Panic attacks can feel overwhelming and terrifying. Your heart races, your chest tightens, your breathing becomes shallow and quick, and for a moment, it feels like you might be losing control. Other symptoms of panic attacks may include racing thoughts, nausea, tense muscles, and sweating. Many people describe panic attacks as feeling like a heart attack or an impending sense of doom. While these experiences are distressing, the good news is that panic attacks are treatable. With the right strategies and support, you can regain control and prevent them from dictating your life.
What Causes Recurring Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks occur when the body’s fight-or-flight response is triggered, due to a perceived threat. A person develops panic disorder when panic attacks become frequent and unexpected, even when there is no clear danger or threat. When struggling with panic disorder, a person misinterprets normal bodily sensations as dangerous and starts to fear these sensations. A fear of bodily sensations is problematic because it is normal to experience such sensations in response to fear and anxiety. Over time, people with panic disorder become hyper-aware of normal bodily sensations that they once ignored, misinterpreting them as signs of danger. A vicious cycle can quickly develop.
A fear of bodily sensations is maintained by:
- Avoidance: Trying to avoid experiencing bodily sensations and/or places where one worries they might have a panic attack. Avoidance maintains the fear of bodily sensations and never gives one the opportunity to learn they can manage these sensations.
- Safety Behaviors: Anything a person believes is keeping them safe if and when they have a panic attack (for example, always carrying water, sitting near an exit, always having someone with you when you leave your home).
- Catastrophic thoughts: Negative thoughts about bodily sensations such as “I am going to die”, “I am having a heart attack”, “I might go crazy”, “I can’t handle these sensations” “These sensations are dangerous”
Understanding what contributes to your panic attacks is the first step in managing them effectively.
How Therapy Helps with Panic Disorder
If panic attacks have become a regular part of your life, panic disorder treatment with evidence-based therapy can provide relief. The most effective approach include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT helps identify and reframe thought patterns that contribute to panic attacks. Many people with panic disorder develop a fear of their own bodily sensations (like a racing heart for example), leading to increased anxiety and more frequent attacks. Through CBT, you learn to challenge catastrophic thinking and replace it with more balanced perspectives.
Exposure Therapy
Avoidance tends to reinforce panic attacks. Exposure therapy gradually introduces you to sensations or situations that trigger anxiety in a safe and controlled way. Over time, this reduces the fear response and helps desensitize you to triggers. Additionally, a specific type of exposure, called interoceptive exposure, is often a critical component of panic disorder treatment. Interoceptive exposure involves exposure to bodily sensations so you can learn these sensations are not dangerous. Once a person stops fearing their bodily sensations, the panic attack cycle is broken. A therapist trained in treating panic disorder can guide you through exposure treatment.
Why Specialized Care Can Make a Difference
Finding the right therapy for panic disorder can sometimes be challenging. While insurance-covered therapy can be helpful, some individuals find that specialized care offers a more tailored and intensive approach. Here are some benefits of working with a therapist who specializes in panic disorder:
- Specialized Training – I take on a limited number of clients, allowing me to invest in ongoing
specialized training and consultation to provide the most effective care. - Personalized, High-Quality Treatment – Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, therapy is tailored to your specific needs and challenges.
- Flexibility in Treatment – Some insurance plans may have session limits, whereas private pay therapy allows for a customized treatment pace that fits your progress.
- Focus on Long-Term Solutions – Specialized therapy goes beyond symptom management, helping you build lasting skills for long-term relief.
Taking the Next Step
If panic attacks are interfering with your life, you don’t have to navigate them alone. Panic attack treatment, including CBT and exposure therapy, can provide you with the tools and strategies needed to
break free from the cycle of panic and reclaim your sense of calm.
📢 Ready to take control of your panic attacks? I specialize in evidence-based panic disorder therapy designed to help you find relief. Schedule a free consultation today.
