Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet

What are panic attacks, and what is Panic Disorder?

When someone is experiencing sudden episodes of intense fear or anxiety unexpectedly without any apparent cause/trigger or a sign of real danger, they are having a panic attack. Some physical signs and symptoms of someone having a panic attack are breathlessness, palpitations, chest pain, shaking, dizziness, sweating, a sense of impending doom, and a fear of loss. Those who suffer from a panic attack can find the experience frightening and distressing because it can affect their quality of life.

Should the panic attacks happen more frequently and severely and significantly impact their daily well-being, they may have a panic disorder, which is a type of anxiety disorder. Those with panic attacks and panic disorder may have similar symptoms; what differentiates them is the frequency of experiencing them and the fear of it happening again. This usually results in the one with panic disorder going to great lengths to avoid places where they had an attack.

Researchers and medical practitioners haven’t found the cause of panic attacks or disorder. However, they say that significant stress, changes in brain function, genetics, and having a temperament sensitive to stress or being prone to negative emotions can play a role in one experiencing panic attacks more frequently, leading to panic disorder development.

Treatment for panic disorder generally combines medication, lifestyle changes, relaxation techniques, and therapy that uses panic attack worksheets, experiences, and activities.

You can also use this relaxation techniques template to assist clients in finding effective ways to relax and manage anxiety. This template provides a range of techniques that can be tailored to meet individual needs.

How to use the Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet:

Step One. Access and Download the Template

Ensure you have a digital and printable version of the “Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet” on hand when needed. To grab a copy, do either of the steps for accessing and downloading the template mentioned below:

• Click the “Download Template” or “Use Template” button
• Search for “Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet” in Carepatron’s template library’s search bar on the website or app.

Step Two. Answers the Worksheet

When they’re comfortable and consent, give the client a copy of the worksheet and the time and space needed to complete it. You must keep communication between you and your client open if they have clarifications or questions on a specific section. Feel free to use the sample template as a guide or visual aid when explaining.

Step Three. Discuss the Worksheet

As soon as they’ve finished, you may discuss what they’ve answered in the worksheet so you can understand their condition better and have particular questions clarified. Beyond discussing the worksheet, you may also discuss possible next steps.

Step Four. Store the Template Securely

Don’t forget to store the template securely once the session ends so you may access it when needed for whatever reason or purpose. Physical copies must be securely stored within the establishment for easy access. Meanwhile, digital copies can be stored on Carepatron, a HIPAA-compliant EHR that securely stores your completed worksheet and allows you to limit viewing access to relevant parties only.

When Would you use this Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet?

Mental health practitioners like psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counselors who are licensed and experienced in caring for clients who experience symptoms of panic attacks or are diagnosed with panic disorder. If you want ideas of when exactly to use the “Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet,” here are three below:

Initial Assessment

The worksheet can be used during the initial assessment to gather baseline information on the severity of one’s panic attack symptoms, understand the client’s condition, and track their progress during treatment.

Treatment Formulation

With the worksheet, the referring physician - you - and your client have enough information to plan specific goals and objectives the client wants to achieve during therapy. Depending on the severity, it can also be a roadmap of which symptom to tackle first.

Monitoring

Once the client is on a treatment plan, the referring physician can use the worksheet to monitor the client’s progress and assess if any changes to the treatment approach need to be made. On the other hand, the client can also use the worksheet to monitor their symptoms for better awareness of their triggers and patterns, if any, of their panic attacks.

Though we’ve provided three sample scenarios, we’ll ultimately leave it up to you when you have your client answer the worksheet since you know them best.

What are the Benefits of Using this Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet?

Improved Self-Awareness

Rating one’s panic attack symptoms requires self-awareness. That means the more often they’re required to answer the worksheet, the more they will develop self-awareness of their symptoms, patterns, and triggers to manage them more effectively. In addition, the knowledge they will obtain can also help the referring physician make informed decisions regarding their treatment.

Objective Assessment

Compared to simply sharing one’s experience of panic attacks, having a worksheet as an objective assessment can benefit the referring physician, especially when establishing a baseline and comparing symptom intensity over time. This can also monitor and track the client’s progress with the treatment approach.

Individualized Treatment

A worksheet can aid the referring physician with individualized treatment planning, goal setting, and progress tracking. Instead of an approach designed to treat multiple symptoms, the worksheet can help the referring physician pinpoint and focus on which one needs immediate attention.

Digitally Accessible

Our free Rating Your Panic Attack Symptoms Worksheet is digitally accessible. Using a digital file format, you can more easily customize and store the completed worksheet while your client can answer it on any gadget and PDF editor they have on hand.