Why do panic attacks keep coming back when everything seems fine?
You’re sitting at home. Nothing particularly stressful has happened. You’re not in danger. In fact, everything seems fine. Then, suddenly, your heart starts racing.
Your breathing changes. Your chest feels tight. You become dizzy, shaky or light-headed. Perhaps you feel sick, detached from your surroundings or overwhelmed by an intense sense that something is terribly wrong. You may even wonder whether you are having a heart attack or whether you are about to lose control. And then, just as suddenly as it arrived, the panic begins to pass.
You are left exhausted, confused and perhaps frightened by one question:
“Why did that happen when everything was fine?”
If you experience panic attacks, you may know this feeling all too well. What can make things even more difficult is the fear that another attack could happen at any moment. Over time, that fear can begin to affect where you go, what you do and how you live your everyday life.
At Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy, we understand how frightening and limiting panic attacks can become. Our Clinical Hypnotherapist, George Petkov, has experienced panic attacks personally for more than 10 years. This first-hand experience is one of the reasons helping people overcome panic is such a meaningful part of his work.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety that can produce powerful physical and emotional symptoms. It can happen when you are facing an obvious source of stress, but it can also seemingly come from nowhere. Our body is filled with adrenaline fast like we are in instant danger to protect us and in the next moment we are in a fight or flight mode. This is one of the reasons panic attacks can feel so frightening.
Common symptoms can include:
- A racing or pounding heart
- Rapid or difficult breathing
- Chest tightness or discomfort
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Sweating or trembling
- Feeling sick
- Tingling or numbness
- Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings
- A fear of losing control
- A fear that something terrible is about to happen
- Feeling cold and instant need to visit toilet
- Vomiting feeling
The physical sensations are very real. Although a panic attack can feel extremely dangerous, the body’s alarm response is not necessarily an indication that you are actually in danger. The problem is that when your brain interprets those sensations as a threat, the body’s alarm system can become even more activated. This can create a powerful cycle of panic.
Why can panic attacks happen when everything seems fine?
One of the most frustrating things about panic attacks is that there does not always appear to be an obvious trigger. You might have been having a perfectly normal day or absolutely calm. You could be watching television, shopping, driving, sitting in a meeting or getting ready for bed.
So why does panic suddenly appear?
Your body’s alarm system can react before you consciously understand why, and your brain is constantly monitoring your surroundings for potential threats or can quickly create the scenario. It does this automatically, often before you have consciously processed what is happening.
Sometimes, your alarm system can become overly sensitive.
A physical sensation such as a faster heartbeat, a change in breathing or feeling slightly dizzy might be interpreted as a warning sign. Your brain then responds as though you are in danger and:
- Your heart may beat faster than usual.
- Your breathing may change.
- You may become more aware of your body.
- You can notice these sensations and become frightened by them.
- This increased fear creates more physical sensations.
- You can experience an instant feeling of passing away, or you can die in the next moment from a heart attack.
And suddenly, you are experiencing a panic attack. This can happen incredibly quickly.
Previous experiences can also influence your response, and panic does not necessarily begin with what is happening right now. Your brain learns from previous experiences. If you have experienced a frightening panic attack in a particular environment, your brain may begin associating that environment with danger. You might therefore feel anxious when returning to the same place, even if nothing negative is happening. Fear combined with bad thoughts could be very tricky here. People with a good imagination could create and project a different scenario even in a different environment.
For example, what will happen if I go there, there will be no one to help me (this could be train, car, plane). High humid places or hot environments can easily provoke such a feeling. We could build a lot of emotions around this and often feel embarrassing to share with someone or asking for help.
We start to feel that something is wrong with us and hide those emotions.
This is not a sign that you are weak or that you are imagining things.
It is an automatic response that can become learned over time.
The Fear of Having Another Panic Attack
For many people, the original panic attack is only the beginning. Once you have experienced something so frightening, it is completely understandable that you would want to prevent it from happening again.
You may start asking yourself:
- “What if it happens again?”
- “What if I can’t get home?”
- “What if people notice?”
- “What if I lose control?”
The more you think about having another panic attack, the more closely you may monitor your body for signs that one is coming, and the cycle begins again.
Understanding the Panic Cycle
The cycle can look something like this:
Physical sensation → frightening thought → increased anxiety → stronger physical sensations → more fear → panic attack.
After experiencing a panic attack, you may then develop another layer of fear:
“I must avoid anything that could make this happen again.”
This can lead to avoidance. You might stop going to busy shops. You may avoid public transport, driving on motorways, flying, social situations, restaurants or places where you feel unable to leave easily. Perhaps you begin making sure someone is always with you, or maybe you start carrying medication, water or other items because they make you feel safer.
These behaviours can provide temporary reassurance. However, they can also reinforce the belief that the situation is dangerous and that you cannot cope without them. Over time, your world can become smaller.
Why Panic Attacks Can Feel So Limiting
Panic attacks are not simply an unpleasant few minutes. The anticipation of another attack can affect your confidence, independence, relationships, work and social life.
You may turn down invitations because you are worried about having a panic attack.
You may avoid travelling because you are concerned about being unable to escape.
You may choose a seat near an exit.
You may constantly look for a bathroom, quiet space or place where you can sit down.
You may feel anxious before leaving home because you are already thinking about what could happen.
Eventually, the fear of panic can become more restrictive than panic itself. But this cycle can be changed.
Can hypnotherapy help with panic attacks?
Hypnotherapy for panic attacks focuses on helping you change the automatic patterns of thought, emotion and response associated with panic. Rather than simply telling yourself to “calm down” when panic happens, hypnotherapy can explore the deeper associations and responses that may be contributing to your experience.
During hypnosis, you remain awake, aware and in control. Your therapist guides you into a deeply relaxed and focused state, allowing therapeutic techniques to be used in a calm and supportive environment. The approach is personalised because no two people’s experiences of panic are exactly the same.
For one person, panic may be connected to a specific situation. For another, it may involve fear of physical sensations. Someone else may have developed a strong fear of being unable to escape or get help.
Understanding your individual experience is therefore an important part of the process.
Changing the Automatic Response to Panic
One of the potential benefits of clinical hypnotherapy is that it can help you develop healthier automatic responses. If your brain has learned to associate certain sensations, situations or environments with danger, therapeutic work can help you begin developing different associations.
Instead of immediately thinking:
“Something is wrong.”
You may learn to respond differently to those sensations.
Instead of automatically fearing your racing heart, you can begin to understand that your body is experiencing an alarm response.
Instead of immediately escaping a situation, you can develop greater confidence in your ability to remain calm and cope.
The goal is not to promise that you will never experience anxiety again. Anxiety is a normal human emotion. The aim is to help you feel less controlled by fear and more capable of responding to life’s situations with confidence.
A Personal Understanding of Panic
For George Petkov, Clinical Hypnotherapist at Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy, this work is particularly personal. George experienced panic attacks himself for more than 10 years, and he understands what it is like to experience the physical sensations, the uncertainty of not knowing when another attack might happen, and the limitations that fear can gradually create. That personal experience is one of the reasons he is passionate about helping other people find freedom from panic.
Importantly, this does not mean approaching every person’s experience in the same way. Your circumstances, experiences and triggers are unique to you. At Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy, the focus is therefore on understanding your experience and creating personalised support around your individual needs.
What happens during hypnotherapy for panic attacks?
Your journey begins with a FREE 30-minute consultation online. This allows you to talk confidentially about what you have been experiencing, ask questions and discuss whether clinical hypnotherapy may be appropriate for you. If you decide to continue, your personalised sessions would be tailored around your specific circumstances and goals.
You remain awake and aware throughout hypnosis. There is no loss of control and no requirement to reveal anything you do not wish to discuss. Alongside your sessions, Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy provides ongoing support and practical techniques to help you continue making progress between appointments. The number of sessions required varies from person to person, as everyone’s experience and response to therapy is different.
Taking Back Your Freedom
If panic attacks have started dictating where you go, what you do or who you feel comfortable being with, it can be difficult to imagine life feeling different.
But your current experience does not have to define your future.
You can learn to understand your responses rather than automatically fearing them.
You can begin to rebuild confidence in situations you have been avoiding.
We will work together to achieve your goals.
And, with appropriate professional support, you can work towards feeling less controlled by the fear of another panic attack.
At Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy, our aim is to provide a safe, compassionate and professional environment where you can feel heard rather than judged.
Based in Southend-on-Sea, we provide clinical hypnotherapy for clients across Essex and London, supporting people with panic attacks, anxiety, fears, confidence challenges and a range of other emotional, behavioural and psychological concerns.
FAQs
Why do I keep having panic attacks when nothing is wrong?
Panic attacks can occur without an obvious external trigger. Your body’s alarm system may respond to physical sensations, thoughts, memories or learned associations as though you are facing danger. The fear of experiencing another panic attack can also contribute to the cycle.
Can the fear of having a panic attack cause another panic attack?
Yes. Constantly monitoring yourself for signs of panic can increase anxiety and awareness of physical sensations. Those sensations may then be interpreted as danger, potentially creating a cycle that contributes to further panic.
Can hypnotherapy help with panic attacks?
Clinical hypnotherapy may help some people change the automatic thought patterns, emotional responses and associations connected with panic. At Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy, sessions are personalised around your individual experiences and goals.
Is hypnotherapy for panic attacks safe?
Clinical hypnotherapy is non-invasive and does not involve or replace medication. Essex Wellness Hypnotherapy provides professionally delivered sessions in a confidential and supportive environment. As with any therapy, individual suitability should be discussed with a qualified professional.
Will I be unconscious during hypnotherapy?
No. You remain awake, aware and in control throughout the session. Hypnosis is generally experienced as a deeply relaxed and focused state rather than sleep or unconsciousness.
How many hypnotherapy sessions will I need for panic attacks?
There is no fixed number of sessions that will be appropriate for everyone. Your circumstances, goals and response to therapy will influence the number of appointments required. Your needs can be discussed during your FREE consultation.
If fear is affecting your confidence, limiting where you go or stopping you from doing the things you want to do, professional support could help you begin to move forward. Contact us to book your FREE consultation today to talk about what you’re experiencing and discover how hypnotherapy for panic attacks could support your journey towards a calmer, more confident future.
