Panic Disorder Treatment Program

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, states that about 1% to 3% of the population is affected by panic disorder at any one point in their lives. However, a larger multi-center study conducted by primary care practices reveals that panic disorder is even more prevalent in society. The number of panic disorder sufferers ranges from 1% to 6% across study subjects. For those seeking comprehensive care, consider our Dual Diagnosis Treatment Program.

Patients suffering from these conditions benefit greatly from panic disorder treatment to mitigate the effects of their illnesses. This study showed:

• About 26 percent of the affected population suffers from agoraphobia
• 33 percent from social phobia

Both types include general anxiety that is connected with work performance and social interaction. Although the number of people with this mental disease is relatively small, those afflicted are truly in agony. Not only the fear and anxiety caused by anticipation of panic attacks, but co-occurring problems are also common. For more information on managing anxiety, explore our Medication Assisted Treatment program.

Consider this – the study also revealed that, among those with panic disorders:

• About one in three is depressed
• More seriously, one in five of them attempts suicide

So, if you happen to be depressed right now, you need to consider looking into the right treatment for panic disorder at this early stage so that your mental condition will not progress to a level where you will do drastic things that will endanger your life.

“Becoming fearless isn’t the point. That’s impossible. It’s learning how to control your fear and how to be free from it.” – Veronica Roth, American novelist

Benefits of Panic Disorder Treatment Programs

His House panic disorder treatment programs begin with an assessment and medical evaluation – knowledge is power, and we want to tailor our program for your specific needs.

Panic disorder treatment centers often use two general types of treatments for this mental condition:

• Medication
• Cognitive behavioral therapy

Which is better among these two panic disorder treatment options? Studies have shown that therapy sessions work as well as medication, if not better. The study suggested that in many cases participating in 10 to 12 therapy sessions worked better than medications – considering that the patients were doing well 6 months after the last session was over. These sessions are actually more like coaching the patient on anxiety management techniques. For a detailed approach, visit our Behavioral Therapy page.

Another study conducted in 2007 revealed that patients on medication need to continue taking them so that they can maintain the medicinal benefits. Many patients prefer to learn self-help techniques over having to take medications for the rest of their lives.

“I told myself, there’s no way this can go on for the next five weeks, so I’d better learn to calm myself. And that’s exactly what I did. The rest of the filming was the best experiences ever on set after that.” – Scarlett Johansson, actress

The primary benefits of undergoing treatment for panic disorders are:

• Learning to manage and cope with symptoms of panic disorder
• Being able to control yourself and not go overboard
• An increase in your self-esteem

Strong Medicine

Taking strong medicine to calm the nerves often has numerous adverse side effects. Many patients and medical professionals feel that a therapy-only approach is safer and more complete. For more on holistic treatment options, check out our Holistic Treatment options.

Why You Might Need a Panic Disorder Treatment Program

With the help of the proper treatment plan, panic disorders can be managed. However, before you can leave this illness behind, you need to face it now and not ignore it. Sweeping it under the rug will just exacerbate your worries and anxieties.

Most initial panic attacks begin without any warning. They can occur while you’re doing normal activities such as walking down the street or shopping. These are some signs of a panic attack:

• A strong urge to leave the area and retire to a place where you feel safe.
• You may think that something wrong is going to happen.
• You may experience feelings of extreme danger.
• Physical symptoms may also manifest such as a racing heart rate, shortness of breath or chest pains.

The intensity level of these feelings usually peaks around 10 minutes after the initial onset. Don’t wait until this mental illness takes a toll on your physical health. For comprehensive residential care, explore our Residential Treatment Program.

“The act of birth is the first experience of anxiety, and thus the source and prototype of the effect of anxiety.” – Sigmund Freud

Taking Control over Panic Disorders

A study conducted by the Department of Psychiatry, the State University of New York at Buffalo, USA confirmed the amazing results of the right treatment program for panic disorder. There were 200 patients who participated in this study. Nearly 70 percent of them (136 patients) were panic free after the first 12 psychotherapy sessions. 132 of these patients made themselves available for a 2 to 14-year continuous follow-up. The patients who remained in remission after 2 years were a huge 93.1 percent. After 5 years, the percentage went down to 82.4, then after 7 years, to 78.8 percent and after 10 years, 62.1 percent.

Of the 132 patients, about 23 percent (31 patients) experienced relapses at certain times during the follow-up.

This shows that overall, panic disorder can be treated effectively without drugs, by the right use of our panic disorder treatment plan.

We Can Help

If you or a loved one suffers from panic disorders, call His House today. We can help you take the first steps toward controlling these difficult conditions. For more information about our services, visit our Inpatient Rehabilitation Center page.