What Is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden feeling of anxiety, fear, and discomfort. The symptoms can often be mistaken for a heart attack due to strong physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shallow breathing, chest pain, and feelings of dread and fear.
Impacts on Your Life
Panic attacks can have a significant impact on how you navigate your daily life as well as your decision-making process. You may find yourself constantly worrying and feeling hopeless by the inevitability of another attack.
You may shy away from social interactions for fear of experiencing this intense form of anxiety in a public place. Your relationships, social life, and work-life might have felt the toll.
You may have noticed some consequences of panic attacks such as:
- Decreased work performance due to difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Limited social interactions for fear of having a panic attack in a public place
- Challenges with daily responsibilities such as grocery shopping or performing self-care
- Missed opportunities for personal and professional growth due to a fear of an attack
Panic attacks can significantly disrupt your professional, social, and family life. Understanding the consequences is a critical step towards finding relief and reclaiming control over your life.
After some time, you may begin to notice physical health changes due to recurring attacks, such as fatigue, headaches, muscle tension, and digestive problems.
Understanding your signs and symptoms is an important first step in finding the right treatment. Although panic attacks can be distressing and often feel like a heart attack, they are not life-threatening. It is important to remember that there is effective evidence-based treatment available.
Our goal at the Trauma Therapy Center is to help you identify your personal triggers and healthy coping skills that work best for your life.
What Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is a mental health disorder characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks.
Symptoms of a panic disorder include:
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Trembling and shaking
- Difficulty breathing
- Feelings of choking
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Nausea or abdominal pain
- Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, unsteady, or faint
- Cold or hot flashes
- Numbness or tingling
- Derealization or depersonalization
- Fear of losing control
- Fear of dying or going crazy
- Worry about additional attacks
- Behavior trying to avoid other attacks
To be diagnosed with panic disorder the symptoms must meet the following criteria:
- Anxiety or worry about future attacks or their consequences
- Behavioral change, such as avoiding activities or situations
- The disturbance is not better explained by substance use or another mental disorder
The frequency and severity of attacks can vary from person to person. Most people who are diagnosed with panic disorder, experience consequences in various areas of life such as social and professional challenges.
What Causes Panic Attacks?
Risk factors for mental health conditions, including panic attacks, can include genetics, brain chemistry, social and environmental events, as well as other factors.
Some other causes may include:
- Trauma: Experiencing traumatic events, especially repeatedly, can cause side effects such as negative beliefs and feeling unsafe, which may lead to symptoms of anxiety.
- Stress: Stressful events or life transitions can increase stress sensitivity, making you more responsive to triggers.
- Substance use: Using various drugs can accelerate certain mental illnesses by altering the brain chemistry.
- Phobias: Specific fears are likely to trigger panic and anxious thoughts.
There are many other causes and combinations of causes of panic attacks. It is best to speak with a professional counselor who can help you identify triggers and healthy coping skills.
How Are Panic Attacks Diagnosed?
A licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can diagnose panic attacks and panic disorder. Mental health professionals have years of education and experience to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Panic disorder can be diagnosed by:
- Interview: Your therapist may ask you some questions about your life, your family history, symptoms, and potential triggers and stressors.
- Diagnostic criteria: A therapist will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria for diagnosis. This includes experiencing unexpected and recurrent attacks with the fear and avoidance of attacks for at least one month.
With the help of a qualified mental health professional, you can get an accurate diagnosis. Once you receive a diagnosis, you and your West Palm Beach therapist can decide on the right evidence-based treatment.
Comorbidity
At the Trauma Therapy Center, we proudly identify ourselves as holistic therapists, meaning we aim to help you improve all areas of your life. Oftentimes, these intense episodes of distress exist hand in hand with other mental health conditions, affecting multiple areas of your life.
Panic attacks are commonly experienced alongside other mental health co-occurring disorders such as:
- Depression: Experiencing both the attacks themselves and the fear of a future attack can have severe consequences on your ability to experience positive emotions, which can lead to depressive symptoms.
- Physical health conditions: Our mental health can often affect our physical health. Mental health disorders can affect multiple systems such as the nervous system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, and more.
- Sleep issues: As sleep is the foundation of mental and physical health, addressing sleep issues is an important part of treatment planning.
- Relationship issues: Experiencing regular panic attacks can lead to social anxiety and isolation and vice versa.
- Professional challenges: Your performance at work can be affected by both the experience and fear of another attack.
During your sessions, we want to make sure to collaboratively address all areas of comorbidity and identify healthy coping mechanisms for each area of concern.
How Do We Treat Panic Attacks?
At the Trauma Therapy Center, our core belief is that each individual has unique strengths and our aim is to help you realize and integrate them into your life. We practice with the understanding that given the right tools for healing, anyone can overcome their symptoms and achieve healing. Our therapists are dedicated to working with you to determine the tools that work best for your lifestyle and personal preferences.
“For many of my clients, I find that using science-backed tools that are easily accessible for daily use provides the best results.” – Liz Chelak, MSW, CCTSI, CRPS
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is a great choice of behavioral therapy as it is an extremely effective approach due to its concrete skills and tools for more adaptive perspective shifts.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine (NIH) participants experienced clinically significant reductions in panic disorder symptoms, anxious thoughts, and depression after one month of CBT. Participants also experienced a continued improvement in panic symptoms at 4 weeks of post-treatment and 6-month follow-up (Lim, 2018).
Exposure Therapy
According to research published in APA PsychNet, “exposure therapy has been found to be highly effective in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia, producing reductions in panic attack frequency, anticipatory anxiety, and avoidance behavior” (Craske, M. G., & Mystkowski, J. L. (2006).
Medication
In some cases, medications can be effective. Some commonly prescribed medications include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs): These medications regulate serotonin levels in the brain to help decrease anxiety.
- Benzodiazepines: These medications can help make the nervous system less active, however, they can be habit-forming.
Speak to your medical provider to see which medication may be right for you. It is important to note that medication works best when used in combination with talk therapy.
Before beginning or discontinuing any medication, it is crucial to conduct a holistic assessment with the goal of managing stress, improving sleep, adopting a healthy diet, and participating in physical activity as this can have a large effect on your well-being.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness practices, such as breathing exercises or meditation, are an essential practice for overall physical and mental health. Acting mindlessly can cause us to make mistakes and not be fully engaged in the activities we are participating in and in our lives as a whole.
A study published in the NIH demonstrated that mindfulness reduces symptoms of anxiety and panic by helping participants cultivate non-reactive awareness of thoughts and body sensations. This study explained that regular mindfulness causes a reduction in both frequency and intensity in symptoms (Goldin, P. R., & Gross, J. J., 2010).
Importance of Individualized Treatment
Your counselor will work with you to determine the best evidence-based treatment plan for you. Your therapist will ensure you have all the information necessary to help you make an educated decision. We encourage you to participate actively in your therapy process and are open to hearing your preferences, experiences, and feedback.
Your Path to Freedom
How to Find the Right Counselor?
Finding the right therapist or counselor is a crucial first step of your healing journey as your compatibility with this person influences the impact of behavioral therapy.
Here are some factors to consider when searching for a therapist:
- Qualifications: The right therapist is someone who is trained, qualified, and has a solid foundation in matters of trauma and anxiety. In addition to a master’s degree, it is important to consider other qualifications and continuing professional development in relevant topics.
- Therapeutic approach: Consider a therapist proficiently utilizing evidence-based interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
- Compatibility: It is important to find a therapist whom you feel comfortable talking with.
Our effective therapists in West Palm Beach go beyond addressing presenting concerns, taking into account all areas of your life and helping you heal both immanent and underlying issues.
When to See a Medical Provider for Panic Attack Treatment?
If you have had more than one panic attack it may be beneficial to see a medical or mental health provider. Choosing the right treatment is a decision between you and your therapist.
Your therapist can discuss symptoms, provide a diagnosis, and discuss treatment plan options with you. They can also refer you to a psychiatrist to complement your behavioral therapy with medication.
Setting Goals and Expectations
At the Trauma Therapy Center, therapy is a joint effort between client and therapist working toward the same goal. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for you to discover new insights regarding your condition surrounded by guidance and support. During this process, you will be provided with education regarding your symptoms and equipped with practical tools for your recovery. Setting clear and achievable goals is essential for a successful therapeutic outcome.
During your first session, your therapist will:
- Conduct a thorough assessment to help you uncover the root cause of your anxiety.
- Support you in setting clear goals and measurable objectives to create a focused and directed therapy experience.
You and your therapist may choose to work together using CBT, mindfulness, exposure therapy, relaxation techniques, stress management, or an integrative approach combining multiple methods. Throughout your journey, you and your counselor will check in regularly to assess how you feel regarding the work you are doing.
Success Stories
Through therapy with Liz Chelak, MSW, CCTSI, CRPS many clients have been able to decrease their Generalized Anxiety Disorder score by over 50% just within the first month of counseling.
“It brings me so much joy witnessing the transformation of my clients. Helping clients who have carried the weight of anxiety achieve a sense of peace and calm is incredibly rewarding. For me, it’s about more than managing symptoms, but empowering my clients to have the inner strength to handle life’s challenges with the belief that they can overcome any struggles.”
How Long Does Therapy Last?
There is no “one-size-fits-all-all” regarding the duration of therapy. This will be a decision made between you and your therapist. Many people feel an improvement in their symptoms after just a few sessions, however still choose to continue therapy sessions due to seeing significant benefit in all areas of their lives from a professional level of support. Others may require more sessions to address and work through more complex issues.
We offer a variety of therapy options to fit your needs and budget. To learn more about how much is therapy at our center in West Palm Beach, call us at (561) 363-7994.
You don’t have to face panic attacks and panic disorder alone. Our expert guidance and proven panic attack treatment methods in West Palm Beach are here to lead you toward a life of calm and control. Take charge of your well-being today – reach out to us and embark on a journey to find lasting relief from the grip of panic. Your path to a brighter future starts with a simple step – contact us now to reclaim your peace and well-being. We serve Palm Beach County in person in multiple locations or virtually.