PANIC DISORDER CARE

Panic attacks don't have to control your life

Panic disorder is highly treatable. With the right care, most people see significant improvement within weeks—not months. You can feel safe in your own body again.

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75% achieve remission in 12 weeks
Measurement-based care
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Condition overview

Understanding Panic Disorder

Panic disorder involves repeated panic attacks and fear of the next one. A racing heart, chest tightness, and difficulty breathing can lead you to avoid places or situations. Care, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can help you manage symptoms and regain confidence.

2.7%

Experience panic disorder each year

80%+

See significant improvement with therapy

1 in 3

Without proper care—but this is preventable

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

CBT is the gold standard for panic disorder—over 80% of people see major improvement. You'll learn to interrupt panic cycles and respond differently to fear.

Exposure-Based Techniques

Gradual, supported exposure to feared sensations and situations. This sounds scary, but it's how your brain learns you're safe.

Medication When Helpful

SSRIs can reduce panic attack frequency and intensity. For some, short-term medication provides stability while therapy skills build.

Addressing Related Conditions

About 40% of people with panic disorder also have depression. Treating both together produces better outcomes.

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OUR APPROACH

How We Help With Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is one of the most treatable anxiety conditions. Our approach addresses both the attacks and the fear of them:

Recurrent panic attacks
Fear of future attacks
Avoidance behavior
Physical symptoms between attacks

Feeling 'on edge' constantly
Life getting smaller

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Here’s how it works

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Quick assessment
Answer a few questions about yourself so we can better understand your needs.
Choose your provider
Find a time for your first appointment with your expert provider.
Start getting better
Begin your personalized treatment & track progress, with support by your side.

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You're not imagining it

“I haven’t felt this great in years. The providers at Brightside ensured that I was on the correct medications to treat my anxiety and depression.”
“Brightside is gold. My provider is caring, engaging and truly wants help. He has helped me get back to normal sleep, which I’m super grateful for.”
“No one has ever made me feel as safe and comfortable as Brightside. Amazing program that makes psychiatry and therapy incredibly easy.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What's on your mind?

If your question isn't answered below, view our full list of FAQs here.

A panic attack is a single episode of intense fear with physical symptoms like racing heart, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Many people have one or two in their lifetime without developing a disorder. Panic disorder is diagnosed when attacks become recurrent AND you develop ongoing fear about having more attacks, or change your behavior to avoid them. It's this fear of the fear that defines the disorder.

No. Despite how terrifying they feel, panic attacks are not physically dangerous. They cannot cause heart attacks, strokes, or death. The symptoms—racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness—are your body's fight-or-flight response misfiring, not signs of medical danger. This is hard to believe during an attack, but learning it deeply is part of how treatment works.

They often seem random, but there's usually a trigger—just not always an obvious one. Sometimes it's physical (caffeine, poor sleep, hormonal changes). Sometimes it's subtle environmental cues your brain associates with past panic. Sometimes it's internal sensations (a flutter, a thought) that trigger the cascade. Part of therapy is identifying your specific triggers.

No. With proper care, most people with panic disorder recover fully or see dramatic improvement. CBT works for over 80% of people, and the skills you learn are lasting. Some people need occasional maintenance after initial recovery, but many go years or decades without significant panic symptoms.

Agoraphobia is fear of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic strikes—crowded places, public transit, being alone. About 1 in 3 people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia when they start avoiding trigger situations. The good news: treating panic disorder early can prevent agoraphobia, and treatment works for both conditions.

SSRIs (the first-line medication for panic disorder) are not addictive. Benzodiazepines, sometimes used short-term for severe panic, can cause physical dependence if used regularly for extended periods. Our psychiatrists use them carefully and sparingly when appropriate, with clear plans for duration. Most people manage panic well with SSRIs alone.

Most people see significant improvement within 12-16 sessions of CBT, typically over 3-4 months. Medication, if used, often shows effects within 2-4 weeks. The total duration depends on severity, agoraphobia presence, and other factors. Some people continue with less frequent sessions for maintenance.

Yes. Research shows CBT delivered via telehealth is as effective as in-person for panic disorder. For some people, starting therapy from home is actually easier—you're already in a safe space. Video sessions allow your provider to guide you through exposures and track progress just as effectively.

That can actually be helpful. Having a panic attack with your therapist present gives you a chance to practice coping techniques with support. Your provider can guide you through it, help you notice that it passes, and use it as a learning experience. Many therapists intentionally work toward triggering panic sensations in sessions as part of exposure therapy.

Both at once. About 40% of people with panic disorder also have depression, and treating them together produces better outcomes than sequential treatment. Many medications (SSRIs) help both conditions. Therapy can address panic patterns and depressive thinking simultaneously. Our providers are experienced with this common combination.

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