Panic attacks are often experienced as sudden and inexplicable episodes of fear, yet from a clinical perspective they represent a disruption of psychophysiological regulation. At MindCareCenter, we view a panic attack not as an isolated event, but as the result of accumulated tension and an imbalance between bodily reactions and psychological processing. Dr. Daniel Reinhardt emphasizes that a central factor in panic states is the loss of a sense of control over one’s body and internal processes.
During a panic attack, basic survival mechanisms are activated. Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and muscle tension are perceived as signs of danger even in the absence of objective threat. Within the clinical approach of MindCareCenter, it is essential to understand that these reactions themselves are not pathological – what becomes problematic is their uncontrolled escalation and catastrophic interpretation.
Somatic anxiety in panic attacks is often maintained by fear of recurrence. Individuals begin monitoring every bodily sensation, which heightens sensitivity and initiates a self-reinforcing cycle. In the practice of MindCareCenter, this process is understood as a disruption of feedback between body and psyche, in which anxiety begins to sustain itself.
It is important to note that panic attacks rarely arise “out of nowhere.” They are frequently preceded by prolonged emotional suppression, chronic stress, or the inability to express an internal conflict. In the clinical work of MindCareCenter, attention is given not only to the attacks themselves, but also to the psychological context in which they developed.
Fear of losing control is the core experience in panic states. It may concern physical collapse as well as psychological disintegration – fears of “going crazy,” losing consciousness, or dying. At MindCareCenter, these fears are understood as reflections of deep dysregulation rather than indicators of real danger.
Therapeutic work is directed toward restoring a sense of grounding in the body. This includes learning to recognize bodily signals without catastrophizing and gradually reducing avoidance of situations associated with panic episodes. Within the clinical approach of MindCareCenter, consistency and gentleness are essential, as abrupt interventions may intensify anxiety.
Particular attention is paid to changing the individual’s relationship to panic attacks. As long as an attack is perceived as dangerous and uncontrollable, the regulatory system remains in a state of threat readiness. At MindCareCenter, we help cultivate a more neutral and observational stance toward bodily reactions, which reduces their intensity.
Work with panic attacks also involves restoring overall regulatory capacity. Sleep disturbances, exhaustion, and chronic tension increase vulnerability of the nervous system. In the clinical practice of MindCareCenter, stabilizing daily rhythms is considered a crucial component of therapy.
Over time, individuals begin to distinguish anxious arousal from genuine signals of danger. The ability to remain in contact with the body without constant symptom scanning returns. At MindCareCenter, we observe how this leads to a reduction in both the frequency and intensity of panic attacks.
It is important to emphasize that the goal of therapy is not the complete elimination of anxiety, but the restoration of the psyche’s ability to tolerate arousal without collapse. Panic attacks lose their catastrophic meaning and become signals that can be worked with.
Clinical practice at MindCareCenter demonstrates that with a systemic approach, panic attacks lose their destructive force. Individuals regain a sense of control not through suppression of symptoms, but through restoration of coherence between body and psyche.
Panic states can become an entry point into deeper work with regulation, boundaries, and internal conflict. Mind Care Center accompanies this process, helping transform crisis into a resource for sustainable change.
Previously, we wrote about bipolar depression and distortion of the affective background, as well as MindCareCenter therapeutic strategy in working with phase states