A Panic Attack is an intense and terrifying experience that can leave the sufferer feeling overwhelmed and constantly fearful that it will happen again. Most people will experience a panic attack at some point in their lives usually during a period of high stress but only a number of these individuals then go on to develop panic disorder. Those vulnerable to this scenario are individuals with a tendency to overestimate catastrophe and underestimate their ability to cope.

So frightening is a panic attack that it is common for sufferers to present at A & E fearing that they are having a heart attack. However, although an incredibly distressing and physically uncomfortable experience, a panic attack is simply a result of excessive amounts of adrenalin being released into the body leading to symptoms including palpitations, breathlessness, chest pain, faintness, tingling in the extremities, sweating, terror and an urge to escape a situation. In these instances our evolved way of coping with an emergency has been triggered inappropriately i.e. we perceive danger where there is none and we are left with a range of responses designed to help us deal with a life threatening situation in the absence of one.

Panic attacks are often accompanied by other emotional and psychological problems including generalised anxiety, depression, eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating, disorder, eating disorders not otherwise specified), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep problems.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) currently recommends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as the therapy of choice for panic attacks and this counselling technique is available at The British CBT & Counselling Service, provided by clinical and counselling psychologists and experts in the field of panic attacks and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). So for CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Fulham, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Clapham, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Marylebone, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Notting Hill, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Richmond, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Chiswick, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Nottingham, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Cambridge, CBT Counselling for panic attacks in Stamford call us now.