Panic Attacks and Congnitive Behavioural Therapy

[MancMum]

Just wondered if anyone had any experience of using CBT to help with panic attacks - or even if you have any advice on best non-drug treatment?

My mum has suffered with them on and off for years and has managed to cope with breathing / Bach rescue remedies but just recently they have gotten a lot worse - she is quite ill with a yet undiagnosed illness and is making herself ill with worry. She is having a couple of very severe attacks a day now - last week she was 'frozen' for about 25 minutes, and lost control of her saliva - eevn my sister who is a nurse could not calm her down and my Dad is beside himself in case she has one when they are on their own - they are both hitting 70 and find it frightening.

Has anyone any advice on CBT or eevn how to find a CBT therapist?

Many thanks for any advice - as you can imagine I am really worried about her

Sharon

It is supposed to be excellent. i studied pscyhology but also receievd afew sessions after a car accident and it helped me loads

my gp referred me - got appt very quickly

Wish i could help mancmum, it must be horrible to see her like that, i'm sure you will get loads of advice i just wanted to send you my wishes

my second sentnce makes no sense
psychology reference - degree and know a bit about the theory of it etc....
but also personal experience too

I asw a CBT for a range of things including panic attacks. Sympathies to your poor Mum, they were the most frightening thing ever.

Has her gp been consulted? Mine referred me to a psychiatrist who then referred me to a CBT. It was private so worked out expensive but I think it is available on the NHS. There must be an Association or professional body of some sort. Have you tried Googling?

Thanks for your kind thoughts for my Mum - it really is horrible to see her so frightened.

I have found an internet site (thanks Bunny3) that provides a list of CBT therapists in the north west but before I send her off I just want to make sure it is the right thing and it will help her - she is a bit 'old school' about talking to strangers but I think she will do it if she believes it will help as she does not want to take ads.

Again thanks - God I love this site!! It is so reassuring just to get some advice and support

wouldnt she try her gp?
you could go with her if she is nervous

Hi Mancmum _ i had anxiety based PND which led to severe Panic attacks. I think CBT is incredibly useful and can make a big difference to the long term management of panic.
However I have to be honest and say that i really think that you need to be someway towards recovery before it can really help. You have to really concentrate on the techniques and if you are paralysed by fear it is virually impossible to use the techniques to stop a major attack. However once you are further down the line they are very helpful for stopping a minor attack getting worse.
Im sure your mum is trying to avoid medication and I certainly wouldnt champion it but if she really is getting desperate then she may find some short term release from a tranquilizer (eg valium.)
I am anti medication because I became addicted to a supposedly non addictive anti depressant but the benefit of valium etc is that the addictive problems are well known to drs so they now know how to prescribe them and for how long.
I'd recommend the books by Dr Claire Weekes inc 'Self Help For Your Nerves'. You can get them from libraries. They are a bit old fashioned now but still the most widely recommended books on anxiety. Very easy to read and reassuring.
I hope thats of some use.
Kizziex

Sorry - just wanted to say that if your mum does decide to take AD's they can really help (see other threads on depression and post natal depression.)
Just realised that I might have worried you by saying that I got addicted to an AD. This was just one particular brand which is now known to be a problem - it doesnt apply to the others.
Kizziex

waiting for my appt for CBT my psych did give me this webb site to find a private counsellor to be going on with. www.babcp.com

kizzie,

thanks so much for your reply - it was really useful as your situation sounds so similar to my mums - she really suffers big time from anxiety - if she can she will worry about just about anything

I think I might suggest Mum sees her GP to discuss some short term medication and to see if she can then go for CBT once she feels stronger. I am going to order those books of amazon now as just by reading something it might make her feel stronger.

What you said about the techniques not being useful in a major attack was interesting as I could not see how she could have done anything when she froze but she was building up to it and maybe she could have headed it off with the techniques before it got out of hand.

I will show her you kind post - Thank you so much

Mands

Thank you for the website - that really helps as it was recommened by a pysch - I am concerned about getting a reliable therapist as I am so aware of the lack of regulation anyone could set up - and my mum is just too vulnerable for me to risk it.

Thank you

The Gp should be your starting point - you may be surprised how quickly it will happen.
Many gp surgeries have links with local healthcare teams.....
worth trying first
good luck

Hi mancmum - if you order the books you might find it even helps for you to read them even if your mum cant face them at the moment. Might give you some things to help you help her when shes having an attack.
I really hope she starts to feel a bit better soon.
Kizziex

Hi MancMum,
thought I'd add my 2p's worth.
I work in this area, and would definitely suggest that the GP should be your mum's first port of call. Anxiety is something that it is usual (and often helpful) to experience, but disabling panic attacks are horrible and merit skilled help. GP may be able to offer medication (I believe there are options which are not valium-type) and which may be helpful for the moment, or in the longer term your mum might benefit from being helped to develop coping strategies (in addition to those she has used in the past, and quite well by the sound of it) and different ways of looking at/thinking about things which cause her worry. CBT may well be useful, although a lot depends on individual circumstances, of course.
The GP would be able to refer to whichever of your local services offers help for this kind of problem, often though not exclusively psychiatry or psychology. Initially it is likely to be for an assessment by that individual as to what s/he thinks would be of most help. Your mum could then discuss with him/her the merits of CBT in her own circumstances.
Hope this provides a bit of help and doesn't sound too 'clinical'.

mancmum - i have seen a fantastic CBT for anxiety related problems and it was a revalation. Other posters are right to suggest she sees a GP first though - they can refer you to a good CBT.
good luck