Physical sensations can trigger a panic attack
Check out Part 1 of this blog series for information on what causes panic disorder.
What Is Interoceptive Exposure Therapy?
Are you tired of living in fear of your own body? Are you sick of worrying that every little twinge or ache is a sign of impending doom? Well, have no fear (pun semi-intended), because there's a treatment that's been shown to be highly effective in conquering panic disorder - and it's one you've probably never heard of. I'm talking about Interoceptive Exposure Therapy.
Let’s break it down.
Interoception is just a fancy way of saying “the ability to sense and perceive internal bodily sensations”.
Exposure therapy, on a basic level, involves confronting what you fear, usually in a gradual fashion.
Putting these two definitions together, Interoceptive Exposure means confronting feared bodily sensations.
How Does It Work?
As you may recall from Part 1, panic disorder is associated with a fear of bodily sensations, be it an increased heart rate, tingling in your fingers, chest pressure, or any other symptom associated with the fight-or-flight response. The goal of interoceptive exposure is to help individuals confront and overcome their fear of these harmless- but very scary - physical sensations.
So how does this work in practice?
We would begin by identifying the specific sensations that you fear, as well as the catastrophic misinterpretations that you may be making about your bodily sensations (e.g. “Heart racing -> means I’m having a heart attack”). We would then help you create a hierarchy of physical sensations that you fear. We would then work through each item in the hierarchy, starting with the least intense and gradually progressing to the most intense. But don’t worry, we’re not going to throw you out into the deep end – the key word here is “gradual”.
For example, if your triggers include a rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath, I may ask you to perform exercises such as running in place or jumping jacks to simulate these sensations. I may ask you to repeat this multiple times and in different contexts. The ultimate aim is to help you learn that these sensations are not actually dangerous.
What is the Goal of Interoceptive Exposure Therapy for Panic?
As we work through the hierarchy, I will closely monitor your anxiety levels, and adjust the exposure as needed. The goal is to help the you gradually become less anxious and more comfortable with the physical sensations that trigger your panic attacks – thereby helping you overcome panic disorder.
Hopefully this post provides an idea of what exposure therapy for panic disorder entails.
Please feel free to contact me for a free consultation.
Learn more about anxiety and panic treatment in Ontario.
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