Life-changing online care for panic disorder

Brightside is available to people 18 years and older in the states where Brightside operates who believe they may be experiencing depression and may benefit from treatment.

Remote care is not a good fit for people with certain conditions or situations. These include (but are not limited to):

• Previous suicide attempt or active suicide planning
• Ongoing, high risk self-harm behavior
• Recent involuntary hospitalization for psychiatric reasons
• Schizophrenia or any symptoms of psychosis
• Certain severities of Bipolar Disorder and symptoms of mania
• Substance abuse problems
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Eating disorder with high-risk symptoms
• Kidney or liver disease, seizures, or long QT (for Psychiatry plan only)

Our providers do not treat, and do not prescribe for adhd.

If any of these describe you, it’s best for you to be seen by a provider in person so you can get the care that’s right for you.

Brightside makes it easy to get top quality depression care from the privacy of home.

Here’s how Psychiatry works:

1. Take the assessment: Answer questions about yourself to provide the information your provider will need to thoroughly evaluate your situation.
2. Connect with a psychiatric provider: Get matched with an expert psychiatric provider for a comprehensive video consultation. Share how you’re feeling, then decide on the best next steps — together. These conversations normally last about 15 minutes to review your situation, discuss your care plan, and answer any questions you may have. 
3. Follow your care plan: If the provider chooses to prescribe, your medication will be sent to your local pharmacy. Your plan also includes digital therapy, and self-care tools you can use at your own pace.
4. Make progress: We’ll ask you to tell us about your symptoms and side effects weekly, allowing the provider to monitor your progress and make any necessary changes to your care plan, so you can get the best results.

Here’s how Therapy works:

1. Take the assessment: Tell us what you’re experiencing, and we’ll help you understand what it means.
2. Connect with a Therapist: Connect with an expert, licensed therapist by messaging and with access to one 30-minute video appointment included with your subscription each week (your first appointment with your therapist will be 45-minutes long). You will continue to have Unlimited messaging support and guidance to help you build skills and feel better.
   
3. Complete sessions: Complete personalized, self-paced audio lessons and practice exercises, building the evidence-based skills and habits you need to overcome your depression and anxiety.
4. Make Progress: Report back on what’s working well for you and where you want to go deeper with the option to purchase additional video sessions if you choose. Your therapist will help guide you through your personalized program so you see the best results.

When scheduling your first appointment, you can browse all of our available providers in your state. Take a look at their profiles and check open times to find the best fit for you. Every Brightside provider undergoes a rigorous hiring and vetting process to ensure the highest quality care.

Brightside currently accepts select insurance plans in various states for payment of your provider’s or therapist’s services. Please see below for a current listing of plans. Brightside may not be included in all plans that each health insurance company offers. Please contact your health insurance plan to verify that your care at Brightside will be covered.

We currently accept the following insurance plans:

• Cigna (all states, except MN)
• Aetna (nationwide)
• Allegience (nationwide)
• Anthem (CA only)
• United Health (select states)

If you are a new member signing up for services you can enter your insurance information during the sign-up process. We’ll let you know your eligibility, as well as you estimated co-pays and out-of-pocket costs (if any) before signing-up or scheduling.

We also accept HSA/FSA payment if you have one of those accounts. If you have questions about using your medical or prescription insurance benefits, please contact us by emailing [email protected].

Although research has not wholly determined why some people develop panic disorder, researchers believe that the illness may be caused or triggered by one or a combination of genetic or hereditary factors, a more sensitive “fight-or-flight” response, a disturbance in neural pathways in the brain, a stressful life event, or childhood stress and trauma.

Visit a doctor if you’ve been experiencing symptoms of panic disorder. At first, it may be difficult to discuss your feelings, but remember that your doctor is there to help you. Speaking openly about your condition is the first step toward healthily managing your symptoms.

The first thing to do is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Your doctor will do an exam and ask you about your health history to ensure that an unrelated physical problem is not causing your symptoms. Your doctor may then refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist.

You may be diagnosed with panic disorder if you have regular and unexpected panic attacks followed by at least a month of continuous worry or concern about having further attacks.

If you have panic attacks but have not been diagnosed with a panic disorder, you can still benefit from treatment. If panic attacks aren’t treated, they can get worse and develop into panic disorder or phobias.

Once a diagnosis has been established, a panic disorder is generally treated with therapy, medication, or both. Talk with your provider about the best treatment option for you.

Therapy: A type of treatment called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is especially useful as a treatment for panic disorder. CBT teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to the feelings that come on with a panic attack. CBT can help you become aware of inaccurate or negative thought patterns to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them more effectively. The attacks can begin to disappear once you learn to respond differently to the physical sensations of anxiety and fear during panic attacks.

Medication: Doctors also may prescribe different types of medications to help treat panic disorder, depending on your needs. These medications can include:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

SSRIs and SNRIs are both antidepressants commonly used to treat depression, but they are also helpful for panic disorder symptoms. The results of these medications are not immediate—they may take several weeks to start working. These medications may also cause side-effects, such as headaches, nausea, or difficulty sleeping. These side effects are usually not severe for most people, especially if the dose starts low and increases slowly. Most of the time, the benefits of the medication outweigh the potential side effects but talk to your doctor about any that you may be experiencing. Check out our Myths and Misconceptions about Antidepressants post for more information about antidepressants.

You should work closely with your doctor to find the best medication and dose for you. Both therapy and medication can take some time to work, so don’t give up on treatment too quickly. Following a healthy lifestyle can also help combat panic disorder. Make sure to get enough sleep and exercise, eat a healthy and balanced diet, and turn to loved ones who you trust for support.