It starts. That sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach you know all too well. Your heart rate begins to rise as the familiar pattern flows without any control. The feeling, the heart rate, the breathing, the pain in the chest, the closing of vision, the panic.
This is a process that occurs in thousands of people every day and yet it typically takes them months if not years to seek professional help. Why is that? If this were a physical problem, for example, your legs suddenly wouldn't work, with the same frequency as the panic attacks, they would be at their GP or indeed A&E without delay. This is one of the problems with mental health. It is often marginalised or hidden for fear of the perceived stigma that goes with it.
We are getting better however, with the realisation that our mental health is just as, if not more, important than our physical health. After all, what can we do without our minds? There are support groups and therapies that can offer a wide range of solutions and depend on the person and personality as to their appeal.
So what can hypnotherapy offer that makes it stand out as the go-to therapy for panic attacks? Well, firstly, solution focused hypnotherapy was born from a deep scientific understanding of the brain and its functions; the 'why' and the 'how' we think the way we do and how that effects our physiology and behaviour. It can tell you all about the primitive parts of the brain and their automatic reactions to perceived danger. It can describe how these negative feelings are created, what keeps them going and more importantly, what can be done to remove them.
Instead of dwelling on the past and reliving the problems (which often cause an increase in symptoms) it focuses on the here and now and the positive future you create. It builds a space inside you where resilience and calmness can resonate. Emptying the stress that gets built up and stored, allowing clearer thoughts and reactions. It truly is a wonderful experience for both the client and therapist; to be placed into a state where stress and anxiety are reduced and to see an almost instant change.
If you or someone you know suffers from anxiety and panic attacks, hypnotherapy is a stand-out choice for a solution. I, like most hypnotherapists, offer a free consultation. Far from being just a chat about hypnotherapy, it is a real discussion and learning experience for people who, whether they start therapy sessions or not, is such a beneficial aspect that I would recommend everyone should have one. In fact, I had given free consultations that have been so beneficial that further therapy sessions aren't required. So do something that your future self will thank you for.