Everyone has experienced panic before, the sudden feeling of stress or fear, caused by the fight, flight or freeze response. This feeling generally fades quickly, however for some they experience panic as an intense, prolonged and frightening physical experience. This is a panic attack.

During these attacks, you may experience symptoms like a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, trembling, chest pain, dizziness, or a sense of losing control. Although these feelings can be overwhelming, panic attacks are not dangerous. Panic disorder is believing that these physical symptoms are catastrophic and may be signs of a heart attack, brain haemorrhage, fainting or even death.

Panic attacks can develop for many reasons. They may be caused by stress or life changes or can even come out of nowhere. There is a cyclical element to panic attacks where physical symptoms, thoughts and behaviours all impact on one another to maintain the intense feeling of fear.

In order for you to manage your panic attacks you will engage in evidence-based techniques such as controlled breathing and various relaxation techniques. Learning to break the cycle of anxiety and stress, while having panic attacks, allows you to manage your symptoms and general panic better, reducing the risk and duration of panic attacks.