Panic Disorder in Groton, CT — Understanding the Loop That Keeps It Going

If you've had more than a few panic attacks, you've probably started to notice a pattern — even if you can't fully articulate it yet. Something happens — a physical sensation, a stressful moment, sometimes nothing you can identify — and then the alarm fires. Your heart rate jumps. Your chest tightens. Your thoughts start catastrophizing. And that catastrophizing — "this is a heart attack," "I'm losing control," "something is seriously wrong" — feeds the physical symptoms, which feed more catastrophizing, which feeds more symptoms. The attack escalates, peaks, and then passes. And then you're left trying to figure out what that was and how to make sure it doesn't happen again. Panic disorder is, at its core, a self-maintaining feedback loop. The attack feels dangerous. The fear of the attack is itself dangerous. Your brain learns to be afraid of your own body. Understanding that mechanism isn't just intellectual curiosity — it's actually part of how treatment works. Sindhia Shyras, APRN brings this understanding to her work with Groton residents, including those connected to the Submarine Base and Electric Boat who are navigating panic in a community that doesn't always talk openly about mental health.

What CBT for Panic Actually Teaches You

Cognitive behavioral therapy for panic disorder — sometimes called panic control therapy — is one of the most well-supported treatments we have. It works by targeting the three mechanisms that sustain panic: the catastrophic interpretation of physical sensations ("this means something is terribly wrong"), the behavioral avoidance that follows ("I'll never go to that place again"), and the hypervigilance that watches for the next attack ("what was that in my chest just now"). When you understand that a racing heart is not a heart attack — genuinely understand it, not just intellectually acknowledge it — the catastrophic thought loses its power. When you gradually re-engage with situations you've been avoiding, you give your brain new evidence. The feedback loop starts to break down.

Medication and CBT Together — Why Both Often Help

Some people do well with medication alone. Others respond primarily to CBT. But the research consistently shows that combining the two tends to produce the best outcomes for panic disorder. The medication — typically an SSRI or SNRI — reduces the nervous system's baseline reactivity, which makes the cognitive work of CBT easier. When you're not already operating at a high level of physiological arousal, the catastrophic thoughts have less physical material to attach to. Sindhia provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and can discuss supportive therapeutic approaches alongside medication. If you're already working with a therapist in the Groton area, that's great — she can work alongside them. If you're not, she can help you think through next steps.

A Note for Groton's Military and Veteran Community

Panic disorder sometimes shows up differently in people with military backgrounds — not as classic "anxiety" but as hypervigilance, physical reactivity, an alarm response that stays on long after the situation that warranted it has passed. If that describes what you're experiencing, it's worth a real evaluation. Sindhia doesn't have a one-size picture of what panic disorder looks like, and she doesn't make assumptions based on your background. She listens to what you're actually experiencing and builds from there. Telehealth makes it possible to be seen without a long drive from the Groton area, and care is available to all Connecticut residents regardless of location.

Frequently Asked Questions