Panic attack
A sudden wave of bodily distress that peaks within minutes and passes — although during it, it seems it won't.
How it shows up in daily life
A pounding heart, shallow breath, tingling, a sense of unreality, the conviction that this is a heart attack or that you’re going mad. The attack usually peaks within ten minutes. The worst part isn’t the attack itself but the fear of the next one — that is what starts shrinking your life.
What we do with it in therapy
First I explain what is happening in the body, because understanding alone lowers panic. Then we practise not trying to stop the attack but crossing through it. Once the body has the experience that the attack passes without fleeing, the frequency falls.
See also
See also
Differentiation
The ability to stay yourself while being close to someone — and to stay close even when you disagree.
School anxiety
School-related distress, which often shows up as a physical symptom in the mornings.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Persistent responses after a traumatic event: re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal and altered mood.
