The thing nobody tells you about panic

Panic can involve frightening physical sensations and thoughts. A blog cannot determine what those sensations mean or establish that they are caused by anxiety. New, severe, changing or worrying symptoms should be assessed by an appropriate healthcare professional. For some people, the fear of a sensation and the responses that follow may add to distress. A fuller assessment can consider the physical symptoms, recent changes, health, safety, avoidance, stress and what support is needed. Any exposure based or behavioural work should be planned and agreed with a suitably qualified clinician, not attempted alone from an online article. Panic can lead people to narrow their world gradually. A train journey, a supermarket queue, a meeting or a café may start to feel like situations that require escape routes or reassurance. Therapy can consider whether those responses are still helping, what they cost, and what a safe individual plan might look like. There is no requirement to confront a feared situation in order to prove courage. If exposure based work is considered, the rationale, pace, consent, health considerations and alternatives should be discussed carefully. The Lyceum offers CBT based support in Chiswick, Ealing and the Richmond venue, as well as online where clinically appropriate. Further education is available through the panic disorder and agoraphobia guide, panic recovery roadmap and anxiety resources. If there is immediate danger, a risk of harm or an urgent medical or mental health need, use an appropriate emergency, crisis or healthcare service rather than relying on an online reflection.