Anxiety and panic attacks are often dismissed by those around us as mere feelings of stress or being overwhelmed. But for those who suffer from these feelings, they are very real. For someone experiencing a panic attack, these feelings can be life-threatening. In psychological counselling for anxiety, we explore together what triggers your feelings of anxiety and panic, and find new ways to stop anxiety from taking over your life.

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What are the symptoms of severe anxiety or panic attacks? 

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• Feeling uneasy and mind spinning

• Inner restlessness and stress

• Shortness of breath up to hyperventilation

• Palpitations or racing heart

• Chest pain or discomfort

• Shaking or trembling

• Feeling of suffocation

• Feeling unreal or detached from your surroundings

• Nausea or upset stomach

• Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

• Feeling numb or tingly

• Sudden feeling of heat or cold

• Fear of dying, losing control or going crazy

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Other symptoms include withdrawal from normal everyday activities and feeling out of control. Those who have suffered from extreme anxiety or a panic attack often report experiencing one or more of the above symptoms.

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Is it normal to feel anxious?

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Feeling anxious or even a little panicky is a normal feeling that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. Especially when faced with a new experience or an unfamiliar situation, we can feel overwhelmed, for example when speaking in public for the first time or attending a job interview. 

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When does the feeling of fear or panic become a problem?

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When anxiety and panic start to dominate and restrict your daily life, this is the signal that something is wrong. So, when anxiety and panic attacks become a part of everyday life, it is time to seek help. You may recognise any of the following characteristics that indicate you are not in control of your anxiety or panic:

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• You experience frequent, anxiety or unexpected panic attacks that seem to be related to or triggered by a particular situation or place.

• You begin to worry regularly that anxiety will strike.

• You adjust your behaviour to avoid the risk of having another panic attack, for example by avoiding places, avoiding public transport or avoiding certain groups of people.

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How Counselling can help with anxieties and panic attacks?

 

Counselling can help you to get to the root of your anxiety and to better control and manage your response to the triggers of these feelings. The body-centred psychological approach is particularly suited to this. As a body-centred  counsellor, I work on both the cognitive and the physical level with the issue you bring to our sessions. We work in a holistic and practical way.