The fear of the next panic attack can become as debilitating as the attack itself. You don't have to keep planning your life around avoiding them.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes and produces overwhelming physical symptoms - racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or a sense that something terrible is happening. Many people end up in the ER, certain they're having a heart attack.
Panic Disorder develops when recurring panic attacks lead to persistent worry about having more - and when that fear starts changing how you live. You might start avoiding driving, crowded spaces, being alone, or any situation where escape feels difficult. Over time, avoidance shrinks your world.
Panic often co-occurs with generalized anxiety, agoraphobia, and depression. Understanding the full picture allows for more effective, targeted treatment.
Panic disorder responds well to both medication and therapeutic approaches - and I offer both. In our first appointment, I'll work to understand not just the panic attacks themselves, but the patterns, triggers, and avoidance behaviors that have developed around them. That context shapes the treatment plan.
Medication can reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks, making the work of recovery more manageable. Psychoeducation about what actually happens during a panic attack can also be genuinely calming - understanding that panic, while awful, is not dangerous. All sessions are via telehealth across Virginia, available in English and Tiếng Việt.
If you are in crisis right now, please do not wait for an appointment.
Call or text 988 — the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Free, confidential, available 24/7.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Alice Tran Psychiatric Care does not operate 24/7 and does not provide crisis services. Emails, voicemails, text or portal messages are typically responded to within 24 to 72 business hours.
You don't have to do it alone.