Panic Disorders

If you feel overwhelmed by recurrent panic attacks, you can find the compassionate care you deserve at Bright Side Mental Health Services. In addition to comprehensive mental health screenings, Janenita Chukwu, APRN, PMHNP-BC, offers individual panic disorder treatment plans for adults and adolescents aged 12 and up in the office and through telehealth. Psychotherapy and medications are available to prevent additional panic attacks and improve your overall mental and emotional well-being. Call the office in Tacoma, Washington, to schedule an evaluation for panic disorder symptoms or book an appointment online today. 

What are panic disorders?

A panic attack is a sudden episode of fear or a loss of control when no danger is present. A panic disorder describes recurrent panic attacks that happen as often as several times a day.

Not everyone who experiences an isolated panic attack will develop a panic disorder. The root cause of the condition isn’t well understood, but it is more common in women than men and typically begins in early adulthood.

Bright Side Mental Health Services specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of panic disorders in adults and adolescents aged 12 and up. Diagnostic screenings are available in the office and online through a telehealth platform.

Janenita focuses a treatment plan on your individual needs and the severity of your symptoms. She uses psychotherapy and medications to reduce the frequency of panic attacks and improve your mental wellness.

When should I schedule a consultation for panic disorders?

Schedule a diagnostic evaluation for yourself or your child if you experience frequent panic attacks, anxiousness, or other symptoms that you can’t manage on your own.

A panic attack causes sudden episodes of intense fear or impending doom when no danger is present. Attacks can happen at any time, including when you’re asleep. The intense nature of a panic attack can trigger extreme worry about having another one.

Physical symptoms of a panic attack are sometimes confused with a heart attack or other medical emergency and include:

• Sweating
• Chest pain
• Trembling
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach pain and nausea
• Tingling in the extremities

Panic attacks can last for just a few minutes or for as long as an hour. The overwhelm of an attack can persist for several days and increase risk factors for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

How are panic disorders treated?

Bright Side Mental Health Services offers custom treatment plans for adults and adolescents with panic disorder that include:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a form of talk therapy that helps you recognize unhealthy thoughts and behaviors that panic disorder can trigger. Therapy gives you tools you can use to calm feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as they happen.

Medications

Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications help rebalance brain chemicals that regulate mood to prevent recurrent panic attacks.

Call Bright Side Mental Health Services to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for panic disorder symptoms or book a consultation online today.