CBT for panic attacks and anxiety attacks
A panic attack often comes out of nowhere: a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, the feeling of losing control. Even once it passes, it leaves a stubborn fear behind — that it will happen again.
That fear of the next attack often leads people to avoid certain places or situations. CBT is one of the most thoroughly studied approaches for this kind of difficulty.
What people often notice
- Sudden, intense physical sensations: palpitations, chest tightness, shaking, sweating.
- Fear of fainting, going mad or dying during the attack.
- Constantly checking on your body's sensations.
- Avoiding public transport, crowds, enclosed spaces or being far from home.
- Needing someone with you, or an "exit" close at hand.
How CBT helps
We start by understanding how panic works: how an ordinary body sensation can be read as a danger and set off the spiral of an attack.
The work then changes how you relate to those sensations, reduces the safety behaviours that keep the fear going, and gradually brings back the places and situations you have been avoiding.
And during an attack?
A few simple pointers help you get through an attack without making it worse. They are part of the work, but the real goal is to stop fearing it. If you feel unusual pain or an unfamiliar kind of discomfort, see a doctor first.