Therapy in the Treatment of Panic and Anxiety Disorders

A person with any of the panic and anxiety disorders may find it difficult, if not impossible to admit that they have a problem and so seek the help that they need. Yet if and when they do, or when a relative intervenes on their behalf, the treatment can be very successful.

Though treatment may take a dual approach, involving medicine as well, various forms of therapy are very important in panic and anxiety disorders. The type of therapy used will differ according to the specifics of the condition.

A person who suffers from panic attacks may be taught techniques for coping when they occur. These in and of themselves may not cure the person, but when combined with the other techniques can prove a very useful tool in stopping an attack from completely overwhelming the person.

The triggers for a person’s anxiety or panic attacks will be explored. Once they are established then a course of increasing amounts of exposure to the trigger will begin, with the patient all the while being helped to distract themselves from the feelings that are caused.

In the case of phobias, a similar course may be followed. Initially the patient may explore any possible roots of their phobia, attempting to find a particular event that led to the phobia, and so helping them to rationalize the phobia away. Exposure soon begins in growing increments.

Eating disorders, which also fall under the title of anxiety disorders may require a different approach. In this case medical support may be needed, especially if the person has lost a great deal of weight. It may require that the patient be admitted to hospital for nutritional support whilst therapy aims to re-teach the person that food is not bad, and is not the enemy, and may often be combined with anti-depressant drug therapy. The ultimate goal is to improve the person’s self image and teach them to eat healthily.

Post traumatic stress syndrome would also require specialist therapy, often re-visiting through discussion, the incident that caused the condition. Instead of trying to ignore it, the patient is then taught, or it helped to cope with what they experienced.

Therapy in and of itself may not be a cure for panic and anxiety disorders, but the best long term results are achieved this way, with or without drug treatment at the same time. Drugs themselves are not a cure as, as often, once the drug is stopped, the symptoms return.

The Linden Method