It is important that you be a full participant in your treatment from the start. Be active and assertive. Ask questions. Maintain open communication with your treatment professional and let him or her know your concerns.

Everyone responds differently, but it is important to know that none of the treatments for panic disorder and/or agoraphobia work instantly. Panic disorder and agoraphobia are serious conditions and there is no instant "miracle cure." For many people it takes weeks of hard work before they feel better, but the few weeks can mean an entire lifetime of living better. Still, be careful of any treatments that offer "quick" or "instant" fixes.

So, you must stick with a particular treatment for at least 8 weeks to see if it works. If you do not see significant improvement within that time, you and your treatment professional can adjust your treatment plan. It may take a bit of trial and error before you find what works best for you. Be patient and be sure to communicate with your treatment professional. Of course, if at any time you feel uncomfortable with the professional you have chosen or don't think your treatment is going well, you should feel free to consider seeking a second opinion or even changing providers.

If your treatment involves medication, talk with your doctor about how dosage will be monitored. No matter what medication you are taking, your doctor is likely to start you on a low dose and gradually increase it to the full dose. You should know that every medication has side effects, but they usually become tolerated or diminish with time. If side effects become a problem, the doctor may advise you to stop taking the medication and to wait a week or so before trying another medication. When your treatment is near an end, your doctor will lower the dosage gradually.