Panic attacks or panic disorder can be a very painful and stressful experience. A panic attack typically lasts for several minutes and is extremely upsetting and frightening. You might feel a serious loss of breath, your heart might be pounding wildly, together with a need to throw up, and feelings of fear might be overwhelming.
If left untreated, panic attacks can recur and develop into a panic disorder. Yet panic attacks and panic disorder can be treated successfully in most cases: counseling for panic attacks and panic disorder therapy have proven to be very effective.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), symptoms of panic attacks include:
- Racing or pounding heart
- Chest pains or heaviness in the chest, unable to catch one’s breath
- Dizziness and light-headedness
- Tingling in the hands, feet, legs or arms
- Sweaty palms, trembling
- Fear of losing control/going crazy/dying
The symptoms vary from person to person, as do the triggers and underlying causes. Therefore, it is important to consult a therapist/counselor to ascertain the precise condition.
To make the diagnosis of panic disorder, panic attacks must be associated with longer than 4 weeks of persistent worry about having another attack or significant maladaptive behavioral changes related to the panic attack, such as avoiding certain situations or environments believed to have caused previous panic attacks.
Panic attacks or panic disorder can lead to significant obstacles in one’s lifestyle. Individuals experiencing panic attacks or having panic disorder may face problems with self-confidence, as well as depression and work-related troubles, and possibly even a higher risk of developing other disorders.
Our qualified counselors and therapist in Athens can help you understand the real causes of panic attacks or panic disorder and create a treatment tailored to your needs or direct you to support groups. Also, counseling for panic attacks and therapy for panic disorder might include working on changing negative thinking patterns that could be sustaining repeated panic attacks.
If you have experienced, or continue to experience any of the symptoms listed above, we encourage you to give us a call and let our Athens office provide you with more information or help you schedule a session with our qualified counselors and therapists.
