Exposure-based therapy is a special type of cognitive behavioral therapy effective for treating individuals with agoraphobia and panic disorder. This therapy involves systematic and gradual exposure to situations that trigger agoraphobia. Treatment generally begins with minor anxiety-provoking conditions and moves to more difficult conditions as it progresses. During treatment, you move through exposure exercises at a comfortable pace. After successfully completing one level, you move ahead to the next.

The therapy focuses on decreasing your reliance on safety behaviors, like bringing others along, scanning for exits, or having an empty or full prescription bottle with you. This therapy also uses interoceptive exposure to bring about the physical symptoms you dread to retrain your brain to realize that these signs are not as intimidating as you think. For instance, you may be asked to spin around in a chair until you're dizzy or breathe fast to induce hyperventilation. The theory is that individuals are less likely to encounter panic or fear when they understand exactly why they experience physical symptoms in the moment. When you are ready, feared situations are paired with feared feelings eventually, requiring you to generate physical sensations while in line at the grocery store, at the movies, on the subway, or anywhere that naturally sparks your anxiety. In addition, CBT helps you exercise methods for relaxation, learn to restructure destructive beliefs and unhelpful thoughts, and better understand the essence of your fear and anxiety.