Hypnosis for Panic Attacks

One out of every 75 people will experience a panic attack at some time in their life. Common symptoms are a racing heart, chest pains, breathing difficulties and choking sensations, hot or cold flushes, and a feeling that you're going mad or are about to die. Once your doctor has diagnosed you with panic attacks (which is essential as these symptoms may in fact be a sign that you have another condition, which may be life-threatening), hypnotherapeutic techniques such as direct suggestion, hypno-desensitisation and relaxation, along with breathing exercises, can be used to ease your symptoms and help prevent future attacks.

THE EVIDENCE?
The British Medical Journal states that 'there is good evidence from randomised controlled trials that both hypnosis and relaxation techniques... are effective for panic disorders.'

According to the Channel Four Complementary Health website, 'hypnotherapy is said to be particularly useful for stress-related or psychosomatic conditions like... panic attacks.'

In a study reported in the American Journal Of Clinical Hypnosis, it was found that patients who'd been hypnotised 'showed an increased sense of control, improved self-concept, elimination of pathological symptoms, and cessation of panic attacks.'

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