Through mindfulness, patients can identify their thought and mood patterns. Mindfulness practice combined with cognitive therapy can also reverse the downward spiral most people with anxiety experience by teaching them to be present in the moment and have appreciation for the small things in life.

There are a wide range of psychological treatments for anxiety, including:

• cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• exposure therapy (behaviour therapy)
• interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.
• positive psychology.
• psychotherapies.
• counselling.
• narrative therapy.

The truth is that panic disorder can never be entirely cured. 1 However, it can be effectively managed to the point that it no longer significantly impairs your life. One reason why there is no permanent cure is that panic disorder varies greatly from person to person.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, research has demonstrated that both “behavioral therapy” and “cognitive therapy” can be highly effective in treating anxiety disorders. Behavioral therapy involves using techniques to reduce or stop the undesired behavior associated with these disorders.

Your primary care provider may give you a physical exam and ask you about your feelings, mood, behavior patterns, and other symptoms. Your provider may also order blood tests and/or tests on your heart to rule out a heart attack or other physical conditions.

The American Psychiatric Association suggests that a form of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most effective for panic disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy reflects the importance of both behavioral and thought processes in understanding and controlling anxiety and panic attacks.

The most common benzodiazepines for panic attacks are alprazolam (Xanax), alprazolam XR (Xanax XR), and clonazepam (Klonopin). They block panic attacks quicker than the antidepressants, often in a week or two. They are also used as needed before a panic-provoking situation.

There is no medical cure for panic disorder; however, the disorder can be controlled with medication and psychotherapy. You can manage this disorder with lifestyle changes, such as avoiding drugs, caffeine, and alcohol, exercising regularly, and making sure that you get proper rest and relaxation.

SSRIs are a type of antidepressant also used to treat anxiety and panic attacks. They prevent serotonin from being absorbed by nerve cells in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger associated with mood regulation. Stabilizing serotonin levels helps to reduce anxiety and panic.