Online Therapy for Panic Attacks
Do you often experience a sudden rush of anxiety, fear, or impending doom?
Do you experience intense feelings such as: tight chest, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or dizziness?
Panic attacks are extremely scary, confusing, and embarrassing:
- “Is this a heart attack?”
- “Am I losing control? What if I go crazy?”
- “Everyone is staring at me. They must think I’m losing it!”
- “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I handle this like everyone else?”
Panic sends such intense signals, it feels like a medical emergency and it’s common to find ourselves in the emergency room or debating whether or not to call an ambulance.
Even when panic isn't present, it looms over us. It starts to consume our lives with worry about when the next one will hit, making it impossible to enjoy the activities we love and challenging to excel at the tasks we value the most.
Panic and anxiety are real.
You are not making this up and it is not your fault.
It's Possible to Overcome Panic:
Panic is very common and luckily, there's a lot that science has uncovered about it. It can be treated.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for treating panic attacks and many clients see significant results within just a few sessions.
CBT may be able to assist you by:
- Uncovering why your brain sends you panic signals
- Teaching practical ways to teach your brain helpful lessons and stop sending you false alarms
- Uncovering and changing behaviors that keep you hooked in the vicious cycle of anxiety
- Discovering new ways to respond to worry thoughts to start building new, more helpful thought patterns
- Assisting in building the skills and confidence to re-engage in the activities you value and enjoy the most.
Common Concerns
Oftentimes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is enough to reduce panic attacks. In fact, for anxiety, including panic, it's strongly recommended to try non-medication interventions first. Occasionally, medication may assist in combination with therapy, but, in most cases therapy alone is enough. I cannot prescribe medication and respect the path clients choose to take.
Avoiding anxiety and panic is only natural. At the same time, the paradox of anxiety and panic attacks is this: When our brains send us false alarms (which is what panic essential is), seeking "safety" by trying to avoid or escape the anxiety, only serves to maintain the anxiety cycle long-term, while accepting, embracing, and even welcoming the “danger” can help break free from it.
This is a very tough thing to confront and is why therapy exists.
Though CBT's main goals is to reduce avoidant strategies long-term, every client goes at their own pace. You won't be forced or pushed to do anything you don't want to do. The first session or two are focused on getting to know one another and to collaboratively figure out the right pace for our work together.
Therapy is expensive. One way I try to help you decide is by offering a free 15 to 30 minute consultation. This way you can get a feeling for my style and ask specific questions related to your current situation.
If it doesn't feel like a good fit or if your particular situation is not something I can assist with, I'm more than happy to help you in finding other resources.
Though I do ask that only people who are seriously considering therapy to reach out for a consultation, there's no pressure or expectation to start therapy with me after we meet.
by Brian O'Sullivan, LMFT
Productive vs Unproductive Worry
Mental Reps
Perfectionism to Self-Compassion
Contact Brian
Online Therapy for Panic Attacks
Do you often experience a sudden rush of anxiety, fear, or impending doom?
Do you experience intense feelings such as: tight chest, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or dizziness?
Panic attacks are extremely scary, confusing, and embarrassing:
- “Is this a heart attack?”
- “Am I losing control? What if I go crazy?”
- “Everyone is staring at me. They must think I’m losing it!”
- “What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I handle this like everyone else?”
Panic sends such intense signals, it feels like a medical emergency and it’s common to find ourselves in the emergency room or debating whether or not to call an ambulance.
Even when panic isn't present, it looms over us. It starts to consume our lives with worry about when the next one will hit, making it impossible to enjoy the activities we love and challenging to excel at the tasks we value the most.
Panic and anxiety are real.
You are not making this up and it is not your fault.
It's Possible to Overcome Panic:
Panic is very common and luckily, there's a lot that science has uncovered about it. It can be treated.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the gold standard for treating panic attacks and many clients see significant results within just a few sessions.
CBT may be able to assist you by:
- Uncovering why your brain sends you panic signals
- Teaching practical ways to teach your brain helpful lessons and stop sending you false alarms
- Uncovering and changing behaviors that keep you hooked in the vicious cycle of anxiety
- Discovering new ways to respond to worry thoughts to start building new, more helpful thought patterns
- Assisting in building the skills and confidence to re-engage in the activities you value and enjoy the most.
Common Concerns
Oftentimes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is enough to reduce panic attacks. In fact, for anxiety, including panic, it's strongly recommended to try non-medication interventions first. Occasionally, medication may assist in combination with therapy, but, in most cases therapy alone is enough. I cannot prescribe medication and respect the path clients choose to take.
Avoiding anxiety and panic is only natural. At the same time, the paradox of anxiety and panic attacks is this: When our brains send us false alarms (which is what panic essential is), seeking "safety" by trying to avoid or escape the anxiety, only serves to maintain the anxiety cycle long-term, while accepting, embracing, and even welcoming the “danger” can help break free from it.
This is a very tough thing to confront and is why therapy exists.
Though CBT's main goals is to reduce avoidant strategies long-term, every client goes at their own pace. You won't be forced or pushed to do anything you don't want to do. The first session or two are focused on getting to know one another and to collaboratively figure out the right pace for our work together.
Therapy is expensive. One way I try to help you decide is by offering a free 15 to 30 minute consultation. This way you can get a feeling for my style and ask specific questions related to your current situation.
If it doesn't feel like a good fit or if your particular situation is not something I can assist with, I'm more than happy to help you in finding other resources.
Though I do ask that only people who are seriously considering therapy to reach out for a consultation, there's no pressure or expectation to start therapy with me after we meet.
Contact Brian
by Brian O'Sullivan, LMFT