RESOURCES

 

They strike without warning and provoke abject terror and frightening physical symptoms in the sufferer. Panic attacks are no laughing matter, ambushing more than two per cent of the population and often leading to debilitating problems which escalate if left untreated.

 

“I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t stop shaking, felt sick and dizzy, my heart was pounding and I couldn’t breathe,” said Tunbridge Wells mother of two Ann who came to hypnotherapist Karen Martin for help shortly after her first panic attack.

 

Ann was in good physical health but she’d had a lot of problems lately. Like most of us she just soldiered on until that panic attack stopped her in her tracks. Suddenly, she was afraid to go out in case another one happened. In fact she didn’t want to do anything much. It was easier to stay at home and hide.

 

“Ann was wise to seek treatment when she did,” said Karen, who works at Helios Clinic in Camden Road. “Panic attacks can lead to all sorts of other distressing problems like phobias of places or situations where previous attacks have taken place. These in turn restrict the sufferer to the extent they find it difficult to lead a normal life, turning simple routines like working, shopping and socialising into ordeals.”.

 

“There’s been a lot of stress in my life lately,” said Ann. “A family bereavement and house move had got on top of me and medication from the doctor caused nasty side effects. I was nervous about being hypnotised but not nearly as scared as I was of having another panic attack.”.

 

Like lots of us, Ann had seen stage shows which made hypnosis look like some mysterious form of mind control. Luckily, a friend who had experienced the benefits of hypnotherapy put her straight and persuaded her to give it a try.

 

“There’s really nothing to it,” said Ann. “In fact, I enjoyed it. Karen was incredibly reassuring, explaining that I would feel relaxed but still aware of what was going on. And I was surprised that she knew so much about how I felt. Knowing she has treated many people suffering from panic disorders successfully gave me complete confidence. After the first session, I felt more calm and relaxed than I have in a long time.”

 

“Ann is really a textbook case of how the stresses and strains of daily life can lead to anxiety related conditions like panic attacks,” said Karen. “Some people suffer for years and seek out all kinds of remedies before discovering that hypnotherapy offers a simple, quick and safe solution to conditions they thought they would never overcome.

 

“As well as having tremendous success enabling people stop smoking and lose weight, I treat a variety of conditions that are often difficult to resolve using conventional medicine. These include depression, all kinds of addictions from gambling to alcoholism, psoriasis, IBS, phobias and, of course, panic attacks,” added Karen.

 

After two more sessions to help Ann deal with the emotional turmoil she experienced before her panic attack, she feels much better: “I’m so much happier now and completely confident that I won’t ever have another panic attack. Karen helped me understand what was going on and hypnosis gave me the courage to face my fears and put them behind me.”.