Panic and Anxiety can be beaten -
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What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden and severe attack of anxiety , This is often without warning, and for no apparent reason. You will often suffer a number or physical symptoms: •Palpitations •Sweating and shaking. •Feeling hot •Feeling short of breath, sometimes with choking sensations. •Chest pains. •Feeling sick, dizzy, or faint. •Fear of dying or going crazy. •Numbness, or pins and needles. •Feelings of unreality, or being detached from yourself. The physical symptoms that occur with panic attacks do not mean there is a physical problem with the heart, chest, etc. The symptoms mainly occur because of an overdrive of nervous impulses from the brain to various parts of the body during a panic attack. During a panic attack you tend to over-breathe (hyperventilate). If you over-breathe you blow out too much carbon dioxide which changes the acidity in the blood. This can then cause more symptoms such as confusion and cramps, and make palpitations, dizziness, and pins and needles worse. This can make the attack seem even more frightening, and make you over-breathe even more, and so on. A panic attack usually lasts 5-10 minutes, but sometimes they come in waves for up to two hours. Agoraphobia Some people with panic disorder worry about having a panic attack in a public place where it is difficult to get out of, or where help may not be available, or where it can be embarrassing. This may cause you to develop agoraphobia. About 1 in 3 people with panic disorder also develop agoraphobia. If you have agoraphobia you have a number of fears of various places and situations. So, for example, you may be afraid to:. •Be in an open place. •Enter shops, crowds, and public places. •Travel in trains, buses, or planes. •Be on a bridge or in a lift. •Be in a cinema, restaurant, etc where there is no easy exit. •Be anywhere far from your home - many people with agoraphobia stay inside their home for most or all of the time. You may also develop other irrational fears. For example, you may think that exercise or certain foods cause the panic attacks. Because of this you may fear (develop a phobia) for certain foods, or avoid exercise, etc.. What is the treatment for panic attacks? Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is the recognised treatment for Panic and Agoraphobia (NICE Guidelines) |
Is Worry a problem?
Worry becomes a problem when it starts to interfere with your ability to function. It may affect your sleep leading to insomnia It may lead to indecision or procrastination You may spend a lot of time caught up in your worries It can interfere with carrying out tasks You can become irritable and tense You find it difficult to stay focussed This may have worsened due to an increase of stress at work or at home. You may feel that you are not in control of your thinking. you may become highly stressed as you race round trying to deal with all the worries. Eventually you can feel overwhelmed and even become depressed. Worry or Generalised Anxiety Disorder is treated with CBT. You will learn to gain control of your thoughts and calm your anxiety through a nuber of tried and tested tools and techniques. Kerry - Teacher
" When I was out I would feel faint and scared. My heart would start to pound and I worried I was going to collapse and die. I would have to escape out of the crowd. once I was in the fresh air I would start to calm but I never really calmed down fully. The panic controlled my life. I avoided so much to stop it happening." I now have my life back since I beat the panic Thank you so much Kerry After 12 sessions of CBT she overcame her panic attacks and she was able to start going out on her own. She was able to get on with her life again. Find out how CBT could help You. |