Treating Panic in Virginia and Washington DC

Panic attacks are episodes of intense fear and can often result from a chronic overload of anxiety. Panic attacks are terrifying for the individual and involve a series of physiological symptoms (including rapid heart beat, sweating, chest pain, shaking, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling dizzy, increased pulse), as well as thoughts of dying or of not being safe in one’s surroundings. Panic is often associated with an overwhelming urge to flee a situation. I help individuals to understand the underlying beliefs involved in the panic and to develop alternate ways to cope and manage panic symptoms.

Panic Disorder (Without Agoraphobia) from DSMIV.

Both (1) and (2):

(1) recurrent unexpected Panic Attacks
(2) at least one of the attacks has been followed by 1 month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:

(a) persistent concern about having additional attacks
(b) worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (e.g., losing control, having a heart attack, “going crazy”)
(c) a significant change in behavior related to the attacks

B. Absence of Agoraphobia–fear of leaving.

C. The Panic Attacks are not due to the direct physiological effects of asubstance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism).

D. The Panic Attacks are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Social Phobia (e.g., occurring on exposure to feared social situations),Specific Phobia (e.g., on exposure to a specific phobic situation), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., on exposure to dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., in response to stimuli associated with a severe stressor), or Separation Anxiety Disorder(e.g., in response to being away from home or close relatives).