Panic symptoms can feel frightening, but a blog cannot determine their cause. I am Sanah Younis, a BABCP accredited CBT therapist at The Lyceum Clinic in West London. Racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness and chest discomfort can occur during panic, but they can also have other explanations. New, severe, unusual or concerning symptoms should be assessed by an appropriate medical professional. After appropriate medical assessment, some people find it helpful to explore whether panic like episodes involve a cycle of bodily sensations, threat predictions and attempts to get immediate relief. The pattern differs between people. Talking about it in plain language can reduce shame, without treating every episode as identical or assuming a diagnosis. Assessment can consider what has changed, how episodes affect daily life, avoidance, safety behaviours and the person’s goals. If CBT is appropriate, work is collaborative and paced. Exposure based work is planned with a qualified clinician when clinically indicated; it is not a self directed test or a generic exercise from a page. Progress can be uneven. A difficult episode does not prove you have failed, and early improvement does not guarantee that symptoms will not return. The useful question is what support is appropriate now, alongside any medical advice needed. If you live in Chiswick, Hammersmith or Ealing, or prefer online therapy, you can read https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/guides/panic attacks/ and https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/therapy/panic attacks/, or arrange an initial conversation through https://lyceumclinic.co.uk/start/.