Support for Panic Attacks​

When panic feels sudden and overwhelming.

Panic attacks can feel frightening, intense, and often come on unexpectedly. You may experience a sudden surge of fear or discomfort along with strong physical symptoms that make it feel like something serious is happening.

Even after the panic passes, it can leave you feeling shaken, exhausted, or worried about when it might happen again.

For many people, the fear of having another panic attack becomes just as distressing as the panic itself.

What panic attacks can feel like

Panic attacks often involve a combination of physical and emotional symptoms such as:

  • Racing heart or chest tightness
  • Shortness of breath or feeling like you can’t breathe properly
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Sweating or shaking
  • Nausea or stomach discomfort
  • Feeling detached or unreal
  • Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
  • Fear of dying or something serious happening

Although panic attacks feel extremely real and frightening, they are not dangerous. They are the body’s alarm system becoming over-activated.

Why panic attacks happen

Panic attacks are often linked to stress, anxiety, chronic worry, or a sensitised nervous system. Sometimes they begin during a period of high stress and then continue because the fear of the sensations themselves keeps the cycle going.

Your body begins to interpret normal sensations (like a faster heartbeat or feeling hot) as signs of danger, which triggers more anxiety and intensifies the physical response.

This creates a cycle of fear that can feel difficult to break without support.

How counselling can help

Counselling helps you understand what is happening in your body during panic, reduce the fear around the sensations, and gradually break the cycle that keeps panic going.

Together we can explore triggers, identify patterns of anxiety, and develop practical strategies to help you feel more grounded and in control.

Many people find that as their understanding grows, panic becomes less frequent, less intense, and less frightening.

My approach

I use CBT, ACT, and a calm, supportive approach to help you make sense of panic attacks and reduce their impact on your life.

We work at a pace that feels safe, focusing on both emotional understanding and practical tools for managing anxiety in the moment.

You are not losing control

Panic attacks can feel overwhelming, but they are a sign of an overactive stress response—not something dangerous or permanent.

With the right support, it is possible to reduce both the frequency and intensity of panic.

If you are ready, I would be glad to support you.

Book your free 15-minute consultation.