Understanding and Managing Panic Attacks
Half-day workshop
Most of us will have a panic attack at some point in our lives. A panic attack is a sudden rush of anxiety that can come out of the blue and is characterised by many bodily sensations, such as having a tight chest, feeling dizzy, heart racing, feeling hot or feeling nauseous. Understandably people usually feel scared during a panic attack. People can fear that something terrible is going to happen, such as they might pass out, lose control or even have a heart attack and die.
People may experience panic attacks for a range of reasons. For example, someone with social anxiety might have a panic attack when having to give a presentation; someone with OCD about germs might have a panic attack if they think they have become contaminated and cannot carry out their usual rituals; or someone with claustrophobia might panic if they become stuck in a lift.
This workshop aims to explore and understand what panic attacks are in more depth and the different forms they may take. We will look just at panic attacks, not at specific anxiety disorders that might lead to them. We will then discuss a range of coping methods and strategies that people might find useful. We will also outline what cognitive behavioural treatments are available and how they can help.
This workshop has been designed in collaboration with staff from the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) and people who have used their services.
Most of us will have a panic attack at some point in our lives. A panic attack is a sudden rush of anxiety that can come out of the blue and is characterised by many bodily sensations, such as having a tight chest, feeling dizzy, heart racing, feeling hot or feeling nauseous. Understandably people usually feel scared during a panic attack. People can fear that something terrible is going to happen, such as they might pass out, lose control or even have a heart attack and die.
People may experience panic attacks for a range of reasons. For example, someone with social anxiety might have a panic attack when having to give a presentation; someone with OCD about germs might have a panic attack if they think they have become contaminated and cannot carry out their usual rituals; or someone with claustrophobia might panic if they become stuck in a lift.
This workshop aims to explore and understand what panic attacks are in more depth and the different forms they may take. We will look just at panic attacks, not at specific anxiety disorders that might lead to them. We will then discuss a range of coping methods and strategies that people might find useful. We will also outline what cognitive behavioural treatments are available and how they can help.
This workshop has been designed in collaboration with staff from the Centre for Anxiety Disorders and Trauma (CADAT) and people who have used their services.
