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| Susan Turner |
Dr. Susan Turner practices as an independent psychiatrist in New York City, where she sees patients both in her Fifth Avenue office and in private homes. Dr. Susan Turner comes to her work with diverse experience in developing individualized treatment plans for panic disorder.
Categorized as an anxiety disorder, the condition known as panic disorder occurs when intense feelings of fear arise suddenly and for no externally appreciable reason. With little to no warning, the patient experiences a combination of physical sensations that are both unnerving and debilitating. The heart can pound, the patient may feel as though he or she cannot breathe, and the body may begin to shake.
Many patients with panic disorder also report that during an attack, their fingers and toes become numb and they begin to sweat. The intensity of this experience often makes patients feel as though they are experiencing a medical emergency or an emotional breakdown.
Because these attacks are so debilitating, patients begin to fear having another episode. They often respond by avoiding situations and places that have prompted an attack in the past, and this avoidance can significantly interfere with their ability to function. Patients often find that a combination of medication and psychotherapy can improve symptoms and reduce the negative effect on their daily living, particularly when combined with a healthy sleep and exercise regimen.
