Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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TeamDS 10/12/2006

Tell us about your personal experience with Psychotherapy as a treatment: Has it worked? Have you had any issues? Any recommendations or tips?

deleted_user 04/12/2007

My therapist told me about the physical reactions to emotional feelings eg anxiety.
He then talked me through the process and then induced a panic attack (he went through it too) so that I could experience one under controlled conditions.
Very freaky the first time to panic deliberately. I am still learning about warning signals of anxiety so that I can do something about them before they trigger a full blown attack.

bebu 04/12/2007

I was doing CBT in therapy and at first it was going really well. As Sonia said - they do things to induce the attack and stay with you while you "ride it out". That part was fine, it was when I was doing my "homework" - going somewhere everyday and inducing my own attacks that I relapsed. Haven't been back to the therapist (still see Psychiatrist) but it was getting to the point where I was having multiple attacks on a daily basis and I just couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel (except for that of the on-coming train!!)

deleted_user 04/13/2007

It didn't work for me. But, everyone is different.

deleted_user 04/14/2007

I feel that psychotherapy is helping me with my panic attacks. I still have them and sometimes I forget to slowdown my breathing and someone has to talk me down, but I am learning.

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