Cognitive-Behavior Therapy

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Various studies have proved the efficiency of cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) for the treatment of various anxiety disorders. It has been very effective in enabling the patients overcome the panic attacks. It has been the best treatment and has helped in curing nearly 80% to 85% of the people just within 8 treatment sessions.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is in fact the only therapy that has been proved effective widely for agoraphobia, panic disorder and other anxiety disorders. There are many studies proving the efficiency of CBT whereas the other ways of treatment lack enough scientific evidence, which makes CBT the best option.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is different from all other traditional methods of psychotherapy. Traditionally, it is frequently focused on the past experiences of the person. The person is allowed to describe his experiences in his own manner. This helps a lot to deal with many issues, though it has a limited value to help the patients in overcoming their disorder. Whereas, Cognitive-behavior therapy focuses on the present in helping people to overcome their disorder in contrast to the traditional past for triggering factors.

In Cognitive-behavior therapy, the person is taught some skills that need to be practiced constantly initially in front of the therapist and later on their own. Cognitive-behavior therapy is a class essentially that provides the patient enough strength and capabilities to overcome the panic disorder.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is very well-organized that progress can be detected within just a period of few weeks. There is nothing like the patient being skeptical towards the therapy. As there is progress in the treatment, the person will develop belief though he did not expect it to happen.

Besides, people practicing Cognitive-behavior therapy can stop their medications gradually. Medications have side effects which are very undesirable for many people. Most of the people starting to practice CBT were in a medication course. As the CBT treatment progresses, the medications can be slowly stopped with the consultation of the doctor.
But there are some people who feel and experience good benefits when Cognitive-behavior therapy and medication are combined. However, there are many who prefer CBT alone owing to its effectiveness and no side effects. CBT also creates a sense of accomplishment.

There are two main components in Cognitive-behavior therapy.

1. Cognitive therapy - Recognize and modify the distorted thinking patterns maintaining anxiety.

2. Behavior therapy – desensitize anxiety by exposing the person to fearful situations.
The emphasis is based on the problem of the patient. It may vary among the individuals. In case, the person has specific phobia like fear of heights, he is treated through behavior therapy alone. In contrast, panic disorder without phobia is treated through cognitive therapy alone. Sometimes a combination of both the therapies may be effective, especially when the person has panic attacks with agoraphobic avoidance.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is also very cheap compared to medication in the long run. CBT is a course and the person can continue on his own after he masters the course but medication is a continual expense.