Anxiety & Panic

Panic Disorder Treatment in Naperville.

When fear comes out of nowhere

What Is It?

When Fear Comes Out of Nowhere.

Panic attacks are intense surges of fear that can feel life-threatening. When you start changing your life to avoid having another one, that's Panic Disorder. At Ascend Therapy in Naperville, we help you de-escalate the body's alarm system and learn that while panic is uncomfortable, it is not dangerous.

Meet Our Panic Specialists.

We understand the physiology of fear and can help you regain control.

Dr. Jonathan Woodin, PsyD

Dr. Jonathan Woodin, PsyD

Specialties

Expert in helping clients tolerate physical sensations of anxiety without spiraling.

Sara Banks, LCSW

Sara Banks, LCSW

Specialties

Providing tools to manage high-stress responses and grounding techniques.

Takeisha Rheams, LCPC

Takeisha Rheams, LCPC

Specialties

Helping you understand the connection between your thoughts and physical symptoms.

Nagla Mostafa, LMFT

Nagla Mostafa, LMFT

Specialties

Supporting individuals in overcoming avoidance behaviors.

Signs & Symptoms

Common Signs of a Panic Attack.

A panic attack often peaks within minutes and includes at least four of these symptoms:

  • Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
  • Sweating and trembling
  • Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
  • Feelings of choking
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Nausea or abdominal distress
  • Feeling dizzy, unsteady, light-headed, or faint
  • Fear of losing control or "going crazy"
  • Fear of dying

Treatment

Retraining Your Alarm System.

Medication can help, but therapy treats the underlying mechanism of panic.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions.

Panic attacks mimic heart attacks. If you have been medically cleared, what you are feeling is likely the body's "fight or flight" response misfiring. We help you learn to distinguish anxiety from danger.

No. They are incredibly uncomfortable, but your body cannot sustain a panic attack forever. It will pass. We teach you how to ride the wave rather than fight it.

Panic disorder is highly treatable. Many clients see significant reduction in symptoms within 12-16 sessions of targeted CBT/Interoceptive work.

Ready to Ascend

Your new chapter
starts today.

Every transformation begins with a simple outreach. Our clinical team is ready to guide your first steps.