CBT for Panic Attacks – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Panic Disorder in Kent, London and Dorset

Whilst the term “Panic” is commonly used to describe feeling upset, overwhelmed, anxious or uncomfortable, panic attacks are sudden, intense and highly distressing episodes in which the individual can experience dizziness, palpitations, breathlessness, chest tightness, parathesia, nausea and depersonalisation. These symptoms can be so intense that they lead to a fear of losing control, passing out, choking, heart attack or death.

For individuals who have experienced a full panic attack, the experience can be highly traumatic and lead to a fear of further panic attacks. When this happens, we generally refer to this as Panic Disorder.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Panic Disorder is a fast and highly effective treatment, provided the CBT process is delivered by a professionally qualified and experienced CBT specialist.

If you need therapy for Panic Disorder, we provide face-to-face and online video appointments. The research shows that online video sessions are just as affective as face-to-face appointments and the process is quick and simple to organise. Our appointments are delivered by highly experienced and BABCP accredited Psychotherapists and psychologists. This means our clinical recovery rates for Panic Disorder are significantly higher than standard NHS and private referrals. If you want to book an initial call with a member of our team, you can complete the contact form or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

What is Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder involves a continuous preoccupation with and attempt to prevent or avoid further panic attacks. The panic attacks are normally overwhelming and intense and lead to significant disruption in the individual’s personal and professional lives. Common panic disorder symptoms include:

Intense physical discomfort.
Feeling dizzy or lightheaded.
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Dry mouth or choking sensations.
Chest pain or tightness.
Nausea or stomach upset.
Palpitations or pounding / racing heart beat.
Cold, sweaty or hot flushes.
Shaking or trembling.
Dissociative, detached or depersonalized feelings.
Feelings of dread or pending doom.

Whilst these symptoms are highly distressing at the time of the panic attack, they are normal reactions to the fight, flight and freeze response.

Panic Disorder is frequently linked to or triggered by Agoraphobia situations, in which the individual feels exposed or unable to escape, overwhelmed or unable to escape to a safe or calm place.

Agoraphobia triggers can include public transport, busy or crowded places, presentations or meetings, being far from home and flying.

Provided there are no underlying medical reasons for the above symptoms, the good news is that panic disorder (with or without Agoraphobia) can be effectively treated in as few as six Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions.

The effectiveness and speed of treatment will always depend on the professional credentials and experience of the therapist, a good quality psychological assessment and adherence to an evidence based CBT treatment protocol.

To talk to us about our credentials, experience and clinical approach, complete the contact form or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Panic Disorder Cycle

Panic Disorder is frequently linked to the trauma and distress of an initial panic attack. This leads to a fear of further panic attacks, involving hypervigilant, self monitoring and avoidance behaviours. This creates a self-perpetuating fear of fear, in which the individual panics about having further panic attacks.

How is Panic Disorder Caused and Maintained?

Research shows that background factors including genetics or familial factors, early or traumatic experiences, maladaptive beliefs about uncertainty, control, threat perception and vulnerability, can all play a predisposing role in the development of panic disorder. Contemporary psychological research also shows that some individuals may develop a hypersensitive “internal alarm” system to physiological and psychological feelings. This can act as a precursor to panic attacks. Whilst these factors may set the stage for the development of Panic Disorder, they do not directly cause the panic attacks to happen.

The research shows that Panic Disorder is a learnt behavioural response to unexpected and distressing feelings, not an inherited disease or disability. Alongside background or environmental factors, hypervigilant behaviour can also set the stage for the development and maintenance of Panic Disorder.

This can involve a continuous preoccupation with body sensations and avoiding situations that could potentially trigger a panic attack. Self-scanning, health checks, monitoring pulse or feelings of unwellness, Googling, over-planning, attempting to stay in control and avoiding unpredictable situations, are all hypervigilant safety behaviours associated with Panic Disorder.

Whilst predisposing factors may act as precursors for Panic Disorder, the problem is maintained by a vicious cycle of anxiety, distressing feelings, safety and avoidance behaviours and a “Catastrophic” misinterpretation of the seriousness of psychological and physiological sensations. This cycle can be best illustrated in the above model of Panic Disorder. Individuals instinctively attempt to avoid or suppress distressing reactions to the fight or flight response.

Safety and avoidance behaviours provide temporary relief or escape from the distressing feelings in the moment, however they also inadvertently reinforces the belief that something is seriously or catastrophically wrong. Safety or avoidance behaviours are at the core of Panic Disorder. They prevent the disconfirmation of catastrophic beliefs and imply that the problem is serious enough to be controlled or avoided. Working on safety behaviours is therefore a critical component of effective CBT for Panic Disorder.

Online Video Based CBT for Panic Disorder

Online Video based CBT works in exactly the same way as face-to-face therapy Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, can be cured in as few as six specialist Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions.

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How is Panic Disorder Treated Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

Whilst there are clinically effective psychotropic medications, (particularly Betablockers, SSRI and SNRI medications), the first line psychological treatment for Panic Disorder is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Research into CBT treatment over the last 40 years or so has provided a highly structured, focused and effective approach to treating Panic Disorder. The CBT treatment process involves psychological assessment and formulation, a process known as cognitive restructuring, interoceptive and behavioural experiments and graded behavioural exposure to anxiety provoking situations.

Where the treatment process is delivered by a fully qualified and experienced CBT specialist, therapy can take as few as six-eight sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. There are a range of other counselling, therapy and complementary health approaches offered by individuals from other fields and professions. To date, none of these approaches have been found to be effective for Panic Disorder. In the UK, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), recommends CBT and SSRI medications, for panic attacks and panic disorder.

The body of contemporary research into different therapeutic approaches, suggests that engaging in other psychotherapy or complementary treatment approaches, is ineffective at best and could potentially make the problem worse. Using interpersonal, psychodynamic or psychoanalytic counselling whilst helpful for some other problems, could be wasting your time and money if you are seeking support for Panic Disorder. To talk to a CBT specialist, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or complete our contact form.