Hypnotherapy in Stockport, Cheshire, near Manchester

Hypnotherapy to Overcome Panic Attacks

Tranquil Spirit Hypnotherapy - Qualified and Registered Hypnotherapist

Paul McGlone, BSc(Hons)Soc, DipCD, FETC, CertED, MTSH.Dip.(Hyp), HPD, GQHP, Cert NLP, Cert.PLR., GHR Reg

I am a hypnotherapist in Stockport, Cheshire, near Manchester using hypnosis within hypnotherapy for a wide range of conditions including programmes to help you to overcome fear / anxiety in relation to panic attacks and to develop confidence in being in situations where you may have previously felt anxious. We are within easy traveling distance of Manchester, Altrincham, Ashton, Buxton, Glossop, Hyde, Macclesfield, Sale, Wilmslow and other towns in Cheshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire near to the Greater Manchester area.

Overview of Panic Attacks

As with many other anxiety conditions when people experience a panic attack the immediate physical sensations that they are aware of are triggered by the "fight or flight" response, the body's automatic response to preparing us to deal with danger by either fighting or escaping. Adrenalin is pumped around the body triggering a number of changes. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises and blood is diverted away from immediate non essential tasks eg: digestion. Along with the tensing of the main muscle groups this puts the body in a state of readiness for action. Breathing quickens to get more oxygen into the blood stream. The surface veins of the skin constrict. The pupils of the eyes dilate to let in maximum light. Therefore the symptoms which people who have panic attacks complain about eg: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tremours or shaking, sickliness, etc are a direct result of these physical changes brought into action by the body's survival mechanism. If the person experiencing a panic attack breathes too often/too quickly this can cause hyperventilation. The person may feel that they are stuggling for breath; that they don't have enough oxygen. In actual fact the reverse is the case; they have too much oxygen in the blood stream. This can lead to feelings of dizziness/ feeling light headed.

As with many other panic disorders in the case of panic attacks this survival reaction of the body has become associated with a situation which the unconscious mind has inappropriately labelled as dangerous. Examples of some possible situations are: driving a car, walking down a street, shopping at a supermarket. The ramge of situations can be many. The panic attack may have its origins in a particular experience which had made the person anxious in such a situation. It may have its origins in an episode of illness. There may be a number of factors involved. It is likely that the person may already be pre-disposed to being anxious but the event(s) have triggered the onset of the panic attacks. As with other anxiety disorders there is a strong risk that the range of situations which may trigger the panic attacks may widen and generalise as the unconscious mind identifies commonalities between different situations eg: an initial panic in a supermarket may eventually lead to panic attacks in other situations where people are present.

Many who suffer from anxiety disorders will develop a fear of fear itself. The problem is that once we have experieced fear/anxiety in a particular situation our minds create an association and we come to anticipate the same reaction. This anticipation in itself creates fear and anxiety and we end up with a fear of the experience of fear which can create a vicious circle which it becomes hard to break.There is however a further issue with panic attacks which usually places them in a separate category to situational phobias. People who experience panic attacks focus not only upon paticular situations but upon the physical symptoms themselves, fearing that they may have a heart attack, faint, go crazy, etc. The person who experiences panic attacks will furthmore develop a fear of experiencing these physical symptoms. They may also experience thoughts and feelings of a need to escape and a feeling of being out of control.

These fears of having a heart attack, fainting, etc are unfounded. While prolonged stress of course is not beneficial for the well being of the physical body a heart attack is only likely to arise in someone who already has a pre-disposition to a heart attack. The "fight or flight" response and associated symptoms are not of themselves going to produce a heart attack. Likewise generally the person in the middle of a "fight or flight" response is less likely to faint than other people. The increase in heart rate and blood pressure make this a very remote possibility.

As has already been mentioned hyperventilation can produce feelings of dizziness due to excessive levels of oxygen in the blood stream. our bodies need an appropriate balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in order to function properly. The answer to this is to correct this balance and slow down the breathing. Hence the common advice is to breath deep and hold the breath for ten seconds or so, or breath a few times from and into a paper bag. People who experience panic attcks can usefully practice their breathing techniques. They may need to re-educate their breathing because they have got too much into the habit of shallow breathing. Therefore it is useful to set aside a little time each day to practice breathing slowly and deeply from the diaphram (not the chest) perhaps also breafly holding onto each in breath. Taking regular vigorous exercise is also beneficial. These techniques also help to improve general relaxation.

People who experience panic attacks are in a sense carrying their feared situation around with them ie: the potential onset of the feared physical sensations. They also may be more prone to "safety" or "avoidance behaviours" ie: avoiding or escaping those situations which are particularly likely in their view to trigger a panic attack. However, it is particularly important for them to continue to experience such situations (without making a mission out of it, as this could in itself produce adrenalin and a heightened state with a consequent misinterpretation of the symptoms). If they get into a pattern of avoidance they deny themselves the opportunity for change and having a positive experience. Part of the difficulty can be that the person loses confidence, particularly in the likelihood of change and may indeed eventually experience depression as a result.

As said earlier the condition often can be traced back to a specific occasion earlier in life which brought about its onset. It can also be indicative of more general underlying issues around self-esteem, self-confidence and self-trust which may also need to be addressed in order to ensure success.

Hypnotherapy can be very beneficial in overcoming the anxiety and fearful sensations associated with panic attacks. People find that the experience of hypnosis in itself is very therapeutic as it brings a deep feeling of relaxation which they have often not experienced for some time.

If you experience panic attacks a thorough assessment is essential to determine the factors which are affecting you in order to devise a programme of hypnotherapy tailored to your individual needs.

Assessment for Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks

An assessment may include some of the following:

• Considering your own specific motivations for overcoming the panic attacks.



• Discussing your sensations, thoughts and emotions which you experience when you are in problematic and your perception of other people in these situations.



• Identify if there was a significant experience(s) of panic earlier in your life which was instrumental in bringing about the condition.



• Identifying specific situations/events which trigger the fear of panic attacks and particular trigger points within these situations/events.



• Considering practical strategies appropriate to you personally which can help you to relax which hypnotherapy can strengthen.



• Identifying relaxing/calming and relevant successful past general experiences in your life which can be used positively within hypnotherapy.



• Consider your own perceptions and feelings about yourself.



• Consideration of how people around you are affecting you eg: sources of support.

Programme of Hypnotherapy for Panic Attacks

Depending upon the above we will then agree a programme of hypnotherapy to help you to overcome panic atacks and to build your confidence. This could include:

• Building upon your motivations for overcoming panic atacks. Positive motivations are an important tool for creating change.



• If an early experience is relevant we will address this to enable you to let go of any negative associations leaving you free to move on.



• Work to give you more awareness and control over your emotions.



• Replace fearful/anxious sensations, thoughts and emotions with calming/relaxing/peaceful ones.



• Reframe how you perceive, experience and think about the problematic sensations and situations.



• Strengthen positive practical strategies for dealing with fear/anxiety/panic.



• Reframe your perceptions of how others are viewing and evaluating you.



• Where necessary strengthen your general levels of self-esteem and confidence.



• Develop a greater sense of freedom, spontaneity and self-trust in problematic situations.



• Reduce negative thoughts and doubts and reinforce your confidence in your ability to succeed in overcoming panic attacks.



• If you wish during one of the sessions we will make a recording on CD to complement the live hypnotherapy session for a nominal charge. This will be tailored to your needs and can then be used in your own home to reinforce the work we have done in the "live sessions". This has generally been found to be the best way to produce audio recordings that will be effective.

The above is not exhaustive but will give you an indication of the general approach. All of the above would involve the use of direct and indirect suggestions, visualisation, imagery, etc. Because we are working together with your unconscious mind we are tapping into resources to help you change which are usually not easily accessible to your conscious mind.

The number of sessions required is likely to be four to six depending upon the severity of the panic attacks and the complexities involved. Please see the Hypnotherapy Fees/Costs Page for details of fees.

Contact Details

If you feel we may be able to help you through hypnotherapy please do not hesitate to contact us. You can always telephone us for a chat without any obligation. You can phone us on 0161 483 7014 or Mobile: 07904 162904 or please click here to send me a message using a Contact Form.

Our postal address is:
Paul McGlone
Tranquil Spirit,
339, Bramhall Lane,
Davenport,
Stockport,
Cheshire.
SK3 8TP.

"Tranquil Spirit" is a short distance from Stockport Town Centre and Railway Station and on the main bus route between Stockport and Bramhall. Davenport Railway Station (on the Manchester to Buxton/Hazel Grove line) is ten minutes walk away. The M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road is a short distance away (coming the west and south of Manchester via the Cheadle or Stockport junctions; from the east via the junction after Bredbury, signposted for Stockport) with good links to the M56, M6 and M62. We can provide fuller directions at the time of arranging a visit.

Home Visits

If you do not live nearby and it would be difficult for you to travel to us it may still be possible for us to do a home visit if you live in the Cheshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire areas bordering on Greater Manchester. If you opt for this you will need to ensure the use of a room which will be relatively quiet and free from disturbance. Please contact me for further details.