Panic Disorder
When the fear of panic starts running your life
A racing heart. Dizziness. A sudden rush of fear. The feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Panic can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems to come out of nowhere. You may worry that you will faint, lose control or be unable to cope. Afterwards, the fear of it happening again can stay with you long after the sensations have passed.
Perhaps you find yourself checking your body, planning escape routes or avoiding places where help might feel out of reach. Everyday activities can become organised around one question: “What if I panic?”
Your life does not have to revolve around the next attack.
I will help you understand what is happening, reduce your fear of panic and rebuild confidence in yourself and your body.
Understanding the cycle
Panic disorder involves repeated, unexpected panic attacks alongside ongoing worry about further attacks or changes in behaviour to prevent them.
An unfamiliar sensation can trigger a frightening thought: “Something is wrong.” This increases anxiety, intensifies physical sensations and makes the danger feel more real.
Escaping, checking or relying on particular routines may bring relief in the moment. Over time, however, these responses can reinforce the belief that you cannot cope without them.
Therapy helps you understand this cycle and gradually change what keeps it going.
How therapy can help
We use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you develop a different relationship with panic. Together, we can work towards:
- Making sense of your symptoms, so they feel less mysterious and frightening.
- Exploring feared outcomes, such as fainting, losing control or being unable to escape.
- Reducing checking and avoidance, so they take up less of your day.
- Building confidence with physical sensations, through carefully planned exercises.
- Returning to situations that matter, from shopping and travelling to exercise and socialising.
The work is collaborative and paced with you. Each step has a clear purpose, with opportunities to practise what you learn between sessions.
More freedom | Greater confidence.
Progress can mean taking a journey without planning every exit, noticing a racing heart without immediately assuming the worst, or saying yes to something you have been avoiding.
The aim is to feel more able to handle anxiety when it arises, so you can make choices based on what matters to you.
