Panic attacks in Vila do Conde

A sudden episode of intense fear, with a racing heart and the feeling of losing control, can be a very frightening experience, but it can be treated. In Vila do Conde, you will find a team of specialised professionals to support people with panic attacks.

Does this sound familiar?

Sudden, intense fear

Episodes that come on suddenly, often without warning, and peak within a few minutes.

Physical symptoms

Racing heart, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, trembling, sweating, dizziness or tingling.

Fear of losing control

Feeling that you are going to faint, lose your mind, have a heart attack or die.

A sense of unreality

Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings, as if everything were strange or distant.

Fear of the next attack

Constant worry that it will happen again, even during periods when you feel well.

Avoidance

Stopping driving, going to crowded places or going out alone, for fear of having an attack far from help.

How we can help

A panic attack is an episode of intense fear or discomfort that comes on suddenly and peaks within a few minutes, accompanied by marked physical symptoms. When attacks recur and lead to persistent worry about further episodes, or to changes in routine to avoid them, they may amount to panic disorder.

At Clínica da Vila, support is mainly provided through psychological intervention, with an individualised, evidence-based approach. The aim is to understand what happens during an attack and the factors that keep it going, to reduce the fear of the symptoms themselves and to gradually return to the situations that have been avoided.

When attacks are frequent, intense or have a significant impact on personal, professional or social functioning, a psychiatric assessment may be recommended to consider the need for pharmacological treatment. Whenever necessary, psychology and psychiatry work together.

This is not a diagnosis

These descriptions are here to help you get your bearings; they do not replace a professional assessment. In a first appointment, we will help you understand what is going on and what might be worth trying.