I have had panic attacks off and on for over 20 years. When they happend I feel exaclty as you descibed. It is horible. Sometimes it is so bad I go to the hospital, because my chest hurts so much and I feel like I am looing grip on reality. After 15 years of every know type of therapy in the US and Switzerland, five years ago I concluded that my condition is genitic, and no amount of counseling will help. In my case I take an SSRI every day and Xanax when I feel realy anxious. Even this has not prevented the attacks, just reduced them to about once evey 9 months to a year. I know a lot of people with panic disorders, and most of them have an event that triggers their attacks. I think in this cases counseling works to a point. My attacks seam total random.
It sounds like your are fortunate that your panic is triggered by cognitive thoughts and might be treated with counseling. In my case medication is the only thing that works.View Thread