Panic Disorder Treatment in Sandy Springs, GA

A panic attack can feel like a medical emergency: your heart pounds, your chest tightens, you cannot catch your breath and you may be convinced something terrible is about to happen. When those attacks keep coming, and fear of the next one starts to shape where you go and what you do, it may be panic disorder. The good news is that panic disorder is one of the more responsive anxiety conditions when it is treated with the right approach.

Atlanta Outpatient Rehab by The Recovery Village provides outpatient treatment for panic disorder and other anxiety conditions from our office at 325 Hammond Drive, Suite 103, in Sandy Springs, including for adults who have started relying on alcohol or medication to cope. To talk with someone confidentially, call (855) 917-2011.

Understanding Panic Disorder

The National Institute of Mental Health describes panic disorder as frequent, unexpected panic attacks combined with ongoing worry about having more of them. During an attack, people commonly experience:

• A racing or pounding heart
• Sweating, trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath or a feeling of choking
• Chest discomfort, nausea or dizziness
• A sense of unreality, or fear of losing control or dying

Attacks usually peak within minutes. Over time, many people begin avoiding places where they have had attacks, such as a crowded MARTA train, a highway interchange on I-285 or a busy store, and their world can gradually shrink. Because panic symptoms can resemble heart or breathing problems, it is important to get new or unexplained chest pain checked by a doctor. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.

The Connection Between Panic Disorder and Addiction

Alcohol and sedatives such as benzodiazepines can quiet panic in the short term, which is why some people come to depend on them. Over time, tolerance builds, rebound anxiety between doses can make attacks more frequent, and stopping suddenly can be medically risky. Stimulants, including high doses of caffeine, can also trigger attacks. Research summarized by the NIMH shows that anxiety and substance use disorders frequently occur together, which is why we assess and treat both within one plan.

If you are currently taking a prescribed benzodiazepine, do not stop it abruptly on your own. Talk with your prescriber and let our team know, so any changes can be made safely.

Evidence-Based Treatment for Panic Disorder

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a well-established treatment for panic disorder. It helps people understand the cycle in which normal body sensations are interpreted as danger, which fuels more fear. With a therapist, clients learn to ride out those sensations and gradually return to situations they have been avoiding. Medication prescribed by a physician can also play a role for some people. In our program, treatment may include:

• Individual CBT-based therapy focused on the panic cycle and avoidance
• Skills groups drawing on DBT and ACT for breathing, grounding and tolerating discomfort
• Psychoeducation about how anxiety works in the body
• Relapse-prevention support if alcohol or sedative use is involved
• Family involvement, when appropriate

Panic Disorder Treatment in Sandy Springs

Our intensive outpatient program provides at least nine hours of care per week with morning and evening tracks, and most clients finish in about 12 weeks. It is designed for people who need more than a weekly therapy appointment but want to keep working in Perimeter Center, Buckhead or downtown, or stay close to family in Dunwoody, Roswell or Alpharetta. We are on Hammond Drive near GA-400 and I-285; transportation is not provided, so plan a route that feels manageable. If driving is difficult during this time, a friend or family member may be able to help at first.

If panic, depression or substance use makes it unsafe to stay at home, a higher level of care may be the right first step. If you need residential mental health care or medical detox first, our sister facility The Recovery Village Atlanta in Roswell provides those services, and you can step down to our Sandy Springs outpatient program afterward.

Before you start, our admissions team can review your insurance coverage and explain possible costs.

Begin Your Recovery Journey Today

Panic disorder can make it hard to leave the house, let alone make a phone call, so take this one step at a time. Call (855) 917-2011 and a member of our team will listen and help you decide what kind of care fits your needs. You can also preview our admissions process first. If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide, call or text 988 at any time.