Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F41.0
- Who treats you
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist who specialize in anxiety disorders
- Format
- video consultations 24/7, with urgent contact with a doctor when needed
- Duration
- first appointment about an hour; a CBT course is usually 8–16 sessions
- Confidentiality
- you can reach out without your full name; your information is protected by medical confidentiality
- When it’s urgent
- a first-ever attack, chest pain, fainting or weakness in an arm — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- attacks become rarer and milder, and the fear of leaving home fades
What you should know
The first panic attack often strikes in the worst possible place: on the metro at Alatau station, in a traffic jam on the Eastern Ring Road, in a shopping mall. Your heart pounds, you can’t catch your breath and it feels like you’re dying. After a few such episodes, people start to fear leaving the house. That’s why our path to help requires minimal effort: you write on WhatsApp, get a time and a link, and the doctor talks with you over video while you stay somewhere you feel safe.
Many patients with panic attacks have already been through ambulance calls, ECGs and tests, only to hear “you’re healthy.” That’s both a relief and frightening: so what is going on? A Psychiatry Online psychiatrist explains the mechanism of an attack, helps break the cycle of “fear — symptom — even more fear” and selects treatment. Panic disorder is one of the conditions that respond well to therapy, and most people manage to regain their freedom of movement.
What Panic Attacks Look Like
- a sudden surge of intense fear that builds within a few minutes
- a pounding heart, as if it’s about to stop or leap out of your chest
- shortness of breath, a lump in your throat, a sense of choking or chest tightness
- dizziness, trembling, numbness or tingling in your hands
- fear of dying, going crazy or losing control of yourself
- after an attack you’re constantly waiting for the next one and monitoring your body
- you avoid public transportation, stores and trips where an attack has happened before
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Why Panic Attacks Happen
A panic attack is the body’s alarm system going off without a real threat. The body releases stress hormones, breathing and heart rate speed up, and these sensations are interpreted as danger, which intensifies the fear even more. Predisposition is linked to heredity, how the nervous system works and sensitivity to bodily sensations. An attack doesn’t damage the heart or lead to insanity, although it feels extremely distressing.
The first attack often occurs against a background of prolonged stress, lack of sleep, exhaustion, after an illness or a sudden change in circumstances. It can be provoked by caffeine, energy drinks, alcohol and hangovers, and certain substances. Life in Almaty — stuffy traffic jams, rush-hour crowds and constant hurry — adds to the strain. Then a fear of recurrence develops: the person avoids places where an attack happened, and the anxiety cycle closes.
How an Online Appointment for Panic Attacks Works
You join from home or another place where you feel calm. The psychiatrist asks in detail when your first attack happened, what it was like, what preceded it and which tests you’ve already had. Keep your ECG and lab results handy if you have them. The doctor explains what happens in the body during an attack and, already at the first appointment, gives you a simple action plan for the next one.
A video appointment doesn’t replace checking your heart and other organs. If you haven’t been examined yet, the doctor will refer you for an ECG, lab tests and a visit to a general practitioner or cardiologist. A first-ever attack with chest pain, fainting, slurred speech or weakness in the limbs is a reason to call 103 or 112 immediately rather than wait for a consultation. When avoidance is severe, in-person exposure sessions are sometimes helpful.
How we help
Psychoeducation
Understanding how a panic attack works reduces its strength in itself. The doctor explains why your breathing speeds up, where the dizziness comes from and why an attack isn’t life-threatening. You receive a written handout and learn to recognize the start of an attack. Many patients say that after this first step, attacks no longer seem so terrifying and uncontrollable.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
CBT is the method with the strongest evidence base for panic disorder. You learn to relate differently to bodily sensations, stop monitoring your heart and gradually return to places you’ve been avoiding. Exposure can be planned online: the psychotherapist supports you by video while you, for example, ride the metro for the first time after a long break.
Medication Support
For frequent and severe attacks, a psychiatrist may prescribe medications from the antidepressant class that reduce how often attacks occur. The effect develops over several weeks. Sedatives with a risk of dependence are used only briefly and cautiously. Selecting and monitoring treatment is convenient to do online, without waiting in line for a specialist.
Breathing and Body Techniques
Slow breathing, muscle relaxation and grounding techniques help you ride out an attack without trying to suppress it. A Psychiatry Online specialist practices them with you during sessions so that when it counts — in traffic on Sain Street or in a checkout line — you can use them automatically, without stopping to think. Regular practice at home makes the skill stick.
Myths and facts
MythA panic attack can end in a heart attack
FactA panic attack in itself doesn’t damage a healthy heart. But a first attack with chest pain must be checked, so an examination is essential. Once serious causes have been ruled out, fear about your heart can be reduced in therapy.
MythIf you avoid dangerous places, the attacks will stop
FactAvoidance brings brief relief, but over time it narrows your life and strengthens the fear. Gradually returning to avoided situations under a specialist’s guidance is one of the main methods of treatment.
MythPanic attacks can’t be treated — you just have to accept them
FactPanic disorder is a condition with a good prognosis. Psychotherapy and, when needed, medication allow most patients to significantly reduce or completely stop their attacks.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.
Questions and answers
What should I do during a panic attack?
Remind yourself that the attack will pass in a few minutes and isn’t dangerous. Slow your breathing, making each exhale longer than the inhale, and focus on the objects around you. If you can, don’t flee the situation right away. If it’s your first attack or you have chest pain, call 103 or 112.
Can I get a consultation right in the middle of an attack?
Consultations are available 24/7, and the administrator will try to connect you with a doctor as quickly as possible. But an attack usually passes within a few minutes, so it’s important to have your own action plan. If you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms, call an ambulance.
How long will treatment take?
A CBT course usually takes two to four months. If medication is prescribed, it’s continued for several months after improvement. Many people notice the first changes after just a few sessions, once they understand what’s happening in their body.
I’m afraid to travel downtown — how do I handle the in-person part?
Most of the treatment is done online. If you need lab tests or an ECG, the doctor will suggest where to get them near your home — for example, in the Auezov district or in your suburb — so you don’t have to cross all of Almaty. Getting back to traveling will become part of your therapy.
Is it safe to drive if I have panic attacks?
If attacks happen while you’re behind the wheel, driving isn’t safe until they become less frequent. Discuss this with your doctor: they’ll assess the risk and take it into account when choosing medication. Some exposure exercises are specifically aimed at restoring your confidence behind the wheel.
Does alcohol help stop an attack?
Alcohol may lower anxiety briefly, but the next day it comes back stronger, and a hangover itself triggers attacks. Regularly using alcohol to relieve anxiety raises the risk of dependence, so the doctor will make sure to discuss this with you.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy
