Anxiety & Panic Attacks
The Effect of Chronic Stress on the Body
You weren’t meant to live in survival mode forever. Our nervous systems were designed to handle short bursts of stress. But when the stressors don’t stop, your body never gets the signal to stand down. Instead, your system gets stuck in a prolonged “fight, flight, or freeze” state.
When stress becomes chronic, your mind and body can forget what “calm” even feels like. You may feel on edge, constantly bracing for something to go wrong, while your body remembers what your mind tries to forget with tension, headaches, poor sleep, digestive issues, or that ever-present sense of being “off.”
Sometimes, this internal pressure builds up until it erupts into panic. If you’ve ever felt your heart race, chest tighten, or breath grow shallow for no clear reason (or if fear hits you out of nowhere), you might be experiencing panic attacks. They’re terrifying, and often misunderstood. Many women worry they’re “going crazy” or that something is physically wrong, when in reality, it’s the nervous system going into overdrive.
In today’s world, anxiety doesn’t always look like fear. It might show up as overthinking, irritability, perfectionism, or chronic fatigue. You may be juggling work, relationships, family responsibilities, and a constant internal pressure to do more. Yet somehow, it still feels like you're falling short.
What is a Panic Attack?
Panic attacks are intense waves of fear or discomfort that come on suddenly, many times without an obvious trigger. You might feel like you’re losing control, having a heart attack, or even dying. And yet, medical tests come back “normal.” That’s because panic attacks originate in the nervous system, not the heart or lungs.
Common symptoms include:
Rapid heartbeat or chest tightness
Shortness of breath or a feeling like you can’t get enough air
Dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea
Sweating, trembling, or chills
A sense of detachment or feeling like the world isn’t real
The urgent need to escape, even if nothing around you seems dangerous
If you’ve ever experienced one, you know how terrifying it can be, especially when others don’t understand or downplay it.
But here’s what’s important to know: panic attacks are treatable. They’re your body’s alarm system going off too intensely or too often, not a sign that you’re broken or beyond help.
Anxiety and Panic Attack Treatment
In my practice, I take a holistic and trauma-informed approach to treating anxiety and stress. That means we’ll work on both sides of the equation: reducing unnecessary stress and expanding your capacity to handle life’s inevitable challenges without burning out. I’ll help you reconnect with a sense of safety and steadiness in your own body.
Together, we’ll work on:
Calming your nervous system through grounding, breathwork, and other mind-body techniques
Identifying hidden stressors, like people-pleasing, perfectionism, or unprocessed trauma
Shifting internal beliefs and self-talk that feed chronic anxiety
Building practical tools for boundaries, emotional regulation, and mental clarity
Reconnecting with parts of your life that feel nourishing, joyful, and grounding
Therapy isn’t about eliminating every stressor. It's about helping you feel more present, steady, and equipped, even when life gets hard.
You deserve more than just “getting by.” You deserve to feel like yourself again: steady, whole, and connected.
Therapy can help you break the cycle.
Together, we’ll work to reduce stress at the source, build emotional resilience, and reconnect with a calmer, more grounded version of yourself.
You don’t have to do it all alone. Reach out when you're ready.