What Triggers Panic Attacks - By: Adam Cadell

In my life as a hypnotherapist I was often telephoned by various individuals and asked if I could help them deal with panic attacks, I used to smile and say "if I didn't, I probably wouldn't have a practice".

Helping people with the issue of heightened anxiety, usually referred to as a panic attack was, and is, by far the most common problem I was asked to solve, and neither was it a preserve of the female side of the population, the condition tended to affect either sex, although in fairness I treated more women with the condition than men.

It didn't take long to realise that virtually everyone I first met with this issue were all inadvertently exacerbating the situation and were therefore, without realising it, making my job of eradication or reduction much more difficult.

I devised a set of rules which the recipient had to agree were an important and integral part of the treatment to deal with panic attacks and they had to promise to adhere to them. I explained that the main part of the treatment would be enhanced and rendered more likely to work if these rules were applied and followed. There were six in total and these are as relevant now as they ever were. The rules are:

1.Stop visiting therapists, friends or G.Ps and talking about the situation. With all three, all that happens when you attempt to seek help via medication or talking to friends is that you constantly reinforce the belief that you have a problem, so although you think you are helping yourself by broaching the subject, all you are really doing in pushing the belief that you have a problem deeper into your psyche. Accept responsibility that you and you alone will solve this issue, stop talking about it to friends or colleagues and take action to put an end to the misery.

2. Stop researching, by that I mean stop visiting Google, or reading books on how to deal with panic attacks, yes I know it is human nature to be curious, but for the reasons given in '1' above it will prove counter-productive because all it succeeds in doing is reinforcing the belief to your subconscious that you have a problem - why else are you reading or researching?

3. If you are already on tranquillisers talk to your G.P about coming off them, obviously going 'cold turkey' is not being suggested here, your G.P knows your history, I don't. By taking action you are signalling to your sub-conscious mind that enough is enough, you have finished with suffering, of being a victim, you are being positive by meeting with your G.P, not to increase or change the type of medication, but to decrease your dependency by taking a positive step - that can only ultimately benefit you and your emotional well-being. But remember - take your G.Ps advice.

4. Diversion. Most people if they feel anxious quite understandably focus instantly on how they 'feel', and the more they focus on their breathing, heart rate or overall fear, the worse they become - changing ones 'focus', diverting your thoughts, even momentarily can have a dramatic and positive effect on how quickly those feelings dissipate.

5. Let go of the past, what I mean by that, is that human beings tend to live in two states; past or present; sufferers of panic attacks tend to talk and think about there' last' attack, or perhaps their 'worst' on a regular basis. To a hypnotherapist that is in the past - it's disappeared - it's gone - no longer there or relevant,so rule number '5' is to acknowledge that talking about what used to be, or what has occured in the past does not help the situation, all that matters is NOW and how you feel at this exact moment in time.

6. Use only one method, you don't need several, or a mixture of different techniques, ultimately it is you that will solve this problem, what is required is one method that suits you, and more importantly, a method that you are prepared to give 100% commitment to. If you follow these guidelines your chances of success are increased dramatically.

About the Author

Adam Cadell is a hypnotherapist, life coach and internet marketeer. Author of the free eBook entitled, Panic Attacks-Stop Now, Adam also pens a free weekly newletter which supplies helpful tips, advise, plus hypnotherapy and subliminal downloads. Both the free eBook and weekly newsletter are available from the author's website at: http://www.panicattacks-stopnow.com

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