The present invention discloses a method for processing LMP packet carrying a control message, which includes: receiving the LMP packet carrying a control message from a peer LMP node, determining whether a state of a control channel is an available state according to the LMP packet, and updating or resetting a HelloDeadInterval timer if the control channel is in the available state. When the control channel is in the available state, the processed LMP packet is sent to the peer node, a new LMP packet carrying the control message is generated and sent to the peer node, and a HelloInterval timer is updated or reset. The present invention further provides a LMP processing unit and a LMP packet processing node.