Please verify your email address to receive email notifications.

Enter your email address

We have sent you a verification email. Please check your inbox and spam folder.

Unable to send verification, please refresh and try again later.

  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Would anyone recommend cognitive behavioural therapy to assist with panic attacks and consistently low moods?

    Related Topics
    Depression Mental Health Panic Attacks
    Would anyone recommend this type of therapy to assist with panic attacks and consistently low moods.

    I have had psychology sessions before along with antidepressant medication. I found the medication helped to plateau my feelings of sadness but didnt get much out of the psychology sessions.

    I need something that can help me on a daily basis to remain positive and happy.
    answer this question

  • Find a professional to answer your question

  • 1

    Thanks

    Dr Susan Rowe

    Psychologist

    Dr Susan Rowe is a Director of Mindhack psychology clinic where she also works as a clinician. Dr Susan is a specialist in providing effective … View Profile

    Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is one of the most effective and evidence based types of psychology intervention. It has been shown to be effective for helping people to manage their anxiety and panic attacks as well as assisting with low moods. However, everyone can experience different levels of effectivness.

    One of the main predictors of therapy outcomes is the rapport you have with your psychologist or counsellor. Often, you need to find someone who works in a way that matches well with yourself. It is ok to be honest with your psycholgist about previous sessions not being effective. 

    It does sound like you are doing many things yourself that is helping to manage your anxiety and panic attacks, perhaps you could also try self-help cognitive behavioural therapy resources available online such as Mood Gym. 

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

  • Dr Simon Easterbrook-Smith

    Health Professional

    My research interests include immunology and the mechanisms of amyloid formation. The latter has implications for people who are dealing with Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease … View Profile

    I agree with what Susan said about the importance of rapport.

    I definitely recommend CBT.

    You could also investigate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT combines CBT methods with mindfulness concepts - my clinical psychologist has used both approaches when she has worked with me - both have been beneficial.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

  • 1

    Thanks

    Robyn Rowe

    Clinical Psychologist, Psychologist

    Robyn is a clinical psychologist with a particular interest in mood disorders – depression, bipolar & schizoaffective disorders, ante & post natal depression – and … View Profile

    CBT is the treatment of choice for anxiety and depression, sometimes with medication sometimes without it.
    However you need a practitioner who is properly trained and knows what they are doing. You should get improvement in your symptoms quite quickly if the clinician is doing the right things. Anxiety is very treatable and should largely cease to be a problem following treatment.
    Depending on the type of depression and the length of time you have experienced it, should also largely resolve. Sometimes people need to remain on a low dose of an antidepressant medication, but in other cases they can come off medication altogether, very slowly and working with their prescriber.

    Reply to this post
     · 
    Report
    Reply to this post

    You must be a Health Professional to reply to this post. to your account or now (it's free).

answer this question

You must be a Health Professional to answer this question. Log in or Sign up .

You may also like these related questions

Related Fact Sheets
Related Questions
Community Contributor

Empowering Australians to make better health choices