Alternative Treatments and Therapies

This article covers treatments and therapies for panic disorders which can be used instead of or in conjunction with medication (either prescribed or natural over the counter remedies). If you were searching for natural treatments for panic disorders, this is covered elsewhere on this website.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive behavioural therapy has one of the highest success rates for treating panic disorders, with up to 85 percent of people overcoming their panic attacks. It is successful because it tackles the roots of the disorder rather than just masking the symptoms.

Panic attacks are not a true mental health problems but they often have a psychological cause, and a disorder can arise from a a learned behaviour – you fear the panic attacks so your brain comes to expect them. CBT will identify how you perceive yourself and the world around you and how this perception effects your actions. By changing how you think and feel you break the feedback loop your brain has created which perpetuates the panic disorder.

As a guide, you can expect to attend between 5 and 20 hour long sessions, either weekly or fortnightly. This may vary.

Self Help Books, DVDs and CDs

If you are suffering from panic attacks, you might not immediately think of self help books or DVDs as a possible cure. But in fact, for a lot of people, they are very helpful in overcoming a panic disorder as they are effectively a 'do it yourself' form of cognitive behavioural therapy. They can be used in conjunction with medication or natural remedies but many sufferers learn to control their panic disorder without any form of drugs.

Look at several products and read reviews from other panic attack suffers before deciding which may be the best for you as each will have author will have a different slant on the subject. A good book, DVD or CD will explore the reasons why people have panic attacks, how they develop habits which sustain the disorder and finally how you can overcome the problem. The goal is to put you back in control and boost your confidence, aiding you in living a panic free life again.

Compared to repeat prescriptions, natural remedies, acupuncture or other alternative treatments for panic attacks, self help products can be a cheap means of conquering the disorder. Prices range from around £5 to over £100, although the more expensive options tend to include several products in the package and offer additional support from trained counsellors.

The Internet

The internet can be a free way of learning to deal with your panic disorder as there is a lot of information available. In mild cases, this might be all the individual requires to lessen the number and severity of their panic attacks.

For people with more severe symptoms, there are resonably priced online e-courses and e-books which help teach you how to overcome a panic disorder. Do your research before parting with your money, but most online courses are well known and come with impressive testimonies from sufferers who have been helped already.

The great thing about online courses, as with the self help books and DVDs mentioned above, is that you can constantly refer back to them. There is no such thing as a total cure – even when you have overcome panic attacks there is still a risk of relapsing during times of stress or anxiety – so it is reassuring to have something to hand to help you if you find yourself slipping back into old habits.