Panic Attacks & Anxiety

Panic Disorder is a serious condition that around 1 out of every 75 people might experience. It usually appears during the teens or early adulthood, and while the exact causes are unclear, there does seem to be a connection with major life transitions that are potentially stressful: graduating from college, getting married, having a first child, and so on. There is also some evidence for a genetic predisposition; if a family member has suffered from panic disorder, you have an increased risk of suffering from it yourself, especially during a time in your life that is particularly stressful.

Panic Attacks: The Hallmark of Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is marked by recurrent, spontaneous panic attacks. A panic attack is an intense period of fear or discomfort. During the attack, a person may experience the following symptoms:

	racing heartbeat
	difficulty breathing, feeling as though you 'can't get enough air'
	terror that is almost paralyzing
	dizziness, light-headedness or nausea
	trembling, sweating, shaking
	choking, chest pains
	hot flushes, or sudden chills
	tingling in fingers or toes ('pins and needles')
	fear that you're going to go crazy or are about to die

To be diagnosed as a panic attack, four or more symptoms should be present. Otherwise, the attack is described as "limited symptom attack." Those who experience panic attacks usually describe them as occurring "out of the blue."

You probably recognize this as the classic 'fight or flight' response that human beings experience when we are in a situation of danger. But during a panic attack, these symptoms seem to arise from out of nowhere. They occur in seemingly harmless situations--they can even happen while you are asleep.

Within hypnotherapy we can teach you to control your breathing, heart rate and you will be able to relax at will including at the onset of a panic attack, thus stopping it in its tracks.