They might interpret these feelings as menacing or harmful, which would make them more anxious and panicked.
Interoceptive exposure urges people to actively elicit in a safe and controlled setting bodily sensations similar to those felt during a panic episode. Exercises like holding their breath, whirling in a chair, or hyperventilating can help with this. Individuals can learn to accept and even get over their dread of these sensations by gradually exposing themselves to them.
Cognitive restructuring is an important part of CBT for panic attacks. This entails recognising and combating harmful thought processes that cause panic episodes. People might think, for instance, "I'm going to die" or "I can't handle this." Through CBT, people can learn to identify these thoughts, confront them, and swap them out for more reasonable and balanced ones.
It's crucial to remember that CBT for panic attacks is a process that requires time and practise, is not a fast fix, and may not immediately bring relief. However, with the assistance of a qualified therapist, people can learn to control their symptoms and create coping mechanisms to stop panic attacks in the future.
Finding a therapist with whom you click and who has experience treating panic attacks is equally important. The success of CBT depends on the therapist and client having full trust because CBT calls for a high level of trust and cooperation.
We can conclude that dealing with panic attacks can be difficult and upsetting, but CBT can teach people how to control their symptoms and recover control over their life. People can learn how to manage panic attacks and stop them from interfering with their daily lives by being comfortable with the physical symptoms of panic and learning to question unhelpful cognitive patterns.
