Grant Leitheiser

A panic attack is a sudden surge of physiological arousal that can either be “out of the blue” or in response to a phobic situation.

​Common bodily symptoms are heart palpations, tightening int he chest or shortness of breath, choking sensations, dizziness, faintness, sweating, trembling, shaking, and/or tingling in the hands and feet.
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Psychological reactions that often come with these bodily changes including feelings of unreality, an intense desire to run away, and fears of going crazy, dying, or doing something uncontrollable.

Panic Attacks can be scary events and therapy can help to decrease the severity of the panic attacks and help you no longer be afraid of them.

Often Agoraphobia – fear of being in environments that are unfamiliar or where a client perceives that they have little control – makes life even more difficult. Clients are often unable to drive, go shopping, be in crowds, attend classes or a job, etc. for fear of having another panic attack.

Similar to, yet distinct from OCD, Cognitive-Behavioral methods of exposure have proven to be significantly effective for helping the body to be less fearful of the bodily symptoms. Medication and other forms of alternative medicine have proven to be a helpful addition to CBT.

I help clients struggling with Panic and Agoraphobia have the tools to decrease their anxiety through challenging automatic anxiety produced by triggers, develop regular relaxation and exercise practices, regain their ability to be in public, and develop strategies to handle early symptoms of panic.