Panic Attacks: What They Are and How We Can Help
Finding Relief from Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can feel overwhelming and frightening, leaving you unsure of what is happening or why, and with a sense of marked foreboding. These sudden episodes of intense fear often come without warning, accompanied by symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness and a severe sense that something terrible is about to happen. For some people, these attacks occur rarely. For others, they can happen frequently and lead to a condition called panic disorder.
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we understand that panic attacks are not just about managing symptoms—they are often rooted in unresolved emotional conflicts and unconscious fears. Through psychodynamic therapy, we help uncover the deeper causes of panic attacks, providing long-lasting relief and helping you regain control of your life. We examine specifically when the panic attacks began and the likely triggers for these episodes of extremely high and distressing anxiety.
You don’t have to face this alone. Our experienced therapists work with you to understand your unique experiences, uncover the patterns behind your symptoms, and create a path toward healing. Freedom from panic is possible, and we’re here to help you achieve it.
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What Are Panic Attacks?
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear or anxiety that often feel overwhelming. These episodes usually peak within minutes and are accompanied by physical and emotional symptoms, including:
- Physical Symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, trembling, or nausea.
- Emotional Symptoms: A sense of losing control, fear of dying, or feeling detached from reality.
For many, these symptoms feel alarming, leading to emergency room visits or persistent fear of future attacks. When these episodes become frequent and are followed by constant worry or significant changes in behaviour, it may indicate panic disorder.
Statistically, approximately 4% of Australians experienced panic disorder in the last year, highlighting its significant impact on mental health. Women are about twice as likely to experience panic attacks as men, indicating a notable gender disparity in its prevalence (National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, Australian Bureau of Statistics; American Psychiatric Association).
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we help you make sense of these experiences and provide a path to recovery by identifying and resolving the underlying emotional conflicts that drive your symptoms.
Why Do Panic Attacks Happen?
Panic attacks often feel like they strike out of the blue, but research shows they are connected to deeper emotional and psychological factors. Understanding the reasons behind these episodes is essential for finding lasting relief.
Psychological Factors
Panic attacks are frequently linked to unresolved emotional conflicts. For example:
- Repressed anger that hasn’t been processed
- Attachment issues, such as the emotional reaction to separation or dependency on others
- Traumatic experiences or significant life stressors that remain unresolved
Psychodynamic therapy highlights how unconscious feelings and defenses play a significant role in triggering panic attacks. For many, these episodes are a response to emotional pain they may not even be aware of.
Biological Factors
While the primary focus of psychodynamic therapy is on emotions and relationships, it’s also important to note that genetic predispositions and heightened sensitivity of the nervous system can contribute to panic attacks. These biological factors may interact with psychological triggers to create a vulnerability to anxiety.
Environmental and Life Triggers
Stressful life events, such as relationship conflicts, work pressures, impending or current loss, and other traumatic events, often act as triggers for panic attacks. These events can activate unresolved feelings connected to past relationships including early attachment figures, making the connection between life circumstances and inner emotions more apparent.
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we provide a comprehensive approach to healing and lasting relief.
Defense Mechanisms at Work
From a psychodynamic perspective, panic attacks often result from the mind’s effort to suppress uncomfortable emotions. When these defenses fail, emotions surface triggering high levels of anxiety including panic attacks.
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we specialise in identifying and addressing these root causes. By exploring the unconscious drivers of your panic attacks, we help you gain insight, resolve emotional conflicts, and build healthier coping mechanisms. Understanding the “why” behind your symptoms is the first step toward lasting freedom from panic.
How Dynamic Psychotherapy Can Help
- Explore how past experiences influence your current feelings and reactions.
- Identify and process repressed emotions, such as anger, fear, or grief.
- Understand the unconscious triggers that contribute to your anxiety.
- Address early traumatic experiences so that they no longer impact on you emotionally in your current life.
Breaking the Cycle of Panic
Panic attacks are often maintained by a cycle of fear and avoidance. We help break this cycle by:
- Building awareness of emotional triggers and defense mechanisms.
- Helping you experience and process difficult emotions in a safe, supportive environment.
- Behavioural methods of managing your anxiety may be used as a short-term measure while we get to the root causes.
Personalised Support
Your therapy is tailored to your unique experiences and needs. Whether your panic attacks are linked to recent stress, long-term patterns, or a combination of both, we create a plan that supports your recovery.
What to Expect from Therapy
Starting therapy for panic attacks can feel like a big step but knowing what to expect can ease your concerns. At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we provide a structured and compassionate approach designed to guide you through recovery.
1. Initial Consultation
- Your journey begins with a detailed conversation about your experiences, symptoms, and history.
- Together, we explore when your panic attacks began, their frequency, and any life events or patterns associated with them.
- This session helps us understand your unique situation and develop a tailored treatment plan.
- Many people notice reduced anxiety by the end of the first session and an understanding of the plan to stop the panic attacks.
2. Phases of Treatment
Our psychodynamic therapy is divided into three key phases:
Phase 1: Understanding Symptoms
- We focus on identifying the triggers and emotional meanings behind your panic attacks.
- This includes exploring life events, stressors, and unconscious feelings contributing to your symptoms.
Phase 2: Addressing Root Causes
- Core emotional conflicts, such as unresolved anger or fear of separation, are brought into awareness.
- We help you process and resolve these conflicts, reducing their power over your life.
- Transference (how past relationships affect current ones) is explored to address and resolve unhelpful and/or destructive emotional patterns in relationships.
Phase 3: Building Emotional Resilience
- As therapy progresses, we work on building your capacity to face emotions without excessive levels of anxiety.
- This includes developing healthier ways to manage emotions and relationships.
- The goal is to help you feel more independent, confident, and in control and to be able to use emotions adaptively to promote healthier functioning and relationships, rather than having high levels of anxiety triggered.
3. Supportive and Collaborative Environment
- Therapy is a safe, non-judgmental space where you can explore your feelings openly.
- We move at a pace that feels comfortable for you, ensuring you feel supported every step of the way.
4. Long-Term Relief
Unlike short-term solutions, our approach aims for lasting change. By addressing the root causes of your panic attacks, we help you break free from recurring symptoms and build a foundation for emotional well-being.
Why Choose Dynamic Psychotherapy?
At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we offer more than just relief from panic attacks—we provide a pathway to understanding and resolving the deeper emotional roots of your anxiety. Here’s why our approach stands out:
1. Expertise in Psychodynamic Therapy
- Our therapists specialise in psychodynamic methods, which have been shown to effectively treat panic disorder by addressing its emotional and psychological causes.
- We focus on long-term solutions, helping you uncover and resolve the unconscious conflicts driving your symptoms.
2. A Personalised Approach
- Every person’s experience with panic attacks is unique, and so is our treatment. We tailor therapy to your specific needs, experiences, and goals.
- Through a collaborative process, we create a treatment plan that aligns with your journey toward recovery.
3. Evidence-Based Methods
- Our approach is grounded in research and proven psychodynamic techniques. Studies show that this method not only reduces panic symptoms but also improves emotional resilience and overall well-being.
- Our approach is grounded in research and proven psychodynamic techniques. Studies show that this method not only reduces panic symptoms but also improves emotional resilience and overall well-being.
4. A Safe and Supportive Environment
- We prioritise creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and understood.
- Our therapists are compassionate, experienced, and dedicated to building a trusting therapeutic relationship.
5. Commitment to Lasting Change
- While short-term relief is important, our goal is to help you achieve long-lasting freedom from panic attacks.
- By addressing the root causes of your anxiety, we aim to empower you with the tools and confidence to thrive in all aspects of life.
Choosing Dynamic Psychotherapy means choosing a comprehensive, compassionate, and effective approach to overcoming panic attacks. Take the first step today—your journey to a calmer, more confident life begins with us.
Start Your Journey to Freedom from Panic Attacks
You don’t have to live in fear of your next panic attack. At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we’re here to help you understand and overcome the causes of your anxiety so you can reclaim your life.
Take the First Step Today
- Contact our team to schedule a consultation.
- Let us work with you to create a personalised plan for lasting relief from panic attacks.
Why Wait?
The sooner you begin therapy, the sooner you can start feeling calmer and more in control. Our expert therapists are ready to support you every step of the way.
Get in Touch
- Call us at 0424 220 314.
- Or click here to submit an appointment request.
Help is just a call away. Take the first step toward a life free from panic attacks today. At Dynamic Psychotherapy, we’re committed to helping you achieve lasting change and emotional well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panic Attacks
1. What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear or anxiety that often feels overwhelming. It can cause physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Panic attacks typically peak within minutes and may feel like they are happening “out of the blue.”
2. What causes panic attacks?
Panic attacks often have deep emotional or psychological roots. Unresolved emotional conflicts, stress, past trauma, or unconscious fears can trigger these episodes. Biological factors, such as heightened sensitivity of the nervous system, may also play a role.
3. How do I know if I have panic disorder?
If you experience frequent panic attacks and live with constant worry about having another one, you may have panic disorder. This condition can also lead to lifestyle changes, like avoiding places or situations where you fear an attack might happen.
4. How can therapy help with panic attacks?
Therapy, especially psychodynamic therapy, helps uncover the emotional and psychological causes of panic attacks. By addressing unresolved conflicts and unconscious patterns, therapy can provide lasting relief and help you build better coping mechanisms.
5. How long does it take to see results from therapy?
Every individual is different, but many clients begin to notice improvement within the first few sessions as they gain insight into their symptoms. A comprehensive approach often involves exploring deeper patterns over time for long-term results.
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