Perhaps you've started to fear the fear itself
A sudden racing heart, dizziness, breathlessness, shaking or an overwhelming sense that something terrible is about to happen can be frightening. Afterwards, it's understandable to ask: What if it happens again?
You may recognise some of these experiences
- Checking your heart rate, breathing or other sensations for warning signs
- Feeling uneasy in queues, shops, public transport or busy places
- Working out exits or escape routes before you arrive
- Avoiding exercise, caffeine or unfamiliar situations because sensations worry you
- Anticipating another attack even when nothing frightening is happening
How the panic cycle can continue
The sensations are real. Sometimes the meaning we give them—I'll lose control; I won't escape; I won't cope—can increase our sense of threat. Monitoring for another episode and avoiding the situations in which it might happen can then make the world feel smaller.
What might change with therapy?
We can explore how you interpret sensations, what you expect might happen and the protective habits that have developed. Depending on your assessment and needs, work may involve psychological strategies, gradual behavioural practice, clinical hypnotherapy or BWRT®. Evidence-based approaches such as CBT, including exposure-based work, are also important options for panic difficulties and can be discussed or referred to where appropriate.
- Feeling less frightened by familiar sensations
- Regaining confidence in places you've begun to avoid
- Relying less on constant monitoring or escape planning
- Having more freedom to make everyday choices
What happens first?
We can begin with a free introductory conversation, then a fuller assessment if you decide to proceed. You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or choose a therapy in advance.