"CBT for panic disorder"

Katie saw me for 6 sessions, once a week to help me work through my panic attacks. I was really suffering with regular random panic attacks that were not only very horrible to live through, but were also having a significant detriment to my social and personal life.

Katie was very good at clearly explaining to me what the process entailed and helping me make sure I was working through everything properly and understanding why we were doing each step.

The process of going through the CBT was actually incredibly eye opening right from the start. Getting to understand what safety behaviours were and how they were actually hindering not helping me, was a real revelation for me. It was working through those initial changes in my understanding of panic attacks that really had a profound effect on my rehabilitation.

There has definitely been trying moments in the therapy. The concept of exposure therapy both sounds daunting and unpleasant, but in reality is also unpleasant in the moment. It is impossible really to sugar coat it for people. I feared having to expose myself to the triggers of my panic attacks. However, in doing so, I was able to see that there was real tangible improvements in my triggers and the number of panic attacks that I experienced. This in turn gave me the confidence to keep trying the exposure therapy.

It is challenging when going to therapy, as you want to have someone basically metaphorically hold your hand through it and show you the cure. The reality is that the therapist is only the guide. They can show you the path. But you have to put in the work to do the process and reach your goal. If you don’t take those proactive steps, nothing will change. I cannot sit here and say that I have done everything and the process is finished for me. However I do think that my time with Katie and the work I did put in showed me that the process does work. The more I continue to work at the steps, the more benefit I will see.

Therefore it is up to me to continue to use the guidance that Katie gave me to improve myself.