Anxiety is a universal human feeling that can escalate into panic attacks. We all experience anxiety from time to time. Normally we know why we are anxious and the feeling usually does not disrupt our lives or create panic attacks. Most people experience some anxiety in a challenging situation, such as an important test or job interview. Anxiety becomes a problem requiring professional help when it intensifies and spreads beyond normal limits. In that case, a person may experience anxiety most of the time rather than upon rare occasions. Hypnotherapy, which is the psychotherapeutic application of hypnosis is a brief treatment approach which may effectively reduce symptoms when applied properly by an experienced psychologist.
Anxiety may take the form of panic attacks, creating frightening symptoms that can become incapacitating if not controlled. Symptoms may include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, tingling and numbness of hands and fingers and feeling faint. Often panic attacks feel like physical symptoms that endanger life. Many visits to hospital emergency rooms are precipitated by high levels of anxiety or panic attacks when a person’s physical health is not at risk.
Sometimes anxiety takes the form of a specific fear, which is called a phobia. Common phobias include fears of flying, fears of driving on freeways, fears of enclosed places (claustrophobia) and fears of crowds. A fear of being away from your home is called agoraphobia. Panic attacks sometimes occur when a person anticipates confronting a feared situation, but may also occur for no obvious reason “out of the blue.”
Symptoms of panic attacks, fears and phobias usually respond favorably to proper treatment by an experienced and well-qualified therapist. Possible treatment approaches include hypnotherapy psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, desensitization, hypnosis and the use of psychotropic medications.
See types of psychotherapy, types of therapists and What is a psychologist? for other factors relevant to the treatment of panic disorders.
How can you decide who is the right professional person to help you with this kind of problem? You may get information about me at About Dr. Beitner. You may get information about how to evaluate the credentials of any psychologist at Check Qualifications.