Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be effective in reducing the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. This blog post will explore how CBT therapy works and how it can alleviate panic attack symptoms.
How Does CBT Therapy Work?
CBT therapy was developed by the late Aaron Beck in the 1960s. Click here to read more about Aaron Beck and CBT. CBT targets both cognitive thought patterns that create distress as well as behavioral components that can contribute to or decrease mental health symptoms. CBT is a time-oriented therapeutic modality.
One of the primary cognitive interventions used by a CBT therapist is highlighting thinking patterns that cause distress. Another cognitive intervention utilized by CBT therapists is mapping automatic thoughts that rapidly occur throughout the day. A CBT therapist will then work backwards identifying a person’s intermediate beliefs and then core beliefs. Although core beliefs may not shift greatly, automatic thoughts and intermediate beliefs can.Â
How Can CBT Therapy Help?
CBT therapy works to create more balance thought processes by noticing how thought patterns are formed and maintained over time. This form of psychotherapy also teaches the skills of evaluating the accuracy of one’s thoughts. Our society moves so fast, we sometimes forget how impactful our thoughts are in our lives.
The other portion of CBT therapy is the behavioral aspect. What people sometimes forget is how one’s actions influence how they feel about themselves. Our actions can also impact what types of thought content we experience. When we avoid situations that create panic, we inadvertently reinforce the avoidance process. This behavioral response can then decrease our self-esteem and self-efficacy when we approach future challenges. On the other hand, leaning into activities that make us slightly uncomfortable can help increase our self-growth.
Will Panic Go Away?
Yes, can panic can go away. A CBT therapist near you can help facilitate panic symptom reduction in a faster manner rather than facing these challenges alone. With the support of a local CBT therapist, you can develop both cognitive and behavioral as well as mindfulness strategies to help you manage triggers that induce panic.
CBT Therapist Near DU
CBT therapy has shown efficacy to treat a wide variety of mental health challenges. It has specifically shown effectiveness in reducing symptoms of panic disorders. At Revitalize Mental Health, we are trained in CBT therapy and offer both in-person and online therapy sessions. Call now at 720.295.6703 or submit an online form here to start the therapy process. We offer a free 15 minute consultation call to ensure goodness of fit between you and the therapeutic services we provide.
