Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that impacts about 2.7% of adults in the U.S., impacting more women than men and often starting in late teens or early adulthood. Everyone’s experience of panic disorder is unique. However, it is generally characterized by intense and unexpected bouts of panic that disrupt a person’s life in many ways. At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we know that healing from mental health is an individualized journey and offer treatment that can help you regain health and happiness in your life. 

Panic Attacks vs. Panic Disorder

When you experience a panic attack, you feel a sudden wave of fear. A panic attack can feel like you are out of control, are going to die, have a smothering sensation, or are detached from yourself or reality. However, you will also experience physical symptoms, including: 

• Pounding and racing heart
• Nausea and stomach pain
• Chest pain
• Numbness or tingling in your hands
• Dizziness or weakness
• Chills
• Trembling
• Difficulty breathing

With panic disorder, panic attacks have no clear cause, like witnessing trauma or being in an accident. If you are struggling with panic disorder, you experience frequent and unexpected panic attacks. However, not everyone who experiences a panic attack will have a panic disorder. 

Panic attacks can happen due to a variety of reasons. However, if you are struggling with a panic disorder, they will occur more often. This can lead to feeling concerned about when you will next experience a panic attack and how it will disrupt your life. 

Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder

If you are struggling with a panic disorder, your symptoms will be unique to you. However, common signs and symptoms of panic disorder include:

• Frequent and unexpected panic attacks
• Fear of when you will next have a panic attack
• A sensation of impending doom
• Feeling out of control
• Avoiding locations where you have experienced a panic attack in the past

Diagnosing Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that is known for consistent and unexpected panic attacks. However, panic attacks can happen for a variety of reasons, and having a panic attack does not mean that you have a panic disorder. This can make diagnosing it more challenging. 

Therefore, the first step is often to rule out other reasons why you might be experiencing panic attacks. At Corner Canyon Health Centers, this includes working with a team that helps us to get a thorough understanding of your symptoms, history, other challenges, etc. In doing so, we get a clear picture of what you are experiencing and can help you understand if it is or is not a panic disorder. 

If you are concerned that you have a panic disorder, working with a qualified and trusted treatment center is imperative. This is because panic attacks are often related to a combination of factors. Healing your mental health after panic attacks can feel daunting, but once you are properly diagnosed, an individual treatment plan can help you to heal ad move forward with your life.

Effective Treatment

Getting a proper diagnosis of panic disorder and other mental health challenges you are facing is the first step to effective treatment. This is because it allows you to be treated for the symptoms you are experiencing, and panic attacks may impact or be impacted by other mental health difficulties that you are having. However, the most effective treatment for panic disorder generally includes a combination of medication and clinical interventions. 

There are multiple different types of medications used to treat panic disorder. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), both antidepressants, can help improve symptoms over time. However, beta-blockers, used to decrease physical symptoms, and anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines can also be used to immediately control symptoms. 

Clinical interventions used to treat panic disorder often include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), a type of psychotherapy. In CBT, you will learn to break down and clarify patterns in your thinking, behaviors, and reactions. This can help you learn new patterns that can either decrease the number of panic attacks or help to adjust when you are experiencing a panic attack. In addition to CBT, exposure therapy and relaxation methods like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) are also effective. 

Holistic and Individualized Care at Corner Canyon

At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we offer individualized and holistic care that can help you heal from panic disorder. We understand that panic attacks can greatly disrupt your life and provide treatment options that support you through the entire healing process. From the moment you step into our door, we help you better understand your symptoms and overall mental health and guide you to take steps towards healing that feel authentic and true to your goals and your life. 

The foundation of treatment for panic disorder at Corner Canyon Health Centers is learning about you and your symptoms. This helps us understand when and how severe your symptoms are. Additionally, we learn if you are struggling with other mental health challenges that may be contributing to or related to your panic attacks. For example, if you have a history of trauma, your treatment will take this into account. At Corner Canyon Health Centers, we understand that your journey of healing is unique. We want to get to know you and help you regain health and wellness in your life. 

Having a panic disorder can disrupt your life on multiple levels, but there are treatments available that can get you back to a healthier and more stable place. Corner Canyon Health Centers is here to help you heal. Our team of experts is available to work with you, find the root cause of your panic disorder, and treat it from there, not just mask the symptoms. We want to help you thrive. If you or someone you love is looking for effective and holistic care for a panic disorder don’t hesitant to reach out to see how we can help. Take the first step to proper treatment and call us today at (877) 717-6237.