Clients working on panic attacks, and therapists supporting them, may find this CBT module useful when the main fear is the body sensations themselves. It focuses on interoceptive exposure, internal sensation exercises, panic symptoms, anxiety attacks, physical alarms and reducing avoidance of sensations such as dizziness, breathlessness, chest tightness and a racing heart.
This Panic Attack Physical Alarm Exposure Exercises PDF is a practical CBT resource for working with fear of internal body sensations, sometimes described as interoceptive exposure. It looks at common panic sensations such as a racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, shaking, chest tightness and feeling light-headed, and helps clients explore how these sensations can become linked with anxious predictions, body checking and avoidance.
The worksheet-style module gives a structured way to plan, carry out and review physical alarm exposure exercises. It includes space to rate anxiety or distress, record symptom intensity and similarity to panic, note anxious thoughts, and reflect on what was learned. Exercises may include running in place, spinning, breathing through a straw, chest breathing, holding the breath, shaking the head, hyperventilation and staring at a spot, with prompts to consider suitability and relevant health precautions before practice.
It can be used by CBT practitioners, counsellors and mental health workers during sessions, or shared as between-session practice for adults learning to reduce avoidance of panic symptoms. The PDF can also support therapy planning, psychoeducation, homework review and guided self-help conversations. View, download or print it to use as a clear step-by-step aid when practising exposure to feared body sensations.
