Treating Panic Attacks with Hypnotherapy

Panic attacks can be a very frightening reaction to prolonged stress and anxiety. Whilst panic attacks are not harmful in themselves, the sudden and unpredictable nature of them can lead to even higher levels of stress and anxiety and contribute to a vicious circle of intense worry.

What are panic attacks?

In short panic attacks are an acute or exaggerated stress response. The stress response is better known as the flight or fight response, which is your body's natural reaction to danger or threat. This is actually an important survival mechanism that has evolved over millions of years, but in modern times is triggered inappropriately. During a stress response your heart beats more rapidly and your rate of breathing increases, allowing for greater volumes of blood to be distributed to key areas of the body like the arms and legs (for running or fighting). There is also an increase in sweating and a greater sensitivity to sound or movement.

One of the problems with panic attacks is that they can strike without warning and without any perceived threat present. This can make the sufferer either feel like they are totally out of control, about to die or having an out of body experience (often referred to as depersonalisation).