stop fearing when the next one will hit
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stop fearing when the next one will hit ~
Therapy for Panic Attacks in Reston, Virginia
You’ve tried breathing exercises, meditation, maybe even other therapy. You’re still one crowded grocery store away from losing it.
Licensed to provide therapy virtually for adults in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Indiana & Michigan
Recovery from panic attacks happens when we let ourselves feel anxious
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Recovery from panic attacks happens when we let ourselves feel anxious 〰️
I’m Kate!
I work with adults who have panic attacks out of nowhere and are starting to cancel things, avoid places, and basically shrink their life down because they're so scared of when the next one hits.
Panic attacks aren’t the problem. Our response to them is.
Stop resisting discomfort. Embrace it instead.
My clients struggle as you do. Despite being high functioning, driven and self aware, life is hard. When they first come to see me they’ve been resisting every thought, feeling and sensation, thinking they can stop the panic attacks before it happens. Now, they’ve learned to lean into the anxiety and get comfortable with it.
Until now, they’ve been dreading the possibility of the another panic attack. This fear of panicking has turned into a phobia and now they’re avoiding travel, being alone, going too far from home, or being anywhere they could feel stuck.
They’ve tried all the tricks and skills: the breathing exercises, grounding techniques, meditations, and therapy. But they’ve been left wondering why they still aren’t getting better. They worry about being out of control and how it makes them feel. They’re scared that a panic or anxiety attack will make them go crazy or permanently damage them. They monitor their symptoms constantly, like checking their blood pressure or heart rate. Avoidance has become to new norm.
They want freedom, not just symptom management. They’re tired of being told to just breathe or splash cold water on their face and get over it. They’re tired of needing an escape plan everywhere they go just in case a panic attack happens.
Panic attacks have interrupted the life they want in so many ways. They aren’t the kind of partner or friend they want to be. They worry they’re letting others down because they feel like they have to cancel plans and back out of commitments last minute. Staying in their comfort zone or with their safe person has become a non-negotiable. And their confidence that they could ever go shopping, pick up the kids from school, or take that dream vacation without panicking is tanking.
Before they came to see me, their anxiety made them believe they’d be stuck feeling this way forever, in a state of avoidance and hyper-vigilance over every symptom. They would feel so much relief when the panic attack finally subsided, only to plan and prep in fear for the next one. They thought they were broken, their nervous system beyond repair. They worried they must be the only one who panics over basic tasks and “normal” life things. And they were pretty certain they would have to succumb to the anxiety forever, limiting so much they wanted to do. Their panic attacks and fear of discomfort was debilitating.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Recovery means we no longer fear our anxious feelings.
Recovery happens when we stop fighting so hard against feeling scary feelings. This doesn’t mean we have no anxiety or never have a panic attack again. It means we let ourselves feel whatever we’re feeling and continue on with our day!
Read more about what anxiety recovery looks like here or schedule a consultation with Kate to start seeing an anxiety specialist in Reston, VA.
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There isn’t a miracle method or quick fix to a panic attack and you probably know this if you’ve tried every trick in the book! What can help most is actually dropping the fight or resistance to the panic. Once you stop fighting it, the panic gets bored with you and moves on. Read more about how to stop a panic attack here.
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A panic attack is very sudden and can come out of nowhere. They can include sensations like dread or feeling that something bad will happen, rapid breathing, dizziness or stomaches, and shakiness. They can lead to avoiding places or situations that trigger them.
Anxiety attacks can happen more gradually and you can usually point to a cause- like a current stressor of major life event.
Like my clients, you deserve to live without panic & fear controlling your life.
Doing what you want without fearing you’ll lose control is not out of your reach. If you want to leave the house without dread, I’d love to help you get there. Reach out now. You don’t have to suffer like this anymore. I can help.
How to get started:
Click here to schedule your free consultation, or send me an email at rrcounseling.info@gmail.com
Schedule your intake
Start sessions with Kate, an anxiety specialist in Reston, VA and start living again!