--- title: "Panic Attack Therapy in Tampa, FL | Psi Wellness" url: https://psiwellnessinc.com/panic-attacks description: "Therapy for panic attacks in Tampa and by telehealth across Florida. Understand the panic cycle and practice steadier responses with Jason Versace, LMHC." lang: en --- Panic Attacks # When your body sounds the alarm out of nowhere A panic attack can arrive like a fire alarm with no fire: a pounding heart, a tight chest, shaking, and a certainty that something is badly wrong. Afterwards, the fear of the next one can quietly start running your days. Therapy here focuses on understanding that cycle and practicing steadier ways through it. Tampa office + Telehealth across Florida Book a Session: https://jason.mytheranest.com/appointments/new ## At a glance - Who it helps Adults and teens dealing with panic attacks - Format In person in Tampa and secure telehealth across Florida - Location Tampa, 400 N Ashley Dr, Ste 1900 - Approach Solution focused, with CBT, ACT and DBT skills ## What panic can feel like A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear that usually peaks within minutes. It can bring a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, tingling, nausea, or a strange sense of being detached from yourself. It is common to feel sure you are having a heart attack, about to faint, or losing control. Because the symptoms are so physical, new or changing symptoms deserve a check with a physician, and if something feels like a medical emergency, call 911. Once the medical side has been looked at, therapy can focus on the panic itself and on what it has started to take from your life. - **Body alarms:** A racing heart, tight chest or dizziness that seems to come from nowhere. - **Catastrophic thoughts:** The sense that you are about to faint, lose control, or something worse. - **Fear of the next one:** Scanning your body for early signs and bracing for another wave. - **Avoidance:** Skipping places, drives or events where panic has happened before. ## The panic cycle Panic tends to run on a loop. A body sensation, such as a skipped beat or a wave of heat, gets read as a sign of danger. That alarm releases more adrenaline, which creates more sensations, which seem to confirm the danger. The whole thing can feel like it comes from nowhere, even though it follows a pattern. Then comes the aftermath: avoiding the places where it happened, carrying an escape plan, sitting near the door, or never going anywhere without a particular person. Each of those makes sense in the moment, and each one can make the world a little smaller than it was before. Panic feels like an emergency. The work is learning to ride the wave without obeying it. ## How we work with panic Understanding the cycle comes first, and it can be a relief in its own right. From there, CBT (https://psiwellnessinc.com/cbt) looks at the interpretations that turn a sensation into an alarm and helps you test them gently. We also plan gradual steps back toward the places and activities panic has taken from you, at a pace you agree to. Nothing is forced. ACT (https://psiwellnessinc.com/act) adds a different angle: making room for uncomfortable sensations instead of fighting them, since the fight tends to feed the fear. For the peak of a wave, DBT skills (https://psiwellnessinc.com/dbt) for distress tolerance give you something concrete to do with your body and your attention while it passes. A free 15-minute consultation is the simplest place to start. No commitment, just a short conversation about what you are looking for. Book a Session (https://jason.mytheranest.com/appointments/new) ## Panic and anxiety more broadly Panic attacks can happen on their own, or alongside worry that runs through the rest of the day. If the background hum of anxiety is loud too, anxiety therapy (https://psiwellnessinc.com/anxiety-therapy) describes that wider work. If panic tends to strike in social situations, see social anxiety (https://psiwellnessinc.com/social-anxiety). Short questionnaires such as the GAD-7 can be used, if you want them, to track how things move over time, and the assessments page (https://psiwellnessinc.com/assessments) explains how. This is outpatient counseling rather than emergency care, and diagnosis and medication sit with medical providers. If you are in immediate danger, call 911, or call or text 988. The crisis resources (https://psiwellnessinc.com/crisis-resources) page lists more urgent help lines. ## Common questions ### Should I see a physician about panic symptoms? If symptoms are new, changing or different from what you have had before, a check with a physician is a sensible first step, and if something feels like a medical emergency, call 911. Therapy can work alongside medical care. ### Will I have to face my fears right away? No. Any steps back toward avoided situations are planned together and taken at a pace you agree to. We build steadier skills first. ### Can panic be worked on by telehealth? Yes, anywhere in Florida. Starting from home can feel easier, especially if leaving the house has become hard. In person sessions are also available at the Tampa office. How the work goes ## A steadier path from first contact. 1. 01 ### Consultation We begin with a free 15 minute consultation to talk through what brings you in and whether we are a good fit. 2. 02 ### A plan that fits you We map your panic cycle together and choose the first skills to practice. 3. 03 ### Steady progress From there we meet at a steady pace, notice what is helping, and adjust the plan as life changes. ## Related - Anxiety Therapy Support for worry that runs through the day. https://psiwellnessinc.com/anxiety-therapy - CBT Testing the thoughts that turn sensations into alarms. https://psiwellnessinc.com/cbt - DBT Skills Tools for riding out the peak of a wave. https://psiwellnessinc.com/dbt ## Begin when you're ready. Reach out and we will find a time that works. Sessions are available at the Tampa office or by telehealth. Voice Assistant Powered by IMGNI: https://imgnilabs.com/ Hold the button for 2 seconds to start talking, or tap once. 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