| Notice: The following is presented for informational | | | | challenge him, he gets smaller. That is where |
| purposes only. Assessment and treatment should | | | | exposures come in to play. Exposures involve turning |
| always be directed through one-on-one consultation | | | | the tables on the demon by jumping him, challenging |
| with a trained professional. | | | | him, and saying “Bring it on. Is that all you’ve |
| This is one of my favorite questions and obviously | | | | got?” |
| one of the most important ones for people who are | | | | Initially, most coping techniques alone are actually not |
| trying to gain mastery over panic. | | | | strong enough to stop a panic attack . For example, |
| There are basically two options for what to do when | | | | you may try relaxation to stop a panic attack but |
| you feel a panic attack coming on. The first is to use | | | | it’s just not working. The demon is so large, that |
| a coping technique. The second is to do an exposure. | | | | he just swipes your “shield” aside. However, |
| And yes, I will explain what coping techniques and | | | | usually after one to two months of starting to face |
| exposures are! But first, let’s start off with my | | | | the demon (i.e. doing exposures), the demon become |
| favorite analogy: | | | | so small that the shield techniques finally start |
| The Demon Analogy | | | | working! And after several months of exposures, the |
| Panic disorder can be thought of as a demon. There | | | | demon typically becomes so tiny that he stops |
| are two ways to fight this particular demon. The first | | | | coming around at all and eventually dies. |
| way is to use your shield -- Using your shield means | | | | These combined tactics of using your shield and |
| using medications (such as Xanax), leaving the | | | | periodically facing the demon head on will help you |
| situation for a while to calm down, using relaxation | | | | gain mastery over panic once and for all. If you learn |
| techniques, and/or talking back to your anxious | | | | these techniques (in a type of therapy known as |
| thoughts to quite them down. In the next part, I will | | | | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) it is very likely that |
| describe these coping techniques in detail including | | | | you can eventually enjoy going out with your friends, |
| their pros and cons. But apart from your shield, there | | | | driving your car, flying overseas, and enjoying a |
| is also a second way to fight this particular demon | | | | sunny day at the beach without having to worry |
| – it turns out that every time you face the | | | | about panic any more. |
| demon head on, he gets weaker. Each time you | | | | |