Therapy for Panic Attacks
Brooklyn, NY“What is a panic attack and how can therapy help?”
The Nature of a Panic Attack
What is a panic attack and how can therapy help me manage my panic? A panic attack is a sudden moment of intense fear brought on my a perceived threat versus actual danger. A panic attack is accompanied by a strong physical reaction like sweating, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. Panic attacks are often very intense and can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. This is the reason why so many people go to the emergency room thinking they are having a heart attack when in fact what they experienced was a panic attack. As you can imagine, this can be a very frightening experience. Panic Disorder develops if you experience recurrent panic attacks paired with worry about having a panic attack or behavioral changes to avoid a panic attack.
Therapy for Panic Attacks
How can therapy help my panic attacks? Panic attacks are typically treated with psychotherapy, specifically Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Occasionally, panic attacks are treated with therapy in combination with medication. CBT has been shown to be extremely effective in treating panic attacks. CBT for panic attacks and panic disorder typically lasts around 12-16 sessions and includes stress-reduction techniques, relaxation and breathing retraining strategies, cognitive restructuring (this is where you learn to identify anxiety-provoking thoughts that lead to a panic attack and replace them with more adaptive thought patterns), exposures, and mindfulness. This type of treatment should only be delivered by highly skilled CBT therapists who have specialized training in CBT for panic disorder. Luckily, we have an amazing group of highly trained CBT specialists at Park Slope Therapy who treat panic attacks and panic disorder in-person or over telehealth.