Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onset and of variable duration from minutes to hours and usually subside on their own over the next few hours.
The effects of a panic attack vary. Sufferers who experience one may fear they are having a heart attack or nervous breakdown. Common psychological themes associated with panic attacks include the fear of impending death or loss of sanity, faintness or nausea, numbness throughout the body, shortness of breath and palpitations may be experienced.
Experiencing a panic attack has been said to be one of the most intensely frightening, upsetting and uncomfortable experiences of a person’s life and may initially take days to recover from. Panic attacks usually increase one’s sense of general anxiety which, in turn, can make you more prone to subsequent panic attacks.
The causes of panic attacks are usually several and vary from one person to another. They will usually include some of the following:
- difficult life events (eg: loss of a relationship, illnesses)
- difficult childhood experiences (eg: bullying, difficult family relationships)
- lack of assertiveness
- negative relationships with certain people
- stress
- negative thinking patterns
- trauma
How therapy can help:
Therapy offers a warm, empathic, safe and confidential environment in which the therapist and you collaboratively work towards:
- Understanding the underlying causes and triggers of your panic attacks and anxiety, both conscious and unconscious
- Developing ways to manage your panic attack – this usually involves both cognitive (how you think about it) and behavioural (actions, tasks, homework etc) work
Contact us now in confidence at Arduna @ (01) 833 2733 to discuss making an appointment with one of our therapists who can help you with panic attack and anxiety problems.
THERAPISTS WHO SPECIALISE IN THIS AREA:
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