New Life Panic Disorder Treatment Program
Comprehensive care to help you overcome panic disorder and restore your peace of mind
Panic attacks can leave you feeling trapped in your own body — a sudden surge of fear that takes your breath, your balance, and your sense of control. The exhaustion that follows can make you start to fear the next one before it even comes.
At New Life, we help you break that cycle. Our panic disorder treatment programs in New Jersey combine evidence-based therapies with compassionate, structured care that helps you calm your mind and rebuild confidence in your ability to feel safe again.
KEY POINTS
- Panic disorder causes sudden, intense fear responses—often called panic attacks—that can feel overwhelming and come without warning.
- Physical symptoms are real, including a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and feelings of losing control or detachment.
- Evidence-based therapies like CBT and exposure therapy help retrain your body’s reaction to fear, reducing the frequency and intensity of attacks.
- Medication may help stabilize symptoms when paired with therapy and lifestyle changes.
- Early support makes recovery easier, helping you regain confidence and freedom from the cycle of fear.
What Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is an anxiety condition that causes sudden, overwhelming episodes of fear known as panic attacks.[1] These moments can feel like a loss of control — your heart races, your chest tightens, and it can seem as if something terrible is about to happen.
Because the symptoms often mimic medical emergencies, many people live in constant fear of the next attack. Over time, that fear can lead to avoiding certain places, activities, or even people, slowly shrinking your world around you.
But it is treatable. Using evidence-based therapy and compassionate support, our team can work with you to retrain the body’s stress response and restore a sense of safety and calm in your daily life.
What’s the Difference Between Panic Disorder and Anxiety?
Anxiety often builds gradually — a steady sense of worry or unease tied to specific thoughts or situations. Panic disorder, on the other hand, comes in sudden waves. Panic attacks reach full intensity within minutes and can strike without warning, even in calm moments.
That unpredictability can make you feel powerless, but treatment can change that. With the right care, panic attacks become less frequent, less frightening, and far more manageable. Fear no longer has to dictate your life.
Signs and Symptoms of Panic Disorder
Panic disorder affects everyone differently. For some, panic attacks come out of nowhere; for others, they build slowly and create constant fear of when the next one will happen. Understanding what’s happening in your body is the first step toward regaining control.
Some common signs of panic disorder include[2]:
- Sudden, overwhelming fear or a sense of impending danger
- Shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, or chest pain
- Dizziness, shaking, or tingling sensations
- Nausea, sweating, or feeling lightheaded
- Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
- Ongoing worry about when the next attack will happen
If these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone. With professional help, lasting relief is within reach.
When to Seek Help
If panic attacks are becoming a pattern or the fear of them is starting to shape your daily life, it’s time to reach out for help. You don’t have to wait until things feel unmanageable — the earlier you begin treatment, the faster you can find relief and stability.
You may benefit from professional care if you:
- Experience frequent or unpredictable panic attacks
- Avoid certain places or situations out of fear of having another episode
- Feel constant anxiety about losing control
- Have physical symptoms like chest pain or dizziness that aren’t tied to a medical issue
- Rely on alcohol or other substances to manage fear or calm your nerves
With the right care, panic disorder is highly treatable. At New Life, we help you break the cycle of fear, rebuild confidence, and restore a sense of calm that lasts.
Panic Disorder Treatment at New Life
At New Life, we understand how overwhelming panic can feel and we know recovery takes more than temporary relief.
Our panic disorder treatment programs in New Jersey are designed to help you understand your symptoms, calm your body’s stress response, and build lasting confidence in your ability to manage fear.
What to Expect from Panic Disorder Treatment
From your first session, you’ll be met with understanding and respect. We’ll work together to uncover the root of your panic, develop effective coping strategies, and help you find stability that lasts.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): A proven approach that helps you challenge anxious thoughts and reduce the fear of future attacks. Research shows that CBT is one of the most effective therapies for panic disorder and can significantly improve long-term recovery.[3]
- Exposure Therapy: Gradual, supported exercises that desensitize triggers and restore a sense of control.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practices that teach you how to regulate your body’s natural stress response and find calm in the moment.
- Medication Management: When appropriate, psychiatric care may be used to stabilize symptoms and enhance therapeutic progress.
- Group and Family Therapy: Opportunities to strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and create a supportive network of understanding.
At New Life, treatment is about more than stopping panic attacks — it’s about helping you feel safe in your own body again.
What Sets New Life Apart
Healing from panic takes courage, commitment, and a team that truly understands what you’re facing. At New Life, we bring together clinical expertise and heartfelt compassion to create care that feels personal, not procedural.
- Specialized Expertise: Our clinicians have extensive experience treating anxiety and panic disorders, offering focused, evidence-based care you can trust.
- Customized Treatment Plans: Every plan is tailored to your symptoms, goals, and pace — because recovery should feel like it’s made for you.
- Whole-Person Approach: We combine therapy, mindfulness, and lifestyle support to heal both the mind and body for lasting stability.
- Safe, Supportive Environment: Our center is a calm, welcoming space where you can breathe, reflect, and recover without judgment.
- Continued Support: From aftercare planning to alumni connections, we help you maintain progress long after treatment ends.
At New Life, healing isn’t about erasing fear — it’s about reclaiming your life with strength, clarity, and confidence.
Take the first step towards recovery
Our admissions office is standing by to help you start recovering.
How to Get Started
Reaching out for help can be a daunting experience, but it is one of the most powerful steps you can take toward healing. When you contact New Life, you will speak with a compassionate admissions counselor who will engage you in your own story, answer your questions, and help you find the appropriate level of care that fits your needs.
We accept most insurance. For those without insurance, we offer sliding-scale rates and flexible payment options, so that your financial condition never stands in the way of the care you deserve.
From your first phone call through final session, our staff walks beside you, helping you to replace fear with calmness, build confidence, and attain lasting peace.
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Levels of Care Offered at New Life
Healing from panic requires time, structure, and support that fit with your needs. At New Life, we offer several levels of care, each designed to help meet you where you are in your recovery. Each program strikes a balance between guidance and independence, helping you gain confidence at every stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes panic disorder?
Panic disorder may develop due to a combination of genetics, brain chemistry, and long-term stress. Major life transitions, trauma, and prolonged anxiety may increase risk. However, panic attacks often originate without any apparent reason. What is most important is not the cause of panic disorder, but the method of quelling the body’s violent fear response and regaining balance, primarily through therapeutic means.
How do I know if I have panic disorder or just anxiety?
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD) are common mental health conditions in adults that are often seen in primary care.[4] General anxiety is characterized by continuing anxiety, while panic disorder is characterized by violent episodes of anxiety or fear, which act up suddenly and peak within minutes. If these panic attacks happen repeatedly — or if you constantly fear the next one — it may be panic disorder. A mental health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.
Can panic attacks be cured permanently?
With appropriate treatment for panic disorder, panic attacks can be greatly decreased or even eliminated. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, and mindfulness training are highly effective means of retraining the body’s stress response. Many clients at New Life experience lasting freedom from panic through consistent, evidence-based care.
What is the best therapy for panic disorder?
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is acknowledged to be the gold standard in the diagnosis of panic disorder, helping the client to evaluate anxious thoughts and lessen the physical sensations associated with fear. At New Life, we typically combine Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with relaxation training, Exposure Therapy, and Medication Management (when necessary), for a holistic, whole-body approach to healing.
Can panic disorder cause physical health problems?
Yes — panic attacks and physical illness are significantly related to psychiatric comorbidity, depressive symptoms, interpersonal functioning, physical functioning, and perceived general health.[5] They can also mimic heart or respiratory problems, which is why professional evaluation is essential. Effective treatment not only reduces attacks but also helps the body recover from prolonged stress.
Is medication required for panic disorder treatment?
Not always. While drugs may lessen severe symptoms temporarily, embarrassment, or discomfort, it must be expected that treatment should be called therapy. At New Life, our staff will help you determine if medication should be combined with therapy, always prioritizing client comfort and well-being.
How long does it take to recover from panic disorder?
The time of recovery varies. Some clients experience improvement in as little as a few weeks to a few months; others find that several months pass before they are entirely free of panic attacks and regain confidence in their everyday life. However, what is most important to seek is an outlook toward steady improvement. At New Life, you will have ongoing support every step of the way.
Does insurance cover panic disorder treatment in New Jersey?
Yes. Most of the major carriers cover the treatment of anxiety and panic disorder, including Aetna, Horizon BC/BS, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. For those without insurance, sliding-scale rates and flexible payment options are available to make treatment accessible to all interested parties.
Take the First Step Today
You do not have to live facing a panic attack again. With the right care, you can learn to steady your body, quiet your mind, and live with balance and control. Your healing starts with a single step.
Reach out today to begin your recovery with New Life.
Sources
- American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Panic disorder. In APA Dictionary of Psychology. https://dictionary.apa.org/panic-disorder
- Frontiers in Psychiatry. (2023). Biological and cognitive theories explaining panic disorder: A review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.957515
- Papola, D., Ostuzzi, G., Gastaldon, C., Morgano, G. P., Dragioti, E., Carvalho, A. F., Furukawa, T. A., & Fusar-Poli, P. (2022). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of psychotherapies for panic disorder with or without agoraphobia: Systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 221(6), 734–744. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.2021.148
- American Academy of Family Physicians. (2022, August). Generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults. American Family Physician, 106(2). Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0800/generalized-anxiety-disorder-panic-disorder.html
- Meuret, A. E., et al. (2024). Biobehavioral approach to distinguishing panic symptoms and physical health overlap. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, Article 1296569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1296569
