Panic Attacks – Hypnotherapy in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Panic attacks can be frightening, overwhelming, and deeply unsettling. Many people describe feeling as though something terrible is about to happen, even when there is no real danger present. If you are experiencing panic attacks, it’s important to know that you are not broken, you are not weak and you are not alone. At Hypnotherapy with Lana, based in Harrogate, I help clients across Yorkshire understand panic attacks and learn how to calm their nervous system so they can feel safe, confident, and back in control.​
What Are Panic Attacks?
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear accompanied by strong physical sensations. These sensations are caused by the body’s fight-or-flight response activating at the wrong time. Common panic attack symptoms include:
- Racing or pounding heart
- Shortness of breath or tight chest
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Shaking, sweating, or trembling
- Nausea or stomach discomfort
- Tingling or numbness
- Feeling detached or unreal
- Fear of losing control, fainting, or dying.
Although panic attacks feel alarming, they are not dangerous. They are a temporary stress response that always passes.
Why Do Panic Attacks Happen?
Panic attacks occur when the brain mistakenly believes you are in danger and releases stress hormones such as adrenaline. This can happen due to:
- Long-term stress or emotional overload
- Anxiety and overthinking
- Previous frightening experiences
- A sensitive or highly alert nervous system
- Fear of bodily sensations
- A previous panic attack that created a fear response.
Once someone experiences a panic attack, the fear of having another one can keep the cycle going, even when life appears calm.
- Understanding the Panic Cycle
Panic attacks are maintained by a simple loop:
A bodily sensation appears
The sensation is interpreted as dangerous
Fear increases
Adrenaline is released
Symptoms intensify
Fear of symptoms fuels the next attack.
Breaking this cycle is the key to long-term relief.
- Are Panic Attacks Dangerous?
No. Panic attacks:
- Do not cause heart attacks
- Do not cause fainting
- Do not cause mental breakdown
- Do not damage your body or brain
What causes distress is the fear of panic itself, not the panic response.
How to Deal With Panic Attacks
1. Stop Fighting the SensationsTrying to suppress panic often makes it stronger. Allowing sensations to rise and fall naturally helps the nervous system settle.
2. Calm the Nervous SystemGentle breathing, grounding, and relaxation techniques help signal safety to the brain.
3. Change the Fear ResponsePanic stops when the brain learns there is no threat. This happens through education, repetition, and subconscious re-training.
4. Address the Subconscious PatternsPanic attacks are often driven by subconscious habits and learned responses, which is why hypnotherapy can be so effective.
How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help
Solution-focused hypnotherapy does not focus on reliving the past or analysing problems in depth. Instead, it works by helping the brain and nervous system return to balance. As a Harrogate-based hypnotherapist, I help clients by:
- Reducing stress and anxiety levels
- Calming an overactive nervous system
- Re-training subconscious fear responses
- Improving emotional regulation
- Building confidence and resilience
Clients often notice improvements in panic symptoms, sleep, mood, and overall wellbeing within a relatively short period of time.
Can Panic Attacks Stop Completely?
Yes. Panic attacks are fully reversible. When the fear response is removed and the nervous system no longer feels under threat, panic attacks lose their purpose and stop occurring. Recovery is not about coping forever, it’s about teaching your brain that it no longer needs to panic.
- Panic Attack Hypnotherapy in Harrogate & Yorkshire
If panic attacks are affecting your daily life, work, travel or confidence, professional support can help you recover faster and more comfortably. At Hypnotherapy with Lana, I offer a calm, supportive, solution-focused approach for clients in Harrogate and across Yorkshire, helping you feel safe, grounded, and in control again.
Take the First Step
Panic attacks may feel overwhelming, but they are a learned response and learned responses can be unlearned. With the right support, understanding, and techniques, you can regain confidence and peace of mind.