What Is Teen Panic Disorder Treatment?
Panic disorder is a mental health condition where someone experiences sudden, repeated panic attacks and often lives in fear of having another one. For teens, these attacks can feel especially frightening and isolating.
Our teen panic disorder treatment focuses on:
- Reducing the frequency and intensity of panic attacks
- Teaching teens how to recognize and manage early warning signs
- Addressing the fear of panic itself (called anticipatory anxiety)
- Helping teens return to school, social life, and daily routines
- Supporting emotional resilience to prevent future escalation
At Southern Live Oak Wellness, treatment plans are built around each teen’s unique experience. We combine therapies like CBT, DBT, and somatic tools that help calm the body and regulate internal alarm systems. When appropriate, we also offer medication management in close coordination with parents.
We also help teens decode the confusion around panic. Knowing what’s happening in the brain and body during a panic attack brings relief and gives back control.
How Panic Disorder Affects Teens
Teens with panic disorder may start building their lives around avoidance. A teen who had a panic attack during class might start skipping school. A teen who panicked at the mall might avoid public places entirely. These aren’t “overreactions”, they’re survival strategies.
Symptoms of Panic Disorder in Teens May Include:
- Sudden, intense fear without a clear reason
- Racing heart, chest pain, or trouble breathing
- Dizziness, nausea, or feeling faint
- Sweating, shaking, or tingling in hands or feet
- Feeling like they’re “going crazy” or dying
- Avoidance of certain places or activities
- Constant fear of another attack
- Trouble sleeping or waking with anxiety
Some teens also show signs of depression, withdrawal, or substance use in response to untreated panic. The longer panic disorder goes unaddressed, the more it limits daily life, emotionally, socially, and academically.
Our program addresses both the panic symptoms and their impact. We incorporate individual therapy to focus on coping and family therapy to help parents respond with understanding and stability.
How Southern Live Oak Wellness Can Help
We understand how exhausting and confusing it can be for teens living with panic disorder. Our approach goes beyond calming techniques, we work to break the cycle of panic, avoidance, and fear with structure, education, and trauma-aware care.
Our Teen Panic Disorder Program Includes:
- Licensed therapists with experience in adolescent anxiety and trauma
- Personalized treatment planning and weekly clinical reviews
- PHP (Partial Hospitalization) and IOP (Intensive Outpatient) options based on severity
- CBT therapy to challenge catastrophic thinking
- DBT skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
- Exposure therapy in gradual, controlled steps
- Support for school reintegration and peer connection
- Complementary therapies to support physical and emotional relaxation
- Case management to coordinate care with outside providers
We also provide safety planning and coaching for managing panic symptoms in real-time, whether in the classroom, at home, or during social events.
“It’s not about making panic disappear overnight, it’s about making it manageable so your teen can live freely again.”
What to Expect in Treatment
Your teen’s journey starts with a compassionate, no-pressure intake where we assess their symptoms, triggers, and goals. Our therapists create a plan that builds on what’s already working while introducing new strategies step by step.
Your Teen’s Plan May Include:
- CBT therapy to reframe anxious thoughts
- Somatic tools like breathing retraining and grounding
- Art and music therapy to reduce emotional overwhelm
- Yoga or movement to regulate stress
- Role-play or scripting for feared situations
- Recreation therapy to rebuild fun and joy
- Educational support so teens stay on track at school
- Family support sessions to repair communication and reduce household tension
Sessions are held in a calm, warm, and nonjudgmental environment that doesn’t feel like a hospital. We foster connection with peers, too, and many teens realize for the first time that they’re not alone.
Why Choose Southern Live Oak Wellness
We’re not just a treatment center, we’re a supportive space where teens rediscover their courage, strengths, and sense of self.
What Makes Us Different:
- Specialization in adolescent care and panic-related conditions
- HIPAA-compliant, trauma-informed treatment model
- Seamless coordination with schools and pediatricians
- Inclusion of family in care decisions
- Licensed therapists trained in anxiety, PTSD, and mood disorders
- Experiential therapies that support growth beyond talk therapy
- Post-program alumni support and structured aftercare
Many families choose us because we don’t just focus on panic; we focus on what’s underneath it. Teens graduate with not just fewer symptoms, but more confidence and autonomy.
FAQs About Teen Panic Disorder Treatment
Can panic attacks be stopped completely?
Yes, many teens experience a full recovery. With treatment, attacks become less frequent, less intense, and less scary.
What if panic started after trauma?
We specialize in trauma-informed care. Our team uses EMDR therapy and other modalities to help heal the root causes of panic.
Will therapy make my teen relive scary moments?
No. Our approach emphasizes safety and control. Teens only work on difficult memories when they’re ready.
How long is the treatment?
It depends on severity, but most teens benefit from 6 to 12 weeks of structured care.
Is it normal for panic disorder to come with depression?
Yes. Panic can lead to feelings of helplessness or sadness, which we address with integrated care.
What if my teen refuses to talk?
We use creative and somatic approaches, like art therapy, music, or mindfulness, to build trust and expression without pressure.
How to Get Started
You don’t have to wait for another attack. The earlier your teen gets help, the easier it is to break the panic cycle and move toward healing.
3 Simple Steps to Begin:
- Call or fill out our confidential form
- Get a clinical assessment within days
- Begin a treatment program that fits your teen’s needs and schedule
Our team is here to guide you, every question, every session, every step.
