Hi, Melinda. Part of behavioral change involves taking baby steps to bring about change. You've heard the saying "Just get over it"? Well as you know, this is an empty suggestion. Panic sufferers just can't do it like that.
Instead, as described and helped to do in the Panic Program, people work through their fear by taking baby steps to achieve a goal, and challenging their thoughts as they go along. It's broken down into workable objectives.
For instance, if a person is totally afraid of driving, a first step might be to just sit in the car for a little while each day, until becoming almost bored with it. Then perhaps that person can take another little step of then driving in the driveway, then another step of driving on the street in front of the house, slowly moving towards the ultimate goal of driving to the store, or to work, or on the highway.