Online CBT for Panic Attacks

By Elaine Ryan
CBT for Panic Attacks is the recommended treatment in the USA, UK, Australia and Canada. It has a high success rate. Studies quote between 85% and 90%

CBT for panic and anxiety works well online due to the nature of the therapy. Let me explain

CBT is psycho-educational which simply means you are taught about the model and taught about panic and anxiety. This lends well to an online program.

CBT uses homework that you are to do between sessions. This includes

• gathering information about your own thought processes,
• you own experience of anxiety,
• your own symptoms of anxiety and panic, and
• recording all the information relating to your own experience of panic attacks.

This also lends well to an online program, as regardless of whether you undertake CBT with a therapist or choose to do CBT online, you will still be collecting all the necessary material.

CBT shows you what to do with all the material relating to your panic attacks. This can also be taught easily online.

CBT has a behavioral component – which simply means you will be taught

• anxiety management techniques,
• symptom reduction techniques, and
• shown skills to lower your overall level of anxiety.

You will be taught how to induce a relaxation response (as opposed to the stress response you get with panic attacks). You are then sent off to practice all of this between the sessions. This is also easily done online.

CBT introduces you back into situations that you may avoid or fear may trigger a panic attack. This is explained in session and you are taught how to practice this outside of sessions. This also lends extremely well to online programs.

CBT teaches you about your own core beliefs. Core beliefs are deeply held knowledge about yourself and your experience of panic and anxiety. You collect information and change your own core beliefs as homework. This also works really well online as you will be taught online, the way you would be taught in a traditional session, and still collect the information yourself as in traditional sessions.

Some people prefer to work on a program in private in their own time. They may not want to attend a psychologist or may not have access to one. Online CBT for Panic Attacks and Anxiety is then a valid option.

Research is showing that computerized CBT – online is as effective as seeing a therapist in person.