hypnotherapy for panic attacks: Learn About Hypnosis | Weight-Loss Hypnosis

Panic Attacks And Panic Attack Symptoms Can Be Eased With
By Loretta Sernekos, Ph.D., CHt, Thu Dec 8th

Panic attacks are usually brief, although the sufferer may feelthat they last forever. From an emotional perspective, panicattack symptoms may include feelings of intense fear, anoverwhelming sense of doom, being out of control, or a sense ofunreality. The sufferer's thoughts may race and jump about,without any logic or consistency.

Physical panic attack symptoms may include some or all of thefollowing sensations:

Racing or pounding heart; palpitations

Difficulty breathing or tightness in the chest

Shallow, rapid breathing

A choking feeling

Severe trembling or shaking

A rapid pulse rate

Sweating

A brief body temperature rise

Chest pain

Dizziness or light-headedness

Nausea

Fear of losing control

Tingling or numbness in the extremities

A feeling of not being physically anchored.

A panic attack may leave the person feeling utterly exhaustedafterward. This may be caused by the flood of adrenaline andother stress hormones released when the panic attack starts.These "fight or flight" hormones cause an enormous output of thebody's energy resources. When the attack is over, exhaustionensues as the body tries to recover.

Many people who experience panic attack symptoms initially thinkthey are having a heart attack. They may run to an emergencyroom or call an ambulance, only to be told no physical ailmentshave caused the intense feelings, sensations and other symptoms.Over time, the sufferer may feel as if he or she is losing hisor her mind.

It is hard to overestimate the debilitating and widespreadeffects of these attacks. People who suffer from panic attacksoften live in fear of the next attack, especially since they canbe unpredictable. The attacks seem random and unwarranted andthe sufferer worries they may have an attack when they are outamong other people, or while driving or in other worrisomesituations. Panic attack victims sometimes become reclusive oragoraphobic (afraid to leave their home); they may loseimportant relationships and friends. These types of copingskills arise because of the randomness of the panic attacks. Theperson having the panic attacks withdraws from socialinteraction because they fear being around other people when thepanic attack starts. The fear of losing control in public and ofnot being able to stop the attack adds to the negative impactthe panic attacks have on the person's life.

Thus, we have the vicious circle aspect of panic attacks: thefear of panic attacks leads to anxiety about the possibility ofa panic attack occurring randomly, which can lead to afull-blown panic attack. Often patients cannot lead normal livesand end up on disability, unable to maintain a job. The panicattacks and panic attack symptoms literally control their lives.

How can hypnosis help with panic attacks and panic attacksymptoms? The key reason hypnosis can help with panic attacks isthat fears, anxieties, and, in fact, all emotions, originate inthe subconscious. The subconscious also controls involuntaryphysical functions, such as heart beat, respiration, etc.Hypnosis works in the realm of the subconscious. Therefore, thegood news is that the subconscious mind can be retrained toreinterpret both fear responses and panic-inducing situations.There is a good chance that the person can use his mind toeventually free himself from panic attacks completely.

Deep, focused breathing techniques may be taught by thehypnotherapist. Breathing techniques are a deceptively simpleway to help panic attacks. Not only does focused deep breathinghelp distract the person's mind from the fear, but it also has apowerful subconscious effect. We usually think of breathing as atotally automatic process. But when we bring our attention toour breathing, we can easily change the pace and depth of ourbreathing. This sends the subconscious a reassuring and powerfulmessage: "You are in control. You can control this panicattack." Further, deep breathing can help reverse the effects ofshallow, rapid, panicked breathing. It can increase oxygen flowto the brain, which can help restore calm, logical thoughtprocesses.

Hypnosis techniques may also focus on reassuring thesubconscious mind that it is safe to release the fear and/oranxiety. Panic attacks may arise from a part of the subconsciousthat believes it is keeping the person "safe" by sending themthe message to panic. In other words, some part of thesubconscious may think it senses danger or it may simply wantthe person to be alert to danger. So it sends messages to theperson's conscious mind regarding extreme fear, doom, etc. toinsure that the person is "paying attention." This part of thesubconscious needs to feel reassured that the person has otherways of remaining safe, cautious, etc. Then it can be persuadedto release the fear response. To accomplish this goal, thehypnotherapist may use complementary therapies such asNeuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), which is a form of "wakinghypnosis" or "conversational hypnosis."

Sometimes, a small amount of emotional relief can by given tothe panic attack sufferer by simply explaining that his panicattack symptoms are not "crazy," "insane," or "irrational."Instead, the symptoms seem "rational" from the perspective ofthat part of his subconscious that wants him to be alert todanger and ultimately safe. Once the person understands theproblem at a deeper level he or she may begin to feel that he orshe is not "going crazy." This is one small step in the journeyback to emotional wellness.

It should be emphasized that it may take multiple hypnosissessions for the panic attack sufferer to feel some relief. Overtime, he or she will begin to feel more in control and empoweredto stop a panic attack and its accompanying symptoms before theybecome overwhelming and/or debilitating. Eventually, he or shemay be able to completely eliminate panic attacks.

*Hypnosis is not a substitute for medical, pharmaceutical ormental health treatment of panic attacks. Rather, hypnosisprovides a wonderful complement to standard "talk therapy"(psychotherapy, etc.) and medical/psychiatric approaches topanic attacks. Hypnosis works with doctors and mental healthpractitioners, not against them. Do not discontinue medical,pharmaceutical and/or mental health treatment for your panicattacks when you begin hypnotherapy.

About the author:Loretta Sernekos, Ph.D., is a Certified Hypnotherapist inprivate practice in Cherry Hill, NJ and Philadelphia, PA. Youcan visit her hypnosis practice website at http://www.sghypnosis.comfor more information and audio podcasts. For additional hypnosisinformation and articles, visit http://www.hypnosisgateway.com.

Learn hypnosis by reviewing these other articles on hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis:

Learn About hypnotherapy for panic attacks