As a psychologist, I often encounter cases where people suffer from panic attacks. These are not just “nerves” or “weakness of character” – it’s a real condition that requires professional help. Let me share two stories that show how deeply hidden the causes of panic attacks can be and how we can overcome them.
Marina’s Story: Unexpressed Grief
Marina came to me with complaints of panic attacks and physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, numbness in limbs, and vision loss. We discovered that her condition was related to the loss of her brother who disappeared two years ago.
Marina felt intense guilt and couldn’t “let go” of the situation. We conducted a session where I played the role of her brother, telling her the words she needed to hear: “You’re not guilty, you were the best sister.” This helped Marina begin the process of “letting go” and reduce the frequency of panic attacks.
Elena’s Story: Overcoming Self-Criticism through Cognitive Restructuring
Elena, a successful IT specialist, suffered from panic attacks at work. Her body reacted with strong trembling, sweating, and rapid heartbeat. It turned out that Elena constantly criticized herself, believing she was “the stupidest in the company.”
We applied the technique of evaluating automatic thoughts:
Argument for the thought: “I’m new to the company, I have less programming experience than my colleagues, and I’m sometimes slower.”
Counter-argument: “I was chosen from among 100 candidates, so I’m not the worst. If employers were dissatisfied, they would have fired me.”
We reformulated the thought: “Even if I’m less experienced than my colleagues, I will learn with time, and my employers see potential in me.”
This work helped Elena develop a more realistic view of her abilities and reduce the frequency of panic attacks.
As we see from Marina’s and Elena’s stories, panic attacks and anxiety disorders can have deep emotional causes that manifest through physical symptoms.
Here are some important conclusions and tips:
Identify the cause: Every panic attack has its cause. It’s important to understand what triggers it – it could be unresolved grief, like in Marina’s case, or negative self-thoughts, like in Elena’s case.
Understand the physiology: Knowledge about how your body works during a panic attack can help reduce fear of symptoms. Remember that physical manifestations, while unpleasant, are not life-threatening.
Practice relaxation techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce anxiety symptoms.
Have you had experience with panic attacks? Share your stories in the comments. Your experience might help someone find a way out.
If you suffer from panic attacks, anxiety disorders, PTSD, or psychosomatic problems, don’t stay alone with your difficulties. I’m ready to help you overcome these challenges and regain control of your life. Contact me for consultation: Telegram and WhatsApp +45 2623 7091, Viber +380987405128.
Note that names in these stories have been changed, and people agreed to publish their stories only to help others who have similar symptoms.