The Overwhelming Wave: Finding Freedom from Panic Attacks
Out of nowhere, a wave of terror hits. Your heart races, your body shakes, and a feeling of overwhelming dread washes over you. You’re sure something is wrong and that you’re losing control. You just need to get out of here. This is the terrifying and disorienting reality of a panic attack.
Although a panic attack feels like a medical emergency, it’s actually your body’s “fight or flight” response—your survival instinct—misfiring when there’s no real danger present. While the sensations are terrifying, they are not actually harmful. A panic attack won’t cause you to pass out, stop breathing, or have a heart attack.
The suddenness and intensity of these attacks make you feel like your body is unwell. You go to the doctor, and they assure you that it’s “just” anxiety, but it feels so bad that you are terrified of it happening again. So you start to avoid places, situations, and even people, all in an effort to avoid the next attack.
The Anatomy of a Panic Attack Often Manifests As:
- Heart Racing: A sudden and terrifying sensation that your heart is beating out of your chest.
- Overwhelming Fear: A profound sense of dread, as if something is terribly wrong and you are not okay.
- Loss of Control: A feeling that you are “losing it” or that you are no longer in command of your mind and body.
- A Feeling of Unreality: A terrifying sense that you are watching your life from outside your body, or that the world around you is not real.
- A Need to Escape: An immediate and powerful urge to flee the situation, the room, or wherever you are.
For as bad as they feel, though, panic attacks are very responsive to therapy. You don’t have to be controlled by the fear of it happening again.
Imagine a Life of Regained Freedom
Imagine getting back the confidence to go about your life the way you want to. Through therapy, you can learn what to do for yourself if that “oh no” feeling pops up. You can:
- Move through the world with confidence, not fear of what might happen.
- Regain control over your body’s sensations and emotional responses.
- Feel in command of your mind, no longer held hostage by overwhelming thoughts.
- Return to the activities and places you’ve been avoiding.
Interested in working together? Get in touch here.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Cheryl Zandt
Telehealth in Virginia and Washington DC
Cheryl Zandt is a compassionate and highly experienced Licensed Professional Counselor providing online therapy to individuals and couples across Virginia and Washington DC. With a warm, down-to-earth approach, Cheryl helps clients navigate anxiety, burnout, relationship challenges, and life transitions. She creates a supportive space where clients can feel heard, understood, and empowered to make meaningful changes.
