What is panic disorder?
A panic attack is a sudden wave of intense fear or discomfort that may include a racing heart, shortness of breath, shaking, dizziness, chest discomfort, nausea, or fear of losing control. Panic disorder involves recurrent unexpected panic attacks plus ongoing worry or behavior changes related to future attacks.
Because panic symptoms can resemble medical emergencies, new, severe, or unexplained physical symptoms should be medically evaluated. Mental health treatment can address the fear, avoidance, and disruption that may continue after medical causes are considered.
Common signs and symptoms
- Sudden intense fear or a sense of impending danger
- Racing heart, sweating, shaking, or shortness of breath
- Dizziness, nausea, chest discomfort, or feeling unreal
- Fear of dying, fainting, or losing control
- Persistent fear of another attack
- Avoiding driving, crowds, exercise, stores, or being alone
How symptoms can affect daily life
Fear of another panic attack can lead to avoidance, missed work, disrupted relationships, reduced independence, or frequent emergency care. People may begin organizing their lives around escape routes and perceived safety.
Panic can occur by itself or alongside generalized anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use, or medical conditions.
How treatment can help
Treatment often includes psychotherapy, medication, or both. CBT can help people understand panic sensations, challenge catastrophic interpretations, reduce avoidance, and gradually rebuild confidence.
Treatment may also incorporate breathing awareness, grounding, distress-tolerance skills, education about the panic cycle, and carefully planned exposure strategies led by a qualified clinician.
Treatment at Montco Recovery Center
MRC provides individualized mental health assessment and treatment planning. Services may include individual and group therapy, medication management, skills practice, and support for co-occurring concerns.
The goal is not to dismiss physical sensations, but to help clients respond to them more effectively and regain functioning.
Montco Recovery Center is located at 262 Bethlehem Pike, Suite 102, Colmar, PA 18915 and serves adults from Montgomery County, Bucks County, and surrounding communities.
Levels of care and services
Mental Health Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) provides structured daytime support for adults whose symptoms significantly affect daily functioning but who do not require 24-hour inpatient care.
Outpatient mental health services may be appropriate for adults seeking individual, group, family, medication-management, and wellness support with greater schedule flexibility. Placement is based on assessment, safety, functioning, and clinical need.
Take the next step
If symptoms are affecting your daily life, you do not have to sort through them alone. Call Montco Recovery Center at (215) 398-1888 to ask about current services or schedule a confidential assessment.
If there is an immediate safety concern or life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. In the United States, call or text 988 for crisis support.
Frequently asked questions
Is a panic attack the same as panic disorder?
No. A person can experience a panic attack without having panic disorder. Diagnosis depends on the overall pattern, ongoing worry, behavior change, and clinical assessment.
Should chest pain be assumed to be anxiety?
No. New, severe, or concerning physical symptoms require medical evaluation, especially when a medical emergency is possible.
Can panic disorder cause avoidance?
Yes. People may avoid places or sensations associated with previous attacks, which can reinforce the panic cycle.
What therapy can help panic disorder?
CBT and exposure-based strategies are commonly used. Medication may also be considered by an appropriate prescriber.
Can MRC help with panic and substance use together?
MRC can assess co-occurring concerns and recommend an appropriate treatment plan based on the person’s needs.
