Best Panic Attack Treatment & Therapy with Mood Clinic
Panic attacks are a type of anxiety. They come on suddenly and produce intense feelings of fear that cause physical symptoms of stress, like sweating, rapid and racing heart, and shortness of breath.
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Best Panic Attack Treatment & Therapy | New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts
Panic attacks are a type of anxiety. They come on suddenly and produce intense feelings of fear that cause physical symptoms of stress, like sweating, rapid and racing heart, and shortness of breath.
While panic attacks feel scary, they are not dangerous to your health, unless they become chronic. However, they can interfere with your quality of life.
Therapy and medications can treat panic attacks.
Not everyone gets panic attacks for the same reason. At Mood Clinic we take a holistic and patient-centered approach to treating panic attacks by identifying the root of what’s causing them for life-long healing.
You don’t have to be crippled in panic forever. Take the next step and schedule a free predominantly online consultation with Mood Clinic today.
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Understanding Panic Attack & Panic Disorder
Having a panic attack can feel threatening, as if you’re having a heart attack- doom, racing heart, and shortness of breath. Panic attacks pop up out of nowhere and for seemingly no reason.
Panic attacks are common. Up to 35% of people in the US experience a panic episode at least once in their lives.
Some people get panic attacks occasionally. For others it becomes chronic and they develop panic disorder. Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder where panic attacks become more frequent and recurring. They become persistent, making them more debilitating and have no known trigger.
In addition to panic disorder, panic attacks can also occur as a result of other conditions or anxiety disorders, such as:
- Trauma
- Phobias
- Medical conditions or illness
- Substance use
Causes and triggers of panic attacks are complex and will be different for everyone. Risk for panic attacks increases with the following:
- Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions
- Presence of other mental health conditions, like anxiety or depression
- Past or recent trauma or long-term stress, including childhood trauma
- Underlying health conditions, such as certain diseases, hormone imbalance, gut health imbalance
- Medications certain medications, like stimulants or sedatives, including caffeine
- Substance abuse, including alcohol
It’s likely that there could be a combination of the above factors that build up and manifest into a panic attack for an individual.
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Symptoms of Panic Attacks
During a panic attack, the body thinks it’s in danger, which activates its “fight-or-flight” response. The body floods with various hormones, like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones cause physical changes in case we truly are in danger. Physical symptoms commonly experienced by people having a panic attack include:
- Intense feelings of danger, fear, dread, or doom
- Rapid heart rate
- Sweating, hot flashes
- Nervousness, trembling
- Chest tightness or pain
- Shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- Tingling in the hands and feet
- Dry mouth
- Nausea or stomach knots
Everyone’s experience and symptoms will be different depending on the underlying factors that are causing their panic.
While having a panic attack isn’t dangerous to your health, there are long-term health consequences when panic attacks become recurring.
When the release of stress hormones that flood the body during a panic attack become chronic, your risk of health conditions like:
- Heart disease
- Digestive issues
- Immune disorders
- Respiratory disease, like asthma or COPD
- Migraines
While it’s normal to experience feelings of panic at some point in your life, having regular or recurring panic attacks can be debilitating and can cause long-term physical and mental health complications.
Because of the complex nature of panic attacks, accurate and precise diagnosis is essential to successful treatment.
You don’t have to live in fear forever. If you are experiencing panic attacks, seek help from a compassionate and knowledgeable practitioner who can get to the root cause of your issue.
Contact Mood Clinic for your free 20-minute consultation now.
Diagnosis of Panic Attacks at Mood Clinic
At Mood Clinic, we understand that panic attacks are a symptom of a larger problem. Rather than just treating your panic attacks, we tailor a plan that treats the root of your issue.
When you work with Mood Clinic for a diagnosis, we will conduct a full physical and psychiatric intake, which includes a review of the following:
- Physical health, including lab tests to identify medical conditions that may be causing your symptoms
- Symptoms, including severity and frequency
- Family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions
- Past psychiatric history
- Current or past treatments and medications
- Current or past substance use
- Recent or past trauma
- Stressors (grief, loss, financial, etc.)
Effective treatment for panic attacks relies on an accurate and precise diagnosis by someone with expertise in panic attacks and panic disorder.
We are experts in diagnosing and treating the root cause of panic at Mood Clinic. Our experience and precision allow us to curate a treatment plan that is personalized for you. Having a clear understanding of your diagnosis will help you to better discern your mental health needs and communicate them for optimal well-being.
Treatment Options for Panic Attacks at Mood Clinic
It is our goal at Mood Clinic to help you to gain confidence and autonomy over your condition by discovering new skills and tools to improve your mental health.
We combine various evidence-based therapeutic techniques with medication management and lifestyle changes in our holistic and approach to panic attack treatment, including the following:
Medication – Medication alleviates the debilitating physical and psychological effects a panic attack can have on the body. Medication gives patients the space to live normal, productive daily lives without the fear of unpredictable panic lurking around the corner.
When we use medication, we will work closely to achieve maximum symptom reduction with the lowest effective medication dose. Our goal is to minimize side effects and tailor treatment to your needs. Personalized treatment means you’ll receive specialized care designed for you and delivered with compassion.
Other therapeutic modalities we use alongside medication management as part of a comprehensive treatment plan for panic attacks include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – We use a CBT approach to help you examine negative or unhelpful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and change them into new, more constructive response patterns.
Exposure Therapy – As a way to overcome fears, we deliberately (to varying degrees) confront or expose an individual to triggers that induce panic, like memories, feelings, and situations in an attempt to learn that they are not dangerous.
Mindfulness – A cognitive practice that brings awareness to one’s emotions, bodily sensations, and surroundings. Through mindfulness training, we help clients become aware of any negative thoughts or reactions to minimize overwhelm. Mindfulness incorporates physical and mental wellness practices, like yoga, meditation, and breathwork to promote relaxation, strengthen rational thought, and reinforce a sense of control over negative thoughts.
Emotional Regulation/Grounding Techniques – Like mindfulness, emotional regulation and grounding skills promote awareness of the present moment. This technique helps survivors of trauma who experience panic attacks or flashbacks manage their traumatic memories or intense emotions and become calmer. Examples include breathwork, progressive muscle relaxation, or focus on the five senses.
Lifestyle changes and holistic approaches – Lifestyle practices, like sleep, healthy eating, physical activity, and stress management are effective at reducing and even eliminating panic attacks.
Long-term recovery from panic attacks is possible with a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan like what we provide at Mood Clinic.
You don’t have to live with panic attacks forever. Contact Mood Clinic for your free 20 minute consultation and start healing now.
FAQs about Panic Attacks
A Panic attack and an anxiety attack are different. The main distinction is that a panic attack sneaks up on you suddenly or unexpectedly, while an anxiety attack builds up slowly over time after long-term exposure to a stressor.
The symptoms of both are similar – a racing heart, trembling, shortness of breath, fear. Symptoms of anxiety tend to be less intense, but last longer than a panic attack.
Symptoms of a panic attack are very intense, but only last a short time. Panic attacks last less than an hour, usually 5-20 minutes.
If a panic attack hits, it can be very sudden and intense. It is very much a physical experience. When this happens, the best thing you can do is slow down and focus on your breathing. Long, slow deliberate breathing can help you to feel calmer.
Practicing mindful or grounding techniques can really help in the moment. Bring focus to your immediate surroundings rather than what is happening in your body. Try thinking or noticing the things you can see, hear, and smell around you until you feel calmer.
Some people find music, art, or writing also helps them to reduce the intense feelings of a panic attack.
If you are prone to panic attacks or have been diagnosed with panic disorder, it’s important to get treatment from a professional experienced in panic attacks. Find a practitioner who understands the complexities of panic attacks and personalize a comprehensive and well-rounded treatment plan for you.
If you are currently being treated for panic attacks, it’s important to stick with your treatment to ensure occurrences of panic attacks are minimized. Other things you can do to prevent panic attacks include:
- Practice calming techniques, like breathwork
- Keep up with your routine and regular activities
- Try to manage stress and don’t let it build. Stress can make panic attacks worse
- Establish a regular exercise routine. Physical activity helps manage stress, tension, and mood
- Eating regular, healthy meals to keep blood sugar and hormones balanced, which can help keep your central nervous system even-keeled.
- Eliminate alcohol, caffeine, and other drugs
- Try not to avoid places or situations that make you feel anxious. Avoidance and restrictions can make the condition worse.
Mood Clinic takes a modern approach to care. Rather than do things the traditional way, we’ve created a system designed around our patients’ needs, tailoring treatment to each individual.
By combining behavioral therapy, medication, and lifestyle therapy, we get to the underlying cause of our clients’ panic attacks and empower them for effective, life-long results.
Care is provided in a safe and compassionate environment for our clients to heal whether you see us in-person or online, offering flexibility, accessibility, and understanding.
Book a free 20-minute consultation to start healing now.
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