What happens during a panic attack
Panic attacks are sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort, often accompanied by powerful physical sensations. They can occur unexpectedly or in situations you have begun to associate with fear. The sensations are real, even when the danger you fear is not present. Fear of another attack can become a cycle of scanning your body, seeking reassurance, leaving places early or avoiding travel, exercise and social plans. Panic attacks can occur on their own or alongside other difficulties; having an attack does not automatically mean you have panic disorder.
You may recognise
• A sudden rush of fear or a sense that something awful is about to happen • A pounding heart, breathlessness, trembling, sweating or dizziness • Feeling detached, unreal or afraid you might lose control • Checking your pulse, breathing or bodily sensations repeatedly • Avoiding places where leaving might feel difficult • Planning your day around the possibility of another attack • Feeling exhausted, embarrassed or unsettled afterwards
How therapy breaks the panic cycle
Your therapist can help you understand the relationship between physical sensations, fearful interpretations and the urge to escape. Cognitive behavioural therapy may include practical work with catastrophic thoughts, safety behaviours and a gradual return to situations you have avoided. When clinically appropriate, carefully planned exercises can also help you learn that uncomfortable sensations can rise and fall without the feared catastrophe. The pace is collaborative. The goal is not to promise you will never feel anxious, but to help you live more freely even when anxiety appears.
Support you can access from a comfortable place
TalkTime connects you with a licensed therapist whose experience and approach suit your needs. Private online sessions and secure messaging can help you work consistently on panic between appointments.
You do not have to organise your life around the next panic attack.
Take the first step towards understanding what is happening and finding your footing.
