For example, many people with anxiety disorders experience hyperventilation, rapid, tense breathing that expels too much carbon dioxide, resulting in chest pain, dizziness, tingling of the mouth and fingers, muscle cramps, and even fainting. Hyperventilation is one of the primary physical manifestations of panic disorders. By practicing measured, controlled breathing at the onset of a panic attack, patients may be able to prevent full attacks. Relaxation methods, such as learning how to gradually relax all the muscles, may also be helpful. They include interpersonal therapy, supportive psychotherapy, attention intervention, and psychoanalysis.
All work is done during the sessions.
Some experts believe that such therapies might be more useful for generalized anxiety, which may require more sustained work to process and recover from early traumas and fears. A surgical technique called cingulotomy involves interrupting the cingulate gyrus, a bundle of nerve fibers in the front of the brain. The procedure is generally safe with few serious complications and does not affect intellect or memory.