Therapy for Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can be debilitating and paralyzing

If you’ve ever struggled with panic attacks then you know first hand how unnerving and scary they can be. You may be doing nothing at all and suddenly your body is reacting as if you’re in danger — your heart rate may drastically increase, you might be shaking, sweating, feel nauseas, hyperventilating, you may feel tightness or pain in parts of your body, and your mind might run away with thoughts about death. It’s not uncommon during a panic attack for people to end up in the emergency room, as it can be very difficult in the moment — especially if you’re not used to the symptoms — to tell if you’re experiencing a medical emergency, or what is going on.

Panic attacks can come from a variety of different underlying causes. It is common for previous traumas (or complex trauma) to be at the root of panic attacks. Traumatic experience can have a way of recalibrating emotional regulation and make it so you are vulnerable to being triggered when you least expect it. When you’re prone to panic attacks, it can feel like you’re out of control of your mind and body, and it can be terrifying to feel like you’e losing total control of yourself.

I also specialize in therapy for anxiety, trauma, and phobias, and it’s not uncommon for panic attacks to accompany these issues.

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When you experience panic attacks, it is necessary to have a safe and supportive therapy space when you can take your time and go at your pace to explore the underlying traumas and experiences that continue to trigger these attacks. Some of our work will involve coping mechanisms to help you manage panic attacks as they show up. The main focus of our work together is the deeper healing from the experiences you’re carrying that has your mind and body prone to unexpected activation in such an overpowering manner. The coping skills are meant to help you cope, however at times people want to rely on skills without doing the deeper work, and this generally leads to the coping skills becoming less and less effective as the deeper issues go unaddressed. So with panic attacks, it is important to be able to slow down and take the time necessary to heal.

I am here to support you and be with you along the way. Even though I know you may feel an understandable sense of urgency heal quickly, I encourage you to go at your own pace, and take your time. The more patient with yourself you can be in the therapy process, the more relief from panic attacks you’ll likely find yourself experiencing.