Pounding heart
A racing or skipping heartbeat that feels alarming and fuels the fear.
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Panic attacks · Bangladesh
Panic Attack Counselling in Bangladesh
A panic attack is a sudden wave of intense fear with strong physical symptoms — a pounding heart, breathlessness, a feeling of losing control. It is frightening but not dangerous, and it is very treatable. Talk to a licensed psychologist online nationwide, or in person in Dhaka.
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In plain language: A panic attack is a false alarm — your body’s emergency system fires when there is no real danger. The symptoms feel like a heart attack or “going mad,” but they peak and pass. Therapy teaches your brain that the sensations are safe, so the attacks lose their power.
The basics
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes with intense physical sensations, usually peaking within minutes.
During an attack the body’s “fight or flight” system switches on fully — heart racing, chest tight, breathing fast, dizziness, tingling, sweating, and a strong sense of dread or of losing control. Because the symptoms are so physical, many people in Bangladesh first rush to a cardiologist or emergency room, convinced it is a heart problem. When tests come back clear, the real cause — anxiety — is often missed.
What turns one-off attacks into panic disorder is the fear of the next attack. You start avoiding places where one happened — a crowded bus, a market, being far from home — and the world shrinks. The good news: panic responds extremely well to therapy, often quickly, once you understand what is really happening.
How a panic attack works
A panic attack is a wave, not a cliff
It can feel as if the fear will keep climbing until something terrible happens. In reality the body’s alarm reaches a peak within minutes and then passes, even if you do nothing.
- A false alarmA racing heart, breathlessness and dizziness are adrenaline, the body’s alarm going off at the wrong time.
- It cannot keep risingThe alarm runs out of fuel. The peak passes, usually well within half an hour.
- Ride the waveCBT teaches you to let the wave pass instead of fighting it, which makes attacks less frequent.
Based on the clinical description of panic attacks (DSM-5): a surge of intense fear that peaks within minutes. Illustration, not to scale.
What you feel
Common panic symptoms
Breathlessness
Feeling unable to get enough air, or breathing too fast.
Dizziness & tingling
Light-headedness, unsteadiness or pins-and-needles in the hands and face.
Chest tightness
Pressure or pain in the chest that mimics a heart problem.
Fear of losing control
A sense of dread, of “going mad,” or that something terrible is about to happen.
Feeling unreal
Detachment from your surroundings or from yourself, as if in a dream.
A first panic attack can feel exactly like a heart attack. If you have chest pain, have fainted, or have never had your heart checked, see a doctor first to rule out a medical cause, that is the right step, not an overreaction. When attacks keep coming back, or fear of the next one starts deciding where you go, a psychologist can help you break the cycle.
Take the free 2-minute self-check →Why it happens
What causes panic attacks?
- A sensitive alarm system — the brain misreads normal body sensations as danger and triggers full alarm.
- Ongoing stress — a build-up of pressure lowers the threshold for an attack.
- The fear-of-fear cycle — worrying about attacks makes the body more reactive, causing more attacks.
- Triggers & lifestyle — too much caffeine, poor sleep, or a frightening first attack in a specific place.
- Family tendency — anxiety and panic can run in families.
Getting better
How panic attacks are treated
Panic is one of the most treatable anxiety problems — often with clear, fast improvement.
CBT is the leading treatment: you learn what panic actually is, break the fear-of-fear cycle, and use breathing and grounding skills to ride out the wave. Through gentle exposure, you gradually return to the places you had been avoiding and prove to your brain they are safe. For frequent or severe panic, a psychiatrist may add medication for a period. First, though, it helps to rule out physical causes with a doctor — then treat the anxiety properly.
What to expect
What recovery looks like
Understand panic
Learning that the sensations are your alarm system misfiring — frightening but not harmful.
Calm the body
Breathing and grounding skills to shorten an attack and lower daily arousal.
Break the avoidance
Gradually returning to feared places so your world opens back up.
Live without dread
Attacks become rare and manageable, and the fear of the next one fades.
In a crisis, call 999
A panic attack itself is not dangerous and passes. But if you have chest pain for the first time, or are unsure whether it is your heart, treat it as a medical emergency — call 999 or go to the nearest hospital to be safe.
Fees
What panic counselling costs
৳1,000–৳4,500per private session
Fees depend on the psychologist’s seniority. Student sessions are ৳1,000, and the exact fee is shown on each profile before you book — no hidden charges.
Who can help
Psychologists who help with panic attacks
Those who list experience with panic attacks are shown first. Every Chum psychologist can assess what you need and refer you on if a specialist fits better. Not sure who to choose? We will match you.
Salma Parveen
Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla, English
BCPS-verified21+ yearsFrom ৳4,500
Book a session
Saima Akther Jui
Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla, English
BCPS-verified11+ yearsFrom ৳2,500
Book a session
Tanvirul Alam
Assistant Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla
BCPS-verified7+ yearsFrom ৳3,000
Book a session
Shaheen Nafisa Siddique
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla, English
29+ yearsFrom ৳4,500
Book a session
Tamima Tanjin
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla
BCPS-verified22+ yearsFrom ৳3,500
Book a session
Hazera Khatun
Senior Clinical Psychologist
Speaks Bangla, English
BCPS-verified20+ yearsFrom ৳3,500
Book a sessionবাংলায়
প্যানিক অ্যাটাক
হঠাৎ বুক ধড়ফড়, শ্বাস নিতে কষ্ট, মাথা ঘোরা আর তীব্র ভয় — মনে হয় যেন হার্ট অ্যাটাক বা নিয়ন্ত্রণ হারাচ্ছেন। এটি ভয়ংকর মনে হলেও আসলে বিপজ্জনক নয়, আর এটি খুব ভালোভাবে চিকিৎসাযোগ্য। সিবিটি থেরাপির মাধ্যমে বেশিরভাগ মানুষ দ্রুত ভালো হন। চাম ওয়েলনেসে বাংলা বা ইংরেজিতে অনলাইন কাউন্সেলিং নেওয়া যায় সারা বাংলাদেশ থেকে।
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is a panic attack dangerous or a heart attack?
A panic attack is not dangerous and passes on its own, but its symptoms can mimic a heart problem. If you have chest pain for the first time or are unsure, get it checked medically to be safe — then treat the anxiety.
Why do panic attacks come out of nowhere?
They can feel random, but they are usually the alarm system firing after a build-up of stress, or the brain misreading a normal body sensation as danger. Therapy helps you spot and break the pattern.
Can panic attacks be cured?
Panic responds very well to treatment. With CBT, most people greatly reduce or stop attacks and return to the places they had been avoiding.
Do I need medication?
Many people recover with therapy alone. For frequent or severe panic, a psychiatrist may add medication for a period alongside therapy.
Is counselling available in Bangla and online?
Yes. Many Chum psychologists work in Bangla or English, online from anywhere in Bangladesh, with in-person sessions in Dhaka.
How much does it cost?
Private sessions usually cost about ৳1,000–৳4,500 depending on seniority, and student sessions are ৳1,000. The exact fee is shown before you book.
Read more
Related articles & guides
Practical, Bangladesh-specific reading from the Chum blog on this topic.
Take the first step
Panic can be beaten
Book a confidential session with a licensed psychologist who works with panic and anxiety, or browse verified specialists across Bangladesh — online anywhere, or in person in Dhaka.
