Treatments

Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Like behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches you to react differently to the situations and bodily sensations that trigger panic attacks and other anxiety symptoms. You also learn to understand how your thinking patterns contribute to your symptoms. You also learn that by changing how you perceive the feelings of anxiety, the less likely you are to have them. This awareness of thinking patterns is combined with in-vivo and behavioral coping techniques to help people confront their feared or avoided situations. I've known several people that have used this kind of treatment. Their therapist would have them do things like: hyperventilate, spin around in a chair until dizzy, right down your top ten list of fears and then do one of those each weeks. After the initial fear of feeling the symptoms they associated with anxiety subsided, they were able to begin learning how to replace the usual "I'm going to pass out.", "I'm going to die." thoughts with more calming relaxing thoughts such as, "I'm not going to pass out, it's just a little discomfort - I will be fine!", and "It's just a little dizziness. If I need to sit down, I can. - I will be alright." You have given yourself permission to feel these feelings as they happen, which decreases their intensity. It's when we FIGHT the feelings that they become stronger.

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

is based on the concept that symptoms result from unconscious mental conflict, and that uncovering the meaning of symptoms is necessary to relieve them.

Drug Therapy

Medication is most effective when combined with behavioral therapies. The chance of recurrence is reduced when medication and behavioral therapies are used together. Medication has been proven to be very effective in eliminating or reducing many of the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and helping the patient regain control or their lives. Medications such as Benzodiazepines: (Xanax, Valium, Ativan, Klonopin), and Buspar have proven to alleviate mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety. Always consult your physician before starting or stopping any medication.

Relaxation Techniques

Help resolve stresses that can contribute to anxiety

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