Panic Attacks

Panic Attacks are an expression of extreme anxiety. What makes them even worse for many sufferers is the fear and uncertainty they cause and the constant worry about when and where the next attack might take place. Sometimes they are few and far between but for many sufferers they become entrenched and debilitating with a devastating effect on quality of life.

Therapy for Panic Attacks

One of the worst problems associated with panic attacks is the feeling of being out of control. My aim is to get you back in charge. Over a number of sessions I will help you:-

• Learn simple 'first aid' techniques to use if you feel the onset of an attack.
• Learn how to relax both mind and body so that you start to unwind the 'heightened alert' state.
• Deal with the root cause of the attacks so that they need no longer be a feature of your life.
• Build up your lost confidence and self esteem.
• Plan for a panic free future.

Give me a call on 01206 299724 to find out how you can put paid to panic.

Christina's Story

I came to hypnotherapy after 15 years of anxiety, depression and debilitating panic attacks which had restricted my life so much that it was practically unrecognisable. I had been unable to work, and my severely curtailed social life, such as it was, was propped up by anti-depressants and tranquillisers to such a degree that I was numb; Large chunks of my memory are missing because of the agonising stress my body was under.

My problems were also affecting my family and friends; although they were all at times very supportive of me, my inability to do the normal family things without contingency plans in place for my early escape if necessary, often made things stressful and difficult for them.

The crunch came when I had to make a very early exit from my father's birthday party. I had spent months organising the event, but on the night, not even the maximum dose of tranquillisers could stop the all too familiar paralysing fear from flooding over me, and as I was taken home in the car I knew that I had to do something about this.

It wasn't as if I hadn't already tried. As well as medical support, over the years I had received counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to try and solve the problems. In their own way these were helpful but my issues seemed to be very deep rooted and needed more than a 'band-aid' fix which both of these turned out to be.

So the morning after the party I found myself researching hypnotherapy on the internet. For me this was very much a last resort - my only encounters with hypnosis had been of the stage variety and I was very worried about not being in control. However, as I read more and more about it I became more and more persuaded - if not convinced - that I should at least give it a try.

It was not without some trepidation that I approached the first session with Liz, but then something miraculous happened, and miraculous really isn’t too strong a word to use.  After the process had been explained to me, and after a couple of false starts, I was able to give myself over completely to the therapy, and I came out of that first session a complete convert.  It would be a patent untruth to say that 15 years of hell had been wiped away in those 90 minutes – but for the first time in a long, long time I had real hope that I had found my road to recovery and I somehow ‘knew’ that this was going to work for me.  

Since then, I haven’t looked back.  I approached hypnotherapy with the specific intent of ridding myself of the burden of the panic attacks that had held me hostage for so long, and little by little, almost without me noticing, it’s happening.  I am living my life again instead of just surviving it; it’s almost like being reborn.  My husband has his wife back, my family and friends have the real me back, and I can be a proper auntie to my nephew and niece.  And it’s even more than all of those wonderful things – not only do panic attacks dissipate before they’ve even begun, but such a sense of general calm surrounds me now that I just ‘can’t be bothered’ with panic anymore – it’s as if the vicious circle is unwinding completely.

I wish I had found this ‘last resort’ years ago, but I realise now that I had to be ready for it. For me personally, it has been hard work, but the whole journey has been absolutely fascinating. I don’t know how it works, but it does, and the proof of that is that I am sailing through challenges that before would have been impossible to even contemplate – and they’re not even challenges anymore, it’s just ordinary life.  And although it might just be ordinary, it’s MY life once again!

Christina, Suffolk

About Panic Attacks

There are many physical feelings which may be associated with panic attacks. The most common are:-

• Palpitations

• Sweating

• Raised heart rate

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness

• Chest pains

• Tingling sensations

• Shaking

• Churning stomach

• Nausea

In fact the symptoms can be so severe that when you first experience a panic attack it is difficult to believe it is nervous in origin. You may feel apprehension, fear or terror. It might seem as if you are losing control, going mad, even dying.  Afterwards you may well be pre-occupied with the fear of having another episode. Over time your body may become over sensitised and you find yourself reacting to the mildest of situations.

It is hardly surprising that many sufferers end up in the cardiac arrest unit, only to be told that there is nothing physically wrong with them.

Because panic attacks produce such frightening symptoms you will do anything you will probably do anything you can to avoid the type of situation when your first panic attack occurred. This can lead to phobia. Panic attack sufferers are often frightened of being left alone, but also fearful of being in public in case they make a fool of themselves.

Whilst the physical and mental feelings associated with panic attacks are the same as a normal reaction to a dangerous situation, there is a difference. And this is that during a panic attack there very rarely real danger.

The sensations which accompany panic attacks are not usually harmful in themselves but if the associated stress and anxiety become entrenched or prolonged they can lead to stress related illness.