Panic Attacks

Panic attacks affect almost 2.5 million adults (U.S.) with women being twice as likely as men to have panic attacks.  Panic attacks can start at any point in your life with the first episode usually begriming during late adolescence or early adulthood. Suffering from panic attacks is extremely painful, but help is available.

If you suffer from panic attacks, you have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Typically, you are not able to predict when an attack will occur and typically you experience anxiety between episodes, worrying when and where the next attack will happen.

In a panic attack you may feel your heart pounding, may feel sweaty, weak, dizzy, flushed or chilled, nauseous, feel like you can not breathe, or are going "out of your mind".  You may feel and believe you are having a heart attack or you are going to die.

A person who has panic attacks may avoid the places or situations where panic attacks have occurred and, as a result, develop phobias.  Life can become so restricted that you avoid normal everyday activities and can become homebound. It is estimated that 33% of people with a panic disorder develop agoraphobia (a type of social phobia) . Panic attacks are also often accompanied by other conditions such as depression and drug and alcohol abuse. 

The exact cause of panic disorders is unknown but several therapeutic approaches have been found to be effective in reducing or eliminating panic attacks.

A panic disorder is one of the most treatable of the anxiety disorders, responding in most cases to psychotherapy and medication.  Among the various therapeutic approaches, treatment that includes cognitive therapy in addition to behavioral techniques appears to be most effective, especially in reducing the panic attacks themselves.  Combining psychotherapy with medication is often very effective and can be coordinated with your family physician or with a psychiatrist.

For more information about panic attacks and panic disorders, please click on the linked websites listed below.

"If you really want help dealing with your feelings and emotions, changing your behavior, and improving your life, I will be happy to help you.  I am available almost any time and any place.  You can call me directly and there is no cost or obligation for the initial telephone consultation.  Or you can reach me by email.  I look forward to the possibility of helping you to improve your life."   Dr. Vince Berger