Panic attacks happen when your body’s natural ‘alarm system’ is triggered disproportionately to what’s happening at the time. This can lead to exaggerated and distressing symptoms and can be intense and frightening. Panic attacks often occur when we are already experiencing heightened anxiety in our daily lives. A panic attack is an intense, exaggerated fear reaction with no obvious cause. Having one can be an uncomfortable and distressing experience, both emotionally and physically. Panic attacks can be caused by past trauma, phobia or generalised anxiety and stress. While deeply unpleasant, panic attacks in themselves are not harmful, and can be successfully treated with Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
Symptoms of a Panic Attack
Symptoms of a panic attack can vary in intensity but can include an intense feeling of dread, shortness of breath, a pounding heart, feeling hot or cold, feeling sick, feeling faint or dizzy, shaking or trembling, churning stomach and/or needing to go to the toilet.
How can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy help with Panic Attacks?
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help with panic attacks by reducing anxiety and building confidence and resilience, helping you regain control over these distressing symptoms and feel more positive in general about life. You’ll learn exactly what is happening in your mind and body during a panic attack, and this understanding in itself can bring relief. We will look at techniques to help you get out of fight or flight and get you feeling more relaxed and in control. Listening to the relaxation track every night at bedtime will help with this process and every week we’ll be focusing on the positive things in your life to get you out of the vicious cycle of being on constant high alert. After a solution focused discussion and identifying small steps to get you closer to your preferred future, we use guided relaxation at the end of every session to help consolidate these small steps and create new positive thinking patterns.