Panic Control Treatment

Description of the Strategy

Panic disorder (PD) is characterized by the sudden onset of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by various, and often intense, physical sensations that develop abruptly and reach their peak within 10 minutes. Although it is necessary for these attacks to be both recurrent and unexpected in order to meet diagnostic criteria for PD, it is clear that even after an initial attack, most people begin to associate the physical sensations they experience with a particular event or situation. For example, if an individual experiences “unexpected” heart palpitations and shortness of breath in the morning, they are more likely to associate those symptoms with the large cup of coffee they drank for breakfast rather than make no association. Similarly, if ...