Conditions we treat
Panic Attacks
When your body sounds the alarm without warning.
Sudden waves of intense fear with physical symptoms, frightening in the moment, and very treatable with the right care.
An overview
Understanding panic attacks
A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes, often bringing a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, trembling, tingling, nausea, or a terrifying sense that something is deeply wrong. Many people first experience them in a shop, a car, at work, or even in their sleep, and end up in an emergency room convinced they are having a heart attack. Panic attacks are not dangerous, but they are exhausting, disorienting, and, without help, they can begin to shape a person's whole life around avoiding the next one. The good news is that panic disorder is one of the most treatable conditions in psychiatry. With the right combination of psychoeducation, structured therapy, breathing and body-based techniques, and medication where needed, most people see meaningful relief within weeks and go on to live without the constant background hum of dread.
Common signs
- •Sudden episodes of intense fear peaking within minutes
- •Racing heart, chest tightness or shortness of breath
- •Dizziness, trembling, sweating or tingling in hands and feet
- •A sense of unreality, detachment or losing control
- •Fear of dying, fainting or 'going mad' during an episode
- •Avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred
What contributes
- •Genetic and temperamental vulnerability to anxiety
- •Chronic stress, sleep loss or burnout
- •Caffeine, nicotine, cannabis and stimulant use
- •Thyroid problems and other medical contributors
- •Trauma, grief or major life transitions
- •Learned fear of the physical sensations themselves
How we treat
- •Clear psychoeducation about what a panic attack actually is
- •CBT-informed therapy targeting panic and avoidance
- •Breathing, grounding and interoceptive exposure techniques
- •SSRIs or SNRIs where episodes are frequent or disabling
- •Short, cautious use of fast-acting medication for severe attacks
- •Treatment of underlying anxiety, depression or sleep issues
When to seek help
- Repeated panic attacks over weeks or months
- Constant worry about when the next attack will come
- Avoiding driving, travel, crowds, lifts or being alone
- Multiple emergency-room visits with normal cardiac results
- Panic attacks disrupting work, study, sleep or relationships
- Symptoms starting after a stressful event, illness or life change
Who can benefit
- Adults and adolescents experiencing sudden episodes of fear
- People whose lives are shrinking around avoidance
- Patients with medically unexplained chest pain or breathlessness
- New mothers with postpartum panic
- Anyone wanting to come off benzodiazepines safely
Not sure if this fits you?
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