Panic Attacks And Panic Disorder: Other Treatment

Content provided by Healthwise

Other Treatment

Other treatments for panic disorder include:

• Counseling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is most effective in treating panic disorder. Other types of counseling you might choose to seek include:²
  • Exposure therapy, a type of cognitive-behavioral counseling.
  • Family therapy, which can help those who care about you learn about panic disorder and help you maintain good relationships.
• Self-help materials, such as instructional videos, books, and audio materials, that can help you learn to cope with panic disorder or anxiety.
• Support groups. Support groups are often good places to share information, problem-solving tips, and emotions related to panic disorder.
• Online discussion forums and Web sites.

Body-centered relaxation exercises can be useful for reducing anxiety and treating symptoms of stress. They include:

• Breathing exercises, such as roll breathing (a type of deep breathing).
• Progressive muscle relaxation, which reduces muscle tension by relaxing individual muscle groups.

  Stress management: Doing progressive muscle relaxation

• Massage, such as shoulder and neck massage.
• Aromatherapy, which uses the aroma-producing oils (essential oils) from plants to promote relaxation.
• Yoga, tai chi, and qi gong, forms of exercise and meditation. They generally require initial instruction.

Mindfulness activities help relax the mind and are often combined with body-centered relaxation exercises. These include:

• Autogenic training, which is used to return the body to a normal state after a stress response.
• Self-hypnosis, which can open the mind to suggestions that can relieve stress or change the way you respond to stressful situations.
• Meditation, where you focus your attention on the things that are happening right now in the present moment. One way to do this is by paying attention to your breathing. For information, see:

  Stress management: Doing meditation.

• Guided imagery (visualization), a method of using your imagination to help you relax and release tension caused by stress. Your body responds to the images in your mind. To try guided imagery, see:

  Stress management: Doing guided imagery to relax.

• Music therapy, which can relax your body, improve your mood, and change the pace of your day.
• Humor therapy, which is becoming widely accepted as a tool for reducing stress and boosting the body's immune system.

Last updated:	September 16, 2008
Author:	Jeannette Curtis
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Lisa S. Weinstock, MD - Psychiatry
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC