People who have panic disorder may develop agoraphobia. This is a complex fear of situations that may be difficult or uncomfortable to escape from. As people start to avoid things like crowds and public transportation, they will sometimes stop leaving their homes. Agoraphobia can create significant barriers to treatment. Fortunately, widespread access to telehealth is helping more people receive mental health treatments that can help them work through their fears and learn skills to manage them. 

If you’re experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

Our Lightfully Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP) is a popular choice for people who have panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies. Keep reading to learn about vPHP and how this program can help you find relief.

What barriers keep people with panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies from receiving treatment?

Panic disorder and related anxiety conditions can be very debilitating because they create a cycle of fear and avoidance. When people start to avoid certain situations because of their anxiety, their fears only grow bigger and more powerful. People who have agoraphobic tendencies may fear either open or enclosed spaces. Being outside the home alone can also be a trigger as well as using public transportation, standing in lines or being in a crowd. Avoidance of these situations may cause someone to stay home as much as possible. Soon enough, the thought of going outside becomes overwhelming.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) states that agoraphobia involves fear of at least two of the following specific situations:

• Using public transportation
• Being in open spaces
• Being in enclosed spaces
• Standing in line or being in a crowd
• Being outside of the home alone

Avoidance and fear aren’t the only barriers to treatment that people face. Depression and anxiety can make it difficult to stick to daily routines and care for oneself. Some may have limited mobility or medical conditions that make it difficult to go out. Some may not have reliable transportation. Those who live in rural areas may not have a treatment center within driving distance. Some of our clients can’t take an extended leave from work, so virtual treatments are more flexible to work around their schedules. 

How can I receive effective treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies?

Receiving treatment via telehealth enables you to take things at a slower pace and work up to facing your triggers more intentionally. When clients are forced out of their comfort zone, they aren’t able to feel fully present and give treatment activities their full focus. Virtual PHP allows you to receive treatment in your home environment, where you feel safe. 

Clients in virtual treatment programs achieve outcomes that are comparable to those in in-person treatment. These virtual programs are open to anyone in almost any living situation, including those who live with a roommate, a significant other or their family. Some people prefer it because they have their pets and loved ones near them for support.

What virtual treatment approaches can help me with panic disorder with agoraphobia?

Panic disorder and agoraphobia are different from one individual to another. These conditions require highly personalized treatment. At Lightfully, our licensed clinicians use our Precision Care Model (PCM) to ensure that each person gets a treatment experience that’s tailored to their needs. Our comprehensive approach goes beyond skill-building to help you develop your own habits for long-term mental wellness and start making progress toward your life goals. 

The evidence-based treatment methods we use are responsive to each person’s unique symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the gold standard that forms the basis of most anxiety treatments. Our licensed clinicians use this framework to help people understand their own thought processes and emotions. With the ability to recognize and name their thoughts and feelings, people can then learn to manage them better. We also focus on skills for mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and stress management. 

What treatments are included in Virtual PHP?

Each person receives a different blend of evidence-based treatments. After an initial assessment, your treatment team will recommend specific treatments and show you what your treatment plan might look like. Virtual PHP is the highest level of virtual treatment we offer. People may spend several weeks or months in vPHP and then transition to a lower level of treatment, such as vIOP (Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program).

Our Virtual PHP includes the following:

• Personalized treatment plan
• Programming five days a week
• Four to six hours per day of interactive group sessions
• At least 20 hours a week of clinical services by licensed or associate licensed providers
• Weekly psychiatry sessions
• Medication management
• Weekly therapy sessions
• Biweekly family therapy sessions

What other conditions are treated in Virtual PHP?

People who have panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies sometimes have other co-occurring mental health conditions. Our licensed clinicians are experienced with treating people who have more than one condition. In Virtual PHP, you can receive the treatment you need for mood- and trauma-related conditions alongside your treatment for anxiety disorders.

We treat people who have the following conditions in Virtual PHP:

• Depression and mood disorders
• Anxiety disorders
• Panic disorder
• Agoraphobic tendencies
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Trauma-related disorders

Get help for panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies without leaving home

The aim of mental health treatment is to help you live the life you want and achieve long-term mental wellness. For a person who has panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies, leaving the house and going to public places may be important treatment goals. Going into a treatment center every day may not be manageable right away, and that’s OK. You still deserve access to comprehensive treatment that meets you where you are right now.

At Lightfully, we developed our Virtual PHP to help clients who face all kinds of barriers to treatment. This treatment option is available to adults in California and Washington state who are looking for a more accessible, flexible and convenient way to receive mental health care.

Are you exploring virtual treatments for panic disorder with agoraphobic tendencies? We can help. Contact us or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team today. Let’s start the conversation about your treatment options.