Apanic attack is an exaggerated body response to a stressful situation. Most people will experience feelings of panic in normal life – such as before a job interview or a medical procedure— but the symptoms generally subside quickly after the event. But if a person has recurrent feelings of panic and spends long periods constantly worried about triggering a panic attack, it could be that they have a condition known as panic disorder.
Panic attacks can be very frightening. When a panic attack occurs a person experiences very sudden and overwhelming feelings of fear, apprehension or dread, even when there is no reason to feel in danger or threatened.
The terror that a person experiences during their panic attack is not proportional to the situation— but at the time is occurs it feels very real for the sufferer.
Most people with a panic disorder will display some of these distressing symptoms:
- A rapid heartbeat or ‘racing’ heart
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- A prickling sensation or numbness in hands
- A feeling of impending doom or dying
- Difficulty with breathing patterns
- Feeling a loss of control
These sensations of fear, or physical symptoms such as chest pain and hyperventilation can cause anxiety and stop the person from living a happy and rewarding life.
Sufferers of regular panic attacks can find the condition very debilitating. During an episode of panic, a person is unable to focus on anything while they are taking place. Most panic attacks only last for a short time but can leave the sufferer feeling drained, mentally exhausted and anxious for a long while after the attack subsides.
It’s important to acknowledge that whilst panic attacks are not physically harmful, they can leave a person feeling very isolated and lonely. A person with a panic disorder can feel extremely anxious and fearful about their daily life, as they do not know when the next episode of panic may occur.
How cognitive behavioural therapy can overcome a panic disorder
Speaking about the experience can seem very daunting, but help is available and it’s vital that the sufferer can reach out and get the empathy and support they need to minimise the risk of panic attacks and learn helpful coping strategies when they do occur.
A panic attack is a physical manifestation of a mental health issue, which is why evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) has a proven track record in helping sufferers to overcome their panic disorder.
CBT focuses on developing ways to help panic disorder sufferers to better manage their symptoms. While a client may not be able to control when they have a panic attack, CBT can teach them techniques to cope more effectively with the symptoms to achieve lasting change.
A CBT therapist will help a client to think about the negative thought patterns that trigger a panic attack and provide the coping mechanisms to view their anxieties in a more practical way.
During a CBT session a therapist will show clients how to question their thoughts in the run-up to an attack and examine what they are thinking and feeling whilst the attack occurs. Once these feelings are identified a sufferer can begin to replace their unwelcome thoughts with more balanced ones which are less likely to result in a panic attack.
Relaxation techniques can also be taught, to help sufferer to stay calm during stressful circumstances. Understanding how to manage their fears will help to lower heart rates and reduce the tension felt during a panic attack.
Cognitive behavioural therapy has its foundations in teaching people helpful thought management techniques that can then be put into practice when they encounter situations that would have previously induced a panic attack.
Choose an accredited CBT practitioner
Jamie Dempsey is a qualified and accredited CBT practitioner with the British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychologies (BABCP). He has successfully worked with a diverse range of different clients experiencing panic attacks, providing the support they need to reduce the emotional distress that a panic disorder can cause, allowing them to move beyond their problems.
