Panic Attack Care at Treat Mental Health

Understanding Panic Attacks

A panic attack refers to an intense feeling of fear that causes both mental distress and physical suffering – you cannot breathe, your heart is beating fast, and you feel like you are losing your grip on reality for quite some time. While there are methods to cope with a panic attack without getting professional help, in case these episodes become more and more frequent and cause you to faint or have lasting physical discomfort, you should consult with a therapist.
Treat Mental Health has been helping people with panic disorder to regain control over their lives and stop worrying about an imminent attack of fear they cannot keep in check – contact our facility today and learn what can be done to avoid these episodes in the future.

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What Causes Panic Attacks?

The causes of panic attacks vary from person to person. Let us take a look at the most common reasons why an individual may have a panic attack:

Extreme stress will trigger a reaction in the person’s mind - if you encounter something scary or you keep remembering a life-changing event or abuse you survived, you may worry to the point of having a panic attack.
Certain mental health disorders make an individual more prone to panic attacks - it is more likely for someone diagnosed with depression or Bipolar Disorder than a person without any mental illnesses to have a panic attack. Although these episodes are rather rare, they may occur if there is no medical intervention the person needs for their well-being.
Substance use and abuse may influence a person’s brain chemistry, lead to stress we have mentioned above, and cause a panic attack. If you drank too much, stopped drinking abruptly, or took illegal substances for recreational purposes, you may experience a panic attack. These episodes can happen more often the more you drink and use drugs so try to get rid of bad habits for the sake of your mental health.

Recognizing the Signs of Panic Attacks

A panic attack can be a very scary experience, especially if your nervous system has never reacted to stressors like that before. Here is a short list of panic attack symptoms you should know about and inform your doctor of:

Anxiety Attacks

Panic attack vs anxiety attack – what is the difference? The latter is more informal yet

both terms mean approximately the same thing. You may feel tense, restless, and nervous for no apparent reason or after encountering something that triggers you. This constant worry that does not go away and only becomes more intense to culminate in a panic attack might cause you to seek medical attention for the first time if you have been ignoring nervousness, attributing it to stress you can cope with.

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Heart Palpitations

Usually, a panic attack begins with a heartbeat getting stronger – you can feel your

pounding and racing in your chest. Although it is important to be careful and not to confuse a panic attack with any cardiovascular disease, the symptom will lessen as the panic attack is coming to an end.

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Nausea

It is natural to feel discomfort in your throat and chest and experience the urge to vomit

when dealing with panic attacks. It happens because of the connection between the person’s brain and their digestive system – the body is exhibiting a fight-or-flight response, hence a digestive system reacts this way.

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Sweating

When people are under pressure, they sweat more profusely than usual – this excessive

sweating is one of the main physical manifestations of a panic attack. The body releases cortisol and adrenaline – in their turn, these hormones activate sweat glands.

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Shortness of Breath

Your breathing rate sharply changes when your body is going through a panic attack –

you are breathing faster trying to get more oxygen because you feel suffocated or you feel frozen and unable to breathe. This is a frequent issue experienced by people in stressful situations – make sure you learn some breathing exercises to minimize the impact of this symptom.

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Depersonalization

You may disassociate from your surroundings, completely forgetting where you are at the

moment and not even react when someone tries to snap you out of it. There is a strong sense of detachment where you feel your mind is not connected to your body as if you are experiencing things as an outside observer who cannot change the situation.

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Treatment Approaches for Panic Attacks at Treat Mental Health

Every client of our mental health center undergoes a thorough examination – after we know more about your medical history and the panic attacks you have been experiencing lately, we will select the most suitable course of treatment for you. Still, you can learn a bit about our treatment programs already – here is a brief outline of what our patients can expect:

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Individual Therapy

Opening up to a qualified therapist who is ready to hear you out and offer unconditional support no matter how severe the symptoms of your condition are and what caused them can be the best strategy for people whose quality of life has declined because of panic attacks they cannot cope with on their own. Talking therapy is usually the main method of treatment – you can start by talking to a counselor, sharing your concerns and frustrations, and discovering how to prepare for a sudden panic attack.

Panic Attack Medication

Properly selected medication can make all the difference when it comes to panic attacks – they help to eliminate or at the very least, decrease the symptoms the individual cannot control. Remember that only a counselor can figure out if your current mental and physical state requires you to use medication – do not self-medicate or try to replace drugs with substances that would not do a better job.

Group Counseling

When you are facing a mental health challenge, it can feel very lonely – as if no one in the world understands your struggle. Thankfully, you can meet your peers in a group setting and learn from a therapist guiding you on how to stop a panic attack. You will have an opportunity to make new friends and relate to each other on a much deeper emotional level.

Healthy Lifestyle

While there will be mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques you learn from a counselor, in some instances, panic attack treatment will include dramatic changes in your lifestyle – proper nutrition, regular exercise, and especially sobriety can be very beneficial for a person prone to anxiety and panic attacks.

Why Choose Treat Mental Health?

Accessible Care

We offer virtual outpatient services which means our patients get to receive high-quality treatment without leaving their homes. The need to commute is often a big obstacle for individuals in need of therapy due to their personal and professional obligations so we do our best to make sure you are able to attend appointments while maintaining a balance between your own mental health needs and other responsibilities.

Professional Team

Our counselors have worked with people struggling with panic disorder for years – they understand how to help patients from any background and with severe symptoms. It is crucial to us to create a safe environment where our clients thrive – you will be treated without judgment and with your therapy goals being the priority.

Support of Community

You will have a chance to meet your peers in group therapy, become a better listener, share your story, and build a meaningful connection with individuals who understand what you are going through. Alternatively, we can invite your closest family members to join you in the counseling session if you believe they need to learn from a therapist as well to support you better in your recovery.

Patient-Centered Treatment

The interests of our patients are of paramount importance to us – all clients get access to personalized therapy that suits them instead of our counselors implementing the same techniques over and over again without significant progress. Moreover, we are dedicated to helping people with respect and compassion making therapy a pleasant experience instead of a threatening one.

Struggling With Panic Attacks? Treat Mental Health Offers Compassionate, Expert Care to Support You Every Step of the Way

At Treat Mental Health, you will be given psychological support to cope with panic attacks and any other related mental health issues we may discover during your treatment. Depending on your mental and physical condition and the frequency of panic attacks, the treatment may not last long, but you will be equipped with skills and mechanisms perfect for aftercare therapy.
Reach out to us today – our therapists will tell you what type of therapy would yield the best results in your case, what medication can be the most effective, and what relaxation practices will make you a more stable and calm individual who is not defined by the occasional panic attack.

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Stacia Ponce-Rodriguez, LMFT

With 28 years in mental health and addiction care, Stacia specializes in supporting adults through complex challenges. She also teaches at the University of San Francisco, mentoring future therapists. A strong advocate for Telehealth, she blends clinical expertise with a passion for accessible, innovative care.