Panic Attack Therapy

Need a panic attack therapist? Hoping to take part in therapy to treat panic disorder? If you’ve ever experienced a panic attack, you know how terrifying it can be.

Although not life threatening, it can feel like you are having a heart attack or losing control of your mind. Dizziness, sweating and shortness of breath are all part of the experience.

Let’s face it – panic attacks can be scary and terrifying.

Our Chicago therapists can help. Most people have one or two panic attacks over the course of their lifetime. But if you experience reoccurring episodes that stretch over long periods of time, it may be due to a condition caused panic disorder.

What Is Panic Disorder?

Panic disorder differs from normal reactions to anxiety and stress. At its core, a panic disorder is characterized by a series of unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear.

In many cases, the disorder itself is amplified by underlying thoughts and feelings that need to be addressed in order to experience relief.

What Causes a Panic Attack?

While the exact origins of panic disorder aren’t fully known, we do know that the brain and nervous system are a key part of the equation (Cleveland Clinic). You may be at risk for a panic disorder if:

There is a family history of anxiety.
You have other mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.
If you struggle with substance abuse issues, such as alcohol abuse or an addiction to some other substance.
Trauma from the past that has not been addressed.

Panic Attack Symptoms

There are usually a common set of symptoms associated with having a panic attack. These can include:

Sweating, trembling, and shaking.
Shortness of breath, feeling smothered or chocking.
Chest pain or tightness.
Abdominal distress and/or nausea.
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, faint, or unsteady.
Feeling chills or hot flashes.
Numbness or tingling in extremities.
Derealization (feeling like you’re watching a movie).
Feeling detached from yourself or surroundings.
Fear of losing control or losing your mind.
Worries and fears about dying.

How We Work With Panic Disorder

When you are experiencing something as scary as a panic attack, it’s easy to lose sight of the deeper issues that need to be addressed.

That’s why it’s important to remember that panic is a symptom of other issues happening deep inside that need to be explored and healed.

To help you work through your panic disorder, we take a holistic approach, attacking the panic symptoms themselves and the issues underneath.

The conventional wisdom holds that all a person needs to do is engage in deep breathing to work through the panic, but the truth is deep breathing doesn’t always work.

Instead, our Lakeview neighborhood therapists use an integrative modality that includes grounding exercises that are rooted in mindfulness therapy. In this way, you acknowledge what is happening without giving the attack itself more power.

An example of a grounding technique might be focusing your attention on a random object, like a book, and becoming aware of its color, shape, texture, and weight. This dual awareness of what you are feeling (anxiety) and what you are observing (the book), can help dial down the intensity of your panic.

But that’s not all. We also incorporate guided visualizations, somatic approaches and traditional cognitive behavior therapy. Each approach to treatment is customized to your unique needs and situation.

If left unchecked, a panic disorder can lead to other problems. Examples include fears of leaving your home to avoid situations that may lead to panic (agoraphobia), frequent emergency room visits because of overwhelming symptoms, and feelings of depression.

It’s critically important to address panic attacks before they get worse. Over time, panic disorder becomes a self-reinforcing feedback loop in which fear of having an attack causes more of them to happen. It’s a paradox.

By addressing the symptoms and root causes of your panic attacks, you can help dial down the anxiety and live a calmer, more relaxed life.

Our Panic Attack Methods

Our therapists want to help you reduce anxiety in your life and help you create change around the underlying causes that may be causing you so much difficulty.

We provide evidence-based, scientifically proven interventions that are demonstrated by research to be effective in ameliorating anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

Panic Attack Appointment

Our offices are located in Chicago, not far from Wrigley Field in the city’s Lakeview neighborhood. Our main location is at the corner of Irving Park and Pine Grove, in an area that straddles Uptown and Buena Park, close to the Sheridan Redline Train on CTA.

Some clients prefer virtual therapy from the privacy of their homes. Both in person counseling and remote therapy are highly effective in treating panic attacks and disorders.

To make an appointment, call us at 773.528.1777 or fill out our confidential contact form.

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Reference:

Cleveland Clinic. Panic Disorder at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4451-panic-disorder