Licensed in Massachusetts & New Hampshire
Rachel C. Sykes, LMHC, LLC
Rachel@rachelcsykes.com

What’s it like?

When I think of a panic attack, I think of it as an overwhelming mental and physical experience where a person feels as if they are losing control.  It is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as a change in breathing, tightness or even pain in the chest, muscle tension, restlessness, sweating, accelerated heart rate, trembling, a sensation of being smothered, and light—headedness.  Ugh! That list is not exhaustive, btw. Internally, the experience can actually feel worse - racing thoughts, a fear of dying or of “going crazy”, a feeling of disconnectedness and/or unreal-ness.  Pretty frightening!

What causes panic?

As a therapist, when I hear of someone experiencing panic, I interpret it as a cry for help.  There is likely something going on that is causing great conflict, worry, or guilt (or something equally unpleasant).  It could also be related to something traumatic; trauma can be so complicated!  It also seems likely that some folks are predisposed to being anxious and panicky and perhaps it is biological and/or environmental.  However, it can be beneficial to gain insight into factors that may cause or worsen panic and anxiety and find ways to think about them differently, hopefully in ways that result in less suffering. 

As a fan of counseling theory, I like to pull from a range of theoretical and evidence-based approaches that align with a client’s symptoms, beliefs, and life experiences to reduce these symptoms. Sometimes, we have to try a few different treatment options before we find something that is well-aligned with the client’s needs.  I share this because I have met some folks who tried therapy in the past and either had a bad or possibly just unhelpful experience.  That certainly happens but I am pointing out that there are many approaches and sometimes there is some trial and error before the best fit treatments are identified.

Once the panic attacks lessen in intensity, frequency, and duration, it can be extremely useful to engage in a deeper way to get to the root of the issue with the goal of treating the underlying cause. This can feel nebulous and uncomfortable but therapy is not meant to be easy. Sorry. Gaining meaningful insights into your beliefs, perceptions, behaviors, and experiences can radically alter your mental wellbeing. Sounds pretty good.

What about medication?

Before I started working in the mental health field, I had a bias against medication for things like anxiety. Remind you of anyone?  In my world, I had heard a lot of complaints from friends and family about the negative side effects of various medications, so I was hesitant. Side effects do definitely exist.  However, remaining untreated and experiencing no improvement is pretty bad, too.  I have come to realize that there are some folks who respond really well to medication. I can picture the faces of a few lovely folks I have had the pleasure to work with who were noticeably more able to engage in therapy after they were prescribed a mental health medication.  I have seen it help.  If you ask me my opinion about whether medication is right for you, I will remind you that I am not a doctor or prescriber of any kind but I can refer you to a trained professional. Stay in your own lane, right?

Hey, don’t judge!

If you are lucky enough to have avoided panic attacks, it can be hard to relate.  It’s not uncommon for even well-intentioned people to minimize a panic attack, and act as if the sufferer is “making it up”.  Unfortunately, panic is very real and quite debilitating.  Hey, panic sufferers can be so distraught, overwhelmed and in pain such that they think they are having a heart attack.  BTW, If you have an experience that seems like a heart attack, please treat it as such.  Just in case.  I imagine that most emergency room professionals will be relieved to tell you if it is panic-related rather than a heart problem.  Even if ER staff are not as understanding as they should be, do it anyway. Addressing potentially serious health considerations is nothing to feel embarrassed about. 

Read more about panic attacks on my blog:

https://www.rachelcsykes.com/rachel-sykes-weekly-blog/is-this-a-panic-attack?format=amp

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* I am a licensed therapist in Massachusetts and New Hampshire