Managing panic

Panic Attacks

Understanding panic attacks is crucial to reclaiming your life from fear and anxiety. When the amygdala misfires, it can trigger overwhelming sensations of dread, making even familiar situations feel perilous.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Now

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are scary. The function of the amygdala – the part of the brain in charge of the ‘flight, fight, freeze’ response – plays a big role in panic attacks. Essentially, the amygdala is tricking us to think there is danger or a threat – when that is not typically the case. When this happens, it is extremely terrifying. The sudden feeling of intense fear triggers physical symptoms that can feel life-threatening, including like you are having a heart attack. Testing at the ER shows nothing physically or medically wrong – which makes it more confusing. Common everyday experiences (washing dishes, getting dressed, etc) as well as typical workday (same work meeting every week) may create a panic attack. And the hardest part, once this occurs, the amygdala is now reinforced, and so the next time you go to this meeting, you are fearful of the panic attack happening. Here are some of the more common symptoms of panic attacks:

Rapid or pounding heartbeat or feel like you are having a heart attack

Shortness of breath

Chest pain or tightness

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Sweating or chills

Trembling or shaking

Nausea or stomach distress

Fear of losing control or impending doom

How I help clients control and overcome panic attacks

Panic attacks can feel frightening and confusing—especially when they seem to come out of nowhere. When the brain’s alarm system misfires, everyday situations can suddenly feel dangerous, and the fear of another panic attack can begin to shape your choices and routines. Over time, this cycle can make even familiar activities feel overwhelming.

Therapy can help interrupt this pattern. In our work together, I use evidence-based approaches to understand how panic is operating in your body and mind, reduce anticipatory fear, and retrain your nervous system. This includes mindfulness-based strategies to help you notice physical sensations and anxious thoughts without escalating them, as well as solution-focused therapy to identify what is already working and build practical, actionable steps toward relief. If panic attacks are limiting how you live, reach out to begin moving toward feeling more grounded, confident, and in control.

Schedule Your Free Consultation Now

How I Work With Clients

I employ a variety of evidence-based methods and techniques tailored to your unique needs. Each approach, whether mindfulness-based stress reduction or cognitive behavioral therapy, is designed to help you develop greater self-awareness and cope with life's challenges.
Learn More About My Methods

What My Clients Say

“The logical discussions, the insight into why I do things the way I do them, and the homework all helped me focus on what was going on in my life at the time.”
“My therapist provided tremendous guidance to us as we navigated some very difficult events and situations that were thrown at us during our first years of marriage. No matter how we came into it, we always left feeling as if both of us were adequately heard, yet came away with a better understanding of each other’s feelings.”

-MK & EK

“I had never been to therapy before and did not know what to expect. Although it was much more difficult then I anticipated, it was very helpful. My therapist did a great job of making me feel comfortable, trusted, and heard.”
I like how collaborative the process has been, and that Justin took the time to pair me with the right counselor with a compatible therapy technique that would help me achieve my goals. Deborah has been great, and I already feel like I’m making meaningful progress and adjustments after just a few sessions.

Therapy Blog

Effective Communication With Your Partner

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
LEARN MORE

Effective Communication With Your Partner

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
LEARN MORE

Effective Communication With Your Partner

Your content goes here. Edit or remove this text inline or in the module Content settings. You can also style every aspect of this content in the module Design settings and even apply custom CSS to this text in the module Advanced settings.
LEARN MORE

I am therapist with over 20 years experience in private practice and have worked with thousands of individuals, couples and families.

GET IN TOUCH

(312) 346-5156

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION NOW