Panic Disorder is an anxiety condition marked by unexpected panic attacks—sudden surges of intense fear or physical discomfort that peak within minutes. These episodes can feel overwhelming, unpredictable, and often lead people to avoid situations where another attack might occur.

Common symptoms include:

• Rapid heartbeat or chest tightness
• Shortness of breath or choking sensations
• Dizziness, shaking, or sweating
• Numbness or tingling
• Intense fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying
• Feeling unreal or detached (derealization/depersonalization)
   

How it impacts daily life:

• Avoidance of places where escape feels difficult
• Fear of triggering another attack
• Constant worry about future panic episodes
• Reduced confidence in public or social situations

What keeps Panic Disorder going is surprisingly simple:

1. A scary bodily sensation shows up
2. Your brain misinterprets it as danger
3. You try to escape or prevent it
4. Your brain learns the sensation was dangerous
5. The cycle repeats—even stronger next time
    

People often stop driving certain routes, avoid the freeway, avoid exercise, avoid caffeine, avoid heat, avoid stress, or avoid being alone—all in hopes of stopping panic.
But avoidance teaches the brain that panic must be avoided at all costs.

This is where therapy works.

Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) therapy for Panic Disorder focuses on interoceptive exposure—purposefully recreating the internal sensations that typically trigger your panic attacks, in a safe, controlled, therapeutic setting.

Examples include:

• Spinning to create dizziness
• Running in place to increase heart rate
• Using a straw to simulate shortness of breath
• Holding your breath briefly
• Sitting with chest tightness or heat
   

These exercises retrain your brain to stop sounding the alarm.

You learn:

• Your sensations are uncomfortable, not dangerous
• You don’t need to escape your body
• You can handle symptoms without spiraling
• Your brain recalibrates
   

Over time, the sensations lose their power.

Whatif provides ERP therapy via telehealth across California, including:
Los Angeles • San Francisco • San Diego • Orange County • Sacramento • Long Beach • Riverside • Oakland • San Jose • Fresno • Bakersfield • and statewide.