What is Cognitive Restructuring? Can it Help With Panic & Anxiety?
If you suffer from panic attacks and anxiety you may have heard of a treatment option called cognitive restructuring.
Many people are confused as to what this involves and how it works.
So just what is cognitive restructuring? Let's take a look and learn more.
What is it? Cognitive restructuring is a treatment used for panic attacks and anxiety disorders that involves talking with a therapist.
During your sessions you are taught how to change your thought patterns and the way you think to help you better manage your fears.
Typically your therapist helps you to examine your fears and determine whether or not they are realistic.
By looking at your current thought patterns and identifying how unfounded many of them are you can become able to approach situations from a more realistic perspective which can greatly help to eliminate panic or anxiety.
Does it work? Many studies have been done that show that cognitive restructuring is effective.
The general findings seem to indicate that about 2/3 - 3/4 of people who do the therapy stop having panic attacks or at least see a reduction in their frequency and severity.
However, it should also be noted that many of these studies found that when people stopped their therapy their panic and anxiety often returned with 6 months to 1 year.
How does it work? The basis for this treatment method lies in the fact that how you think can greatly affect how you feel.
If you are able to change your thoughts then you can alter your feelings even in situations that previously triggered a panic attack.
What Are the Pros and Cons? One benefit of this approach is that it does not rely on drugs to alter your mood artificially.
Drugs for anxiety often have serious side effects so if you can find a treatment option that doesn't rely on them it is a good idea.
On the downside, seeing a therapist regularly can be quite expensive and in some cases the results are not permanent.
Many people are confused as to what this involves and how it works.
So just what is cognitive restructuring? Let's take a look and learn more.
What is it? Cognitive restructuring is a treatment used for panic attacks and anxiety disorders that involves talking with a therapist.
During your sessions you are taught how to change your thought patterns and the way you think to help you better manage your fears.
Typically your therapist helps you to examine your fears and determine whether or not they are realistic.
By looking at your current thought patterns and identifying how unfounded many of them are you can become able to approach situations from a more realistic perspective which can greatly help to eliminate panic or anxiety.
Does it work? Many studies have been done that show that cognitive restructuring is effective.
The general findings seem to indicate that about 2/3 - 3/4 of people who do the therapy stop having panic attacks or at least see a reduction in their frequency and severity.
However, it should also be noted that many of these studies found that when people stopped their therapy their panic and anxiety often returned with 6 months to 1 year.
How does it work? The basis for this treatment method lies in the fact that how you think can greatly affect how you feel.
If you are able to change your thoughts then you can alter your feelings even in situations that previously triggered a panic attack.
What Are the Pros and Cons? One benefit of this approach is that it does not rely on drugs to alter your mood artificially.
Drugs for anxiety often have serious side effects so if you can find a treatment option that doesn't rely on them it is a good idea.
On the downside, seeing a therapist regularly can be quite expensive and in some cases the results are not permanent.
