Residential Treatment for Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is marked by intense physical and psychological symptoms triggered by exposures to specific environments, which for one reason or another come to be seen as threatening. These symptoms are frightening, debilitating, and impossible to control through willpower alone.

The panic attacks experienced during such episodes come on suddenly and are far out of proportion to any possible danger. The panic takes on a life of its own, and those who have the condition are left scrambling to adjust and cope.

The solution for panic disorder is intensive, residential treatment in a world-class treatment facility under the care of skilled and compassionate mental health experts.

Panic disorder will affect about 2.7 percent of the population in any given year. Women are twice as likely to experience disabling panic attacks as men. The condition often develops in people who’ve struggled with other anxiety disorders or depression.

The onset of the disorder is shocking and disheartening. Many who develop it will take immediate steps to protect themselves from future panic attacks. They may quit their jobs or leave school, give up pastimes they’ve enjoyed for years, or refuse to go anywhere unless they’re accompanied by someone who can “save” them should an attack strike.

The panic attacks associated with panic disorder are intense and severe. The physical symptoms they cause include:

• Heavy sweating
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Trembling or shivering
• Chest tightness
• Stomach pain or cramps
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Sensitivity to light or sound

The psychological symptoms that accompany a panic attack can be just as devastating. People having panic attacks are petrified of fainting, falling, or losing consciousness. Extreme self-consciousness is normal during a panic attack, leading those who have them to focus on every symptom they experience. This creates a feedback loop that strengthens the panic and deepens the fear. Those who have panic attacks believe others will see their distress and judge them as weak or inferior because of their anxiety.

Panic disorder is a devastating illness. Its symptoms feel so overwhelming that those who have it often seek out medical attention from physicians, looking for a physical cause that might explain their condition.

The good news is that no matter how powerful panic symptoms are, panic disorder will respond well to residential treatment.

Our panic disorder treatment program is a perfect blend of evidence-based therapies and individualized care. With diligence and dedication, your loved one can learn to manage the symptoms of panic disorder, regardless of their duration and intensity.

Our treatment plans for panic disorder are intensive but flexible. Your loved one’s medical condition may be complex, if multiple mental or behavioral health issues have been diagnosed. Regardless of their situation, we’ll design a treatment plan carefully customized to meet all their health needs.

Our BrightQuest treatment model and therapeutic community focus on sustainable, long-term wellness. Our levels of care include:

• 24-Hr. Residential Treatment
• Semi-Independent Living
• Independent Living
• Extended Services

All clients participate in a two-day outpatient admissions assessment prior to beginning residential treatment for trauma disorders. This includes a formal clinical assessment with family present, a clinical interview with the family alone, an individual client interview, a chemical dependency assessment, and a psychiatric history review with the psychiatrist. Family participation is important in the assessment because the information gained informs our treatment recommendations. Prior to the assessment, families are asked to prepare a detailed timeline of observations and experiences related to their loved one’s mental health history.

We take an all-inclusive and preventive approach to healing, to help your loved one change their thinking and behavior to eliminate the power of their past trauma to determine their reality.

BrightQuest Treatment Centers offers comprehensive wellness service at our peaceful, luxury-quality facilities in San Diego, California, and Nashville, Tennessee. Our semi-independent living houses are also quiet, comfortable, and attractive. No matter where your loved one starts or ends treatment, they will enjoy a superior living experience and bask in the warmth of a healing-centered environment.

Treatment teams at our San Diego and Nashville facilities provide individualized treatment plans include a mixture of evidence-based therapies and complementary healing methodologies, including:

• Milieu Therapy. Peers are included as helpers and facilitators in the recovery process, which is designed to increase each client’s comfort with themselves and the world.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT has become a standard therapy in the treatment of anxiety problems, based on its ability to change self-sabotaging thinking and behavioral practices.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). This therapy is an offshoot of CBT and is effective at helping people with panic problems control the emotions that too often undermine their recovery efforts.
• Solution Focused Therapy. This type of therapy helps men and women with panic disorders develop a more proactive approach to problem solving, which can help them minimize the influence of anxiety in their lives.
• Experiential Therapies. Experiential therapies are designed to improve self-esteem and self-confidence. Experiential options at BrightQuest include adventure therapy, art therapy, drama therapy, psychodrama, nutritional instruction, and recreational therapy.
• Mindfulness Practice and Meditation. At BrightQuest, you’ll learn more about mindfulness techniques and meditation, which can be powerful antidotes to chronic anxiety.
• Family Therapy. Loved ones are always welcome to participate in treatment programs at BrightQuest. We’ll work with you to create an environment where your loved one feels unconditionally supported and surrounded by reliable allies.

Panic disorder can be a source of chaos and confusion for those who have it. Its onset makes the world seem unsafe and unpredictable. Unfortunately, many who develop persistent panic symptoms may also struggle with depression and other anxiety disorders, or retreat into disastrous self-medication strategies involving drugs and alcohol.

At BrightQuest, we recognize the profound impact panic disorder can have on someone’s life. Before arriving at our therapeutic community, they may have felt lost and alone with nowhere to turn. But under our expert, empathic care, they will feel welcomed and understood from the moment they arrive.

Most importantly, they will receive high-quality treatment services administered by world-class therapists and mental health professionals. This will speed their recovery and put them on the fast track to sustainable wellness.

BrightQuest treatment plans for panic disorder are effective for those who are truly motivated to change. While recovering with us, your loved one will be immersed in a healing-centered atmosphere where wellness is always the top priority.

Your loved one has a right to a healthy, happy, panic-free existence, and we will do everything in our power to help them achieve the freedom and success they deserve.

If your loved one is suffering from a panic disorder, contact us today.