Panic Attacks
Understanding Panic Attacks
As a counsellor with over three decades of experience, I’ve walked alongside many individuals navigating the often frightening and confusing world of panic attacks. Over the years, I’ve come to deeply understand not only the nature of panic, but also the resilience of the human nervous system when given the right support, understanding, and relational safety.
What Is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden and intense surge of fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes. It often appears to come "out of the blue, "I know of someone who was really enjoying them selves with their grand children then bang a full blown panic attack. So panic attacks can come on at any time to anyone.. Although in many cases, it’s the body’s response to accumulated stress, emotional overwhelm, or unprocessed experiences.
Common symptoms include:
- Rapid heart rate or palpitations
- Shortness of breath or a feeling of being unable to breathe
- Dizziness or light-headedness’
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Sweating or chills
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Feelings of unreality or detachment (derealisation or depersonalisation)
- Fear of losing control, going crazy, or dying
These experiences can be terrifying, especially when people don’t understand what’s happening. Many individuals end up in emergency rooms convinced they're having a heart attack—only to be told later that what they’ve experienced is “just anxiety.” That phrase, while well-intended, can feel dismissive to those who’ve lived through such distress.
Why Do Panic Attacks Happen?
Panic attacks are the body’s alarm system misfiring. They are often rooted in a nervous system that has become over-sensitised due to chronic stress, trauma, or unresolved emotional pain. In essence, the body reacts as if there is immediate danger, even when none is present.
This response is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that the nervous system is doing its best to protect the person—even if it’s doing so at the wrong time.
My Approach to Working with Panic
Having supported countless clients through the healing process, I bring a relational, grounded, approach to panic. I don’t just teach coping strategies (though those can be helpful); I aim to understand the unique history and context behind each person's experience. Often, panic is not the problem itself—it's a messenger.
You Are Not Alone
If you experience panic attacks, know that you are not broken—and you are certainly not alone. Panic is often a sign that something inside is asking to be felt, understood, or tended to. With the right kind of support, it is entirely possible to move beyond fear, reclaim agency, and feel more at home in your body.
I've spent my professional life helping people do just that.
There is no need to suffer…I am just an email or phone call away. I promise you talking
helps…you are not going mad ..but it is very frightening .