Are Panic Attacks Making Life Difficult?

Approximately 1in 23 people or 4.23% of our population lives with excessive anxiety. Even more people today suffer from panic attacks.

A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense anxiety. This may feel like a rapid heart rate, an inability to breathe, feelings of intense nausea, an out of body experience or the feeling that everything is closing in on you. Many people experiencing a panic attack for the first time believe that they are having a heart attack and often go to the emergency room. This is usually where they first hear the words panic attack.

After the first attack subsides you may find yourself worrying that it will happen again. You may begin to avoid certain situations “in case” it happens again. Initially you may avoid the situation in which it happened. Later on you may notice the things you avoid are more general.

Common situations in which people first experience panic attacks are driving, in elevators, going over bridges, flying and sometimes at home.

Adults my distract themselves from these uncomfortable feelings with alcohol, drugs, food, work and exercise in order to avoid the familiar uncomfortable feelings of anxiety and panic.

As uncomfortable as these feelings are, anxiety and panic are generally very treatable!

When excessive anxiety or panic has developed, the root cause is often found in an event or events that were intense enough to leave a lasting impression. The treatment through a combination of methods is designed to eliminate the strong emotion connected to the event(s).

Through this process the power of these emotions is nullified. Often excessive anxiety and panic can be resolved in 4-6 sessions.