PANIC ATTACK THERAPY IN CALGARY
Feel more in control.
Panic attacks can be sudden, overwhelming, and frightening, often causing a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest tightness, or shaking. The fear of experiencing another attack can feel just as distressing as the attack itself. Panic attack therapy helps you understand how your mind and body respond, reduce fear and avoidance, develop effective coping strategies, and regain confidence in navigating daily life without constantly anticipating the next panic attack.
A Psychologist's Definition
Panic Attacks, Defined
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort that triggers powerful physical and emotional symptoms, often without warning. During a panic attack, individuals may experience a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, sweating, trembling, nausea, tingling sensations, or a feeling of losing control. Many people describe panic attacks as feeling like a medical emergency, heart attack, or imminent danger, even when no actual threat is present. Panic attacks occur when the body's alarm system becomes activated and responds as though there is a serious threat, despite being physically safe. While panic attacks themselves are not dangerous, they can feel overwhelming and frightening, leading some individuals to avoid situations, places, or activities where they fear another attack may occur. Over time, this fear can significantly affect daily life, relationships, work, travel, and overall well-being. Panic attack therapy helps individuals understand the relationship between anxiety, physical symptoms, and fear responses while developing effective strategies to reduce panic, regain confidence, and feel more in control of their lives.
Panic Attack Therapy Often Connects With
How Panic Attack Therapy Helps
At NU Psychology, panic attack therapy is designed to help you better understand your body's fear response, reduce the intensity and frequency of panic symptoms, and regain confidence in your ability to navigate daily life. Our Calgary psychologists work collaboratively with teens and adults to address panic attacks, anticipatory anxiety, avoidance patterns, and the fear of losing control while helping clients develop practical tools for managing anxiety and feeling more grounded, safe, and empowered.
Understand what panic attacks are and why they happen in the mind and body.
Reduce fear of physical symptoms such as a racing heart, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
Develop practical coping strategies to manage panic attacks when they occur.
Address avoidance patterns that may be limiting work, travel, social activities, or daily routines.
Build confidence in your ability to tolerate anxiety without becoming overwhelmed by it.
Regain a greater sense of freedom, control, and trust in yourself and your body.
Meet the Psychologists Behind NU Psychology.
Our Calgary psychologists bring diverse backgrounds, advanced training, and a shared commitment to thoughtful, evidence-informed care. Whether you're looking for support with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, relationships, depression, OCD, assessments, or life transitions, we'll help connect you with a psychologist who is the right fit for your goals and preferences.
Explore the NU Psychology Blog.
Looking for practical mental health resources, expert insights, and evidence-informed guidance? Our blog features articles written by Calgary psychologists on topics including ADHD, anxiety, trauma, OCD, relationships, depression, assessments, parenting, emotional wellbeing, and personal growth.
Our Locations
NU Psychology offers in-person therapy across two Calgary locations — Bridgeland and Killarney. Whether you are in the inner east or the inner southwest, our psychologists provide warm, evidence-based care tailored to teens, adults, couples, and families.
Inner East Calgary
Bridgeland
Conveniently located in the heart of Bridgeland, our east-side clinic is easily accessible from downtown Calgary, Renfrew, Riverside, and surrounding neighbourhoods — with nearby LRT access and street parking.
Inner Southwest Calgary
Killarney
Our Killarney location serves families and individuals across the inner southwest, including Marda Loop, Rutland Park, Glenbrook, and Shaganappi — offering a calm, welcoming space close to where you live.
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Although the terms are often used interchangeably, panic attacks typically involve a sudden surge of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, chest tightness, dizziness, trembling, or shortness of breath. Anxiety tends to build more gradually in response to stress or worry. Both can feel overwhelming, but panic attacks often reach peak intensity within minutes and can occur unexpectedly.
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Yes. Many people experiencing a panic attack worry they are having a heart attack or other medical emergency because symptoms can include chest pain, rapid heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, nausea, and difficulty breathing. While panic attacks can feel frightening, they are different from cardiac events. A healthcare provider can help rule out medical concerns, while therapy can help address the anxiety and fear surrounding panic symptoms.
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Panic attacks occur when the body's fight-or-flight response becomes activated, even when there is no immediate danger present. Stress, anxiety, trauma, chronic worry, major life changes, health concerns, sleep difficulties, and accumulated emotional strain can all contribute to panic attacks. Sometimes the trigger is obvious, while other times it may feel completely unexpected.
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Some people experience occasional panic attacks that decrease over time, while others develop ongoing fear of future attacks that can lead to avoidance and increasing anxiety. Therapy can help people understand the panic cycle, reduce fear of symptoms, and learn strategies that often decrease both the frequency and intensity of panic attacks. Early intervention can help prevent panic from becoming more disruptive to daily life.
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No. A person can experience panic attacks without having panic disorder. Panic disorder is typically diagnosed when someone experiences recurring panic attacks along with persistent worry about having additional attacks or significant changes in behaviour to avoid them. Therapy can help with both isolated panic attacks and panic disorder.
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Several evidence-based approaches can be effective for panic attacks, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and other anxiety-focused treatments. Therapy often focuses on understanding the body's alarm system, changing unhelpful thought patterns, reducing avoidance, and helping individuals feel more confident responding to panic symptoms when they occur.
Panic Attack Therapy FAQs
