Panic Disorder Treatment in Florida by Telehealth
A panic attack can feel like a heart attack: a pounding chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a certainty that something is badly wrong. When attacks keep coming without warning and the fear of the next one starts to shape your days, that pattern is called panic disorder. Ascend Psychiatry & Wellness provides panic disorder treatment through psychiatric evaluation and medication management, by secure video anywhere in Florida.
What a panic attack is
A panic attack is a surge of intense fear that builds to a peak within minutes. Common physical and mental symptoms include:
- A racing or pounding heart
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of choking
- Chest pain or tightness
- Sweating, trembling or shaking
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or face
- Chills or hot flashes
- Nausea or stomach distress
- Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings
- Fear of losing control, of “going crazy,” or of dying
The body’s alarm system is firing at full strength, which is why an attack feels so physical. Any new chest pain or trouble breathing deserves a medical check, and anything that might be a heart attack is a reason to call 911. The Ascend article on panic attacks versus heart attacks lays out how the two differ.
From panic attacks to panic disorder
Having one or two panic attacks does not mean someone has panic disorder. The diagnosis applies when attacks are recurrent and unexpected, and at least one is followed by a month or more of persistent worry about having another, or by changes in behavior meant to prevent one.
That second piece, the fear of fear, often does more damage than the attacks. People skip the gym because a raised heart rate feels like the start of an attack. They avoid highways and bridges, stop driving alone, or leave the grocery store mid-trip. When avoidance spreads to many places, it may be agoraphobia, a related condition that can develop alongside panic disorder and slowly shrink a person’s world.
Medical causes worth ruling out
Several medical issues and substances can produce panic-like symptoms, including thyroid problems, heart rhythm problems, heavy caffeine intake, stimulant medications, and withdrawal from alcohol or sedatives. Checking for these is part of a careful evaluation, and Ascend works with your primary care physician when a medical cause needs to be ruled out.
Panic disorder treatment at Ascend
The first visit
Care starts with a 60-minute psychiatric evaluation by video. Your psychiatrist asks what the attacks feel like, when they started, how often they happen, what you now avoid, caffeine, alcohol and substance use, sleep, medical history, and current prescriptions. Conditions that commonly come with panic, such as depression or other anxiety disorders, are assessed at the same visit.
Medication options
Ascend lists SSRIs and SNRIs among the medications it uses for anxiety disorders, a group that includes panic disorder, along with selective, short-term use of benzodiazepines when clinically appropriate. Benzodiazepines can cause dependence with prolonged use, so Ascend prescribes them carefully, monitors closely, and follows current DEA telehealth regulations for controlled substances. The medication management page describes how options are chosen and monitored.
Therapy alongside medication
Cognitive behavioral therapy for panic, which includes gradually facing the body sensations and situations that trigger fear, is provided by therapists. Ascend coordinates with therapists who provide cognitive behavioral and exposure-based therapy, and your psychiatrist can coordinate with one you already see.
Follow-up
Follow-ups are 30-minute video visits, typically every two to four weeks while a medication is being started or adjusted and every one to three months once things settle. They track how often attacks happen, how much you are avoiding, side effects, and sleep.
Psychiatrists who list panic in their focus
Dr. Jack Long, MD lists anxiety disorders, including GAD, panic disorder and social anxiety, among his clinical areas of focus. He provides medication management exclusively by telehealth. The profile of Dr. Cathleen Jane Gomez, MD, Ascend’s founder, lists anxiety disorders and panic attacks among the conditions she treats.
Care without the trip
Panic often makes travel the hardest part of getting care. Highways, crowded waiting rooms, and being far from home are common triggers. A video visit lets you meet with a psychiatrist from a place where you feel steady, using a phone, tablet or computer with a camera. Ascend’s psychiatrists are licensed in Florida and see patients anywhere in the state, and prescriptions are sent electronically to the pharmacy you choose.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a panic attack and panic disorder?
A panic attack is a single episode of intense fear that peaks within minutes. Panic disorder is diagnosed when unexpected attacks keep happening and are followed by at least a month of worry about the next one, or by changes in behavior to avoid one.
Is a panic attack the same as a heart attack?
No, but the symptoms overlap. If you have chest pain and are not sure of the cause, call 911 or go to an emergency room. Once a medical provider has ruled out a heart problem, a psychiatrist can evaluate whether panic disorder explains the episodes.
Does Ascend prescribe benzodiazepines for panic?
Selectively and short-term, when clinically appropriate and in line with current DEA telehealth regulations. Because they can cause dependence with prolonged use, Ascend prescribes them carefully and monitors closely.
Do I need therapy as well as medication?
Some people are treated with medication management alone and others combine it with cognitive behavioral therapy. Ascend does not provide counseling, and it coordinates with your therapist or can recommend one.
Which Ascend psychiatrist treats panic disorder?
Dr. Jack Long, MD lists panic disorder among his clinical areas of focus, and Dr. Cathleen Jane Gomez, MD lists anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Both see patients by telehealth.
Insurance, fees and booking
Ascend accepts Cigna, Aetna, Optum, Medicare, Tricare, Oscar, UMR, Surest, UHS, Evernorth, Meritain, UnitedHealth, Allegiance, SureFit and NALC Health. Cash pay is $300 for the 60-minute initial evaluation and $150 for each 30-minute follow-up, and HSA and FSA funds are accepted. See fees and insurance for plan details. Psychiatric care at Ascend is provided by Dr. Cathleen Jane Gomez, MD, the practice’s founder, and Dr. Jack Long, MD. You choose your provider when you book.
In a crisis? Ascend provides outpatient psychiatric care and is not equipped for emergencies. If you are thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day. For a psychiatric or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
This page is general education, not medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment recommendation. Always talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your own situation.