Many people describe their first panic attack as the moment they stopped trusting their own body. What begins as a rush of physical sensations can quickly spiral into fear that something is seriously wrong. Your heart races, your chest tightens, your breathing feels off, and your mind starts searching for an explanation. Even after the panic passes, the fear of it happening again can linger, shaping how you move through the world.
Panic attacks are intensely uncomfortable, but they are not dangerous. And while panic can feel unpredictable and overwhelming, it is highly treatable. We work with adults in Massachusetts who experience panic attacks and want to understand what’s happening in their body and regain a sense of confidence and control.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by strong physical sensations. These sensations are driven by the body’s fight-or-flight response, not by actual danger.
Common symptoms include:
Panic attacks peak and then subside on their own, even though they feel endless in the moment. Panic disorder develops when fear of the sensations themselves becomes the central problem.
Panic is best understood as a fear-of-fear cycle:
Over time, the brain learns to treat normal bodily sensations as threats, keeping the cycle alive.
As panic becomes more feared, many people begin to:
The problem is not a lack of coping. It’s that the nervous system has learned the wrong lesson.
Themes vary, but the process is often the same: OCD targets something meaningful, generates doubt, then demands certainty.
may happen during periods of stress or change.
involves ongoing fear of panic itself and behavior changes aimed at preventing it.
Effective therapy for panic helps you change how you respond to bodily sensations, not how hard you try to avoid them.
Therapy helps you:
Recovery often means learning:
“I don’t need to escape this sensation for it to pass.”
In therapy, you may:
Progress often shows up as less fear of panic, even if sensations still occur occasionally.
No. Panic attacks are extremely uncomfortable but not physically dangerous.
Exposure is paced carefully and designed to build confidence, not overwhelm.
Many people experience fewer and less intense attacks, and some stop having them altogether. The main goal is reducing fear and avoidance.
If fear of panic is shaping your choices, limiting your activities, or making you feel unsafe in your own body, therapy can help. Many people wait far longer than necessary before seeking support. With the right approach, panic becomes something you can experience without fear rather than something that controls your life.
If fear of panic is shaping your choices, limiting your activities, or making you feel unsafe in your own body, therapy can help. Many people wait far longer than necessary before seeking support. With the right approach, panic becomes something you can experience without fear rather than something that controls your life.
