Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Panic Attacks

CBT for panic attacks and panic disorder in North Chesterfield (Midlothian) and Richmond, Virginia

Panic attacks are made up of a cluster of symptoms and are often seen as a hallmark feature of several anxiety-related conditions, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobias, and Agoraphobia. However, they can also occur independently or as a reaction to a particular stressor. Common symptoms may include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Shortness of breath

  • Intense nervousness or fear

  • Feeling detached or “not yourself”

  • Fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying

  • Rapid or pounding heartbeat

  • Sweating

  • Numbness or tingling sensations

  • Muscle tightness or tension

Many people are surprised to learn that panic attacks are highly treatable. Panic Control Treatment—a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) created specifically for panic attacks—has consistently been shown to outperform medication in reducing or eliminating them. We use this method because it has the strongest scientific evidence of any available treatment for panic attacks.

Decades of research have demonstrated that Panic Disorder often stems from the fear of anxiety and panic itself. Once people learn not to fear the sensations of anxiety, their panic attacks typically diminish or stop altogether. When panic attacks are linked to other conditions such as stress, PTSD, OCD, or depression, we focus on addressing those underlying issues to bring the panic under control. You’re considered fully recovered when panic attacks either stop completely or become so rare and mild that anxiety feels like a brief, manageable inconvenience—something that no longer controls your life or provokes intense fear.

Agoraphobia is a condition that frequently develops alongside panic attacks and is closely tied to them. We treat that, too.