A panic attack can happen anywhere, at any time. You may feel terrified and overwhelmed, even though you’re not in any danger.
If this kind of random event has happened to you at least twice, and you constantly worry and change your routine to keep from having one, you might have panic disorder - a type of anxiety disorder.
One in 10 adults in the U.S. have panic attacks each year. About a third of people have one in their lifetime. But most of them don’t have panic disorder. Only about 3% of adults have it, and it’s more common in women than in men.
An attack usually passes in 5-10 minutes, but it can linger for hours. It can feel like you’re having a heart attack or a stroke. So people with panic attacks often wind up in the emergency room for evaluation.
If left untreated, panic disorder can sometimes lead to agoraphobia, an intense fear of being outside or in enclosed spaces.
At Synergy Counseling Center, we will provide a type of effective talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy. With it, you can learn how change unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that bring on panic attacks. We will also help you with lifestyle changes - such as cutting back on caffeine, exercising, and deep breathing exercises, which may also help.
We will also work closely with your primary care physician in the event that antidepressants or anti-anxiety meds are needed. You can take antidepressants for years if necessary. Anti-anxiety medication can help in the short term.
Schedule an appointment and start feeling better right away.