Is hypnosis effective in treating panic attacks?

A psychotherapist with more than 14 years of experience, Krailina Irina Sergeevna, talks about effective methods of self-help for panic attacks, how they work, and the role of psychotherapy.

A person who has experienced a panic attack for the first time thinks that something extraordinary, terrible, catastrophic has happened to him.

Many of my patients, when they learn ways to control their emotions, thoughts and body, exclaim: “Oh, if only when this happened for the first time, someone told me that this is a disorder well known to doctors and psychologists, that it can be treated, and most importantly “They don’t die from it!”

After all, then, at the very beginning, there was one most terrible thought that covered everything in the world like a black cloud: “No one knows what’s wrong with me. I will die".

Therefore, a person tries to get first aid by calling an ambulance, or going to a therapist or cardiologist.

Many people try to fight this disorder on their own, looking for recommendations and advice on how to get rid of panic attacks. Usually on the Internet. There is a lot of information there, often it is scattered and contradictory.

Therefore, I will try to systematize information on recommendations and methods of self-help and talk about the benefits of psychotherapy.

For those who want to better understand the topic, the article contains “More details” blocks: you need to click/tap on them for additional information to appear. If your goal is to learn only about self-help techniques, just read the plain print.

Learn more about the mechanism of development and symptoms of panic attacks

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A panic attack is an unpredictable attack of acute anxiety (panic) with bodily symptoms for which the autonomic nervous system (hereinafter referred to as the ANS) is responsible.

Scheme 1. How the autonomic nervous system (ANS) works

In an individual, these symptoms may be present in full or in part:

• heartbeat;
• rise in blood pressure;
• frequent shallow breathing;
• feeling of suffocation, tightness in the chest;
• goosebumps;
• cold extremities;
• dizziness;
• pallor;
• sweating;
• urge to defecate;
• nausea;
• trembling in hands.

These symptoms are a manifestation of autonomic crises (sympathetic-adrenal, vagoinsular or mixed). Often the attack is accompanied by fear of death, loss of control or madness, as well as a feeling of unreality of what is happening or change in one’s self.

Lasts for minutes and ends with the passage of a large amount of light-colored urine. The person feels broken and empty.

Vegetative crises can be a manifestation of certain somatic diseases (endocrine, cardiovascular system), can occur during pregnancy, taking certain medications, or occur as isolated episodes against the background of overwork or alcohol abuse.

When doctors have ruled out somatic pathology, but panic attacks recur, it is more correct to call it a panic disorder.

The reason for the recurrence of panic attacks is a special form of thinking (when anxious traits are combined with perfectionism, the need to control everything) plus instability of the autonomic nervous system (what doctors used to call vegetative-vascular dystonia).

After the first panic attack, a person is in constant anxious anticipation of its repetition. The slightest unpleasant sensation in the body or just a thought can trigger a cascade of somato-vegetative reactions that support and reinforce each other through the mechanism of a vicious circle and lead to panic.

To clearly explain how different self-help methods work, let’s consider a person as an integral system and highlight 4 components:

• the human body;
• his emotions;
• thoughts;
• the external environment with which it interacts.

These components interact with each other and influence each other.

An example of the interaction of body, emotions, thoughts and environment

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For example, support from the environment, family, gives confidence (the thought) that help will be provided in any case. The level of anxiety (emotions) temporarily decreases and vegetative symptoms go away (body). The trouble is that environmental support does not completely eliminate panic disorder. She only supports the belief that one cannot cope with the disorder on one’s own.

The role of hypnosis in the treatment of panic attacks

Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis is used to increase the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy, it allows you to improve treatment results, achieve harmony within yourself, and get rid of anxiety. Hypnotherapy helps to penetrate a person's subconscious and replace anxious thoughts with positive ones.

Treatment of panic attacks with hypnosis is effective, so in 80 percent of cases this technique is preferred. In each case, therapy is selected individually, it all depends on the nature of the disorder. The advantage of this treatment over traditional treatment is that medications eliminate the symptoms of the disease, but do not affect the cause. While hypnosis removes the cause of PA, the mental disorder. Taking medications affects the body as a whole, putting it at risk.

It is important to understand that hypnosis for panic attacks will be an effective way to get rid of fear only in one case. This will happen when the person is ready for such changes and has a positive attitude, and also trusts the doctor conducting the session. Hypnosis helps in cases where the causes of PA are not clear or there are contraindications to other treatment methods, including medications.

What is online hypnosis? Cost of consultation with a hypnologist online

A session with a hypnologist takes place in a calm, therapeutic environment - in a separate room, into which no noise from the outside penetrates (from the outside, of course, you also cannot hear what is happening during the session). For online hypnotherapy (on the Internet, via Skype), it is also important to maintain silence so that nothing distracts the therapist and the client - the noise of renovations in a neighboring apartment, the screams of children, conversations of relatives or colleagues.

Where is hypnotherapy done online? We conduct hypnosis sessions via Skype; the session time must be agreed upon in advance with the administrator by phone.

With the help of a therapist, you will achieve a relaxed state and be able to focus on specific things. The specialist will ask you to think about your experiences and situations in your life in a positive way - this will help change the way you think or act.

The table below shows the price. Online hypnosis sessions are conducted during specialists’ working hours.

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Hypnosis for severe pain will help you figure out what intensifies the pain and what prevents you from relaxing. If the cause of pain is not physical (no injury, damage to an internal organ), but mental, hypnotherapy is one of the suitable treatment options.

Hypnotherapy sessions have little in common with colorful descriptions in books or films - the client remains conscious, does not fall asleep and generally does not lose control of himself. You will hear the therapist's suggestions, but only you can decide whether to agree to them or not. A competent hypnotherapist does not treat a person against his wishes.

Specialists

Ashmeiba Nino Anatolyevna

Psychotherapist, psychiatrist

doctor of the highest category

more than 15 years of experience

35 positive reviews

• Suggestive therapy
• Reconstructive-personal psychotherapy
• Rational psychotherapy
• Individual psychotherapy

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Abakumova Elena Viktorovna

Psychiatrist, psychotherapist

more than 20 years of experience

80 positive reviews

• Ericksonian hypnosis
• Neurolinguistic programming
• Cognitive behavioral psychotherapy
• Holotropic Breathwork

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Krailina Irina Sergeevna

Psychotherapist, psychiatrist

more than 12 years of experience

7 positive reviews

• Ericksonian hypnosis
• Short-term psychotherapy
• Art therapy
• Psychosynthesis

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If you find it difficult to choose a psychotherapist, call us or fill out an application. We will help you find a specialist with whom you will feel comfortable.

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Types of hypnosis for PA

Ericksonian hypnosis
To solve problems of getting rid of panic attacks, the following types of hypnosis can be used.

Classic hypnosis

This is a traditional way of treating panic attacks; the session involves changing the state of consciousness. The course lasts a short period of time, during which the therapist gives direct instructions. Its effectiveness has been proven, but this therapy is not suitable for everyone, and before the session, a specialist assesses the person’s condition.

Ericksonian hypnosis

This type of hypnosis differs from classical hypnosis; it has found wider application due to its advantages, which are as follows:

• soft settings are used;
• the ability to bypass a person’s unconscious protests;
• for the patient it is practically invisible and is perceived more easily;
• The technique helps to learn self-hypnosis, which will allow a person to independently get rid of panic attacks and cope with crises.

This method is suitable for people who cannot tolerate classical hypnosis and subconsciously resist suggestion. Self-hypnosis for panic attacks, taught by the Ericksonian method, is the best way to support yourself and get rid of obsessive fear . Interestingly, the method was named after its creator, a psychotherapist who is recognized throughout the world. It allows you to build a line of behavior for the doctor in communicating with the patient on equal terms.

Diagnosis of the disease

During a comprehensive examination of the patient, it is necessary to find out whether panic attacks are an independent disease or a symptom accompanying other psychological and/or physiological dysfunctions in the body:

1. Isolated panic disorder without a history of other symptoms is treated by stopping attacks and preventing them.
2. If panic attacks are a consequence of another underlying disease - they occur against its background, then therapy will be aimed primarily at the identified cause.

For example, if the primary diagnosis is a depressive disorder, and panic attacks are just its consequence, then the doctor will direct all his efforts to eliminate depression. After this, acute anxiety crises go away on their own.

It is almost impossible for the average person to understand this on their own. That is why, if you notice the symptoms described above, you should immediately seek help from a qualified specialist who will tell you in detail about your condition and prescribe appropriate treatment for panic attacks.

The benefits of hypnosis in the treatment of PA

A hypnotic trance is essentially a pause between sleep and wakefulness, during which a person is distracted from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This allows you to look inside yourself. The trance state is absolutely natural, at this time all processes in the body are suspended, it does not pose any danger. During an attack, a person experiences fear; after the attack, it does not disappear, but becomes more intrusive. Therefore, it is important to learn how to rebuild your subconscious, which is where hypnosis can help.

A state of trance

In a trance state, new opportunities for stress management . This can be used by every person striving for self-improvement. But this is the case if there is an awareness that the cause of PA lies in the source - the head, psyche, nervous system, and not in the organs. Many people do not understand that their self-hypnosis skills are at a low level, and with its help you can not only heal a person, but also provoke a negative development of the situation.

And the drama lies in the fact that suggestible, impressionable people easily put themselves into a trance without realizing it, as a result of which the heart rate increases, blood pressure decreases, nausea and shortness of breath appear - everything that accompanies panic attacks. That is, the person himself becomes the culprit for the occurrence of PA.

It is also necessary to distinguish the state of hypnotic trance and suggestion from af, “I’m fine.” Even if you repeat them constantly, positive changes do not always occur; sometimes their action causes the opposite effect. Such uncontrolled self-hypnosis leads to the fact that a physically healthy person suffers from panic attacks and increasing helplessness in the face of them. This problem requires a solution, otherwise the situation will worsen, and various diseases may arise from stress .

Treatments for Autism

There are many treatments for autism. In each individual case, a certain technique is suitable. Whether it is treatment through psychotherapy or a special diet, the most important thing is to begin treatment as soon as possible.

Before determining the treatment method, the mental and physical condition of the child is taken into account. After all, a child’s life is influenced by both the mental aspect and the motor component.

1.Method of behavioral therapy. The most common method of combating autism. It is preferable to start treatment with this method before the age of 3 years. The method consists of instilling in the child the skills of independence and adaptation to changes in the environment familiar to the child. Behavioral therapy aims to:

• Suppression of unwanted behavior;
• Development of normal behavior;
• Maintaining treatment effectiveness.

At the first stages of treatment, the child is taught eye contact, facial expressions and gestures. Then the skills of independence and reaction to simple verbal commands are instilled.

Every child's success should be seen in a positive way. It is necessary to reward the child with sweets, attention, toys, etc. It is important that the child understands why exactly he is being praised.

2.Optional method. An optional approach is to understand and accept the child’s inner world. One parent participates in the treatment process.

The parent must gain the child's trust by imitating his behavior. At the same time, the parent must understand and feel the child’s perception. It is impossible to force a child to change his behavior.

In the first stages of therapy, the parent simply observes how the child behaves. It is important to pay attention to every detail: movements, gestures, sounds, identical phrases, attachment to a specific object. Then the parent begins to repeat all these actions after the child for several hours a day.

Thanks to this technique, the child begins to gradually pay attention to his parent and gradually lets him into his inner world. This method of dealing with autism requires a lot of time and effort.

Treatment is carried out where the child feels comfortable. He should not feel anxious or afraid. It's best to close the windows to prevent inappropriate sounds and remove objects that might attract your child's attention. The more comfortable and cozy the environment in the place of therapy, the easier it will be for him to open up and let the parent into his inner world.

3.Holding therapy. Holding therapy involves the formation or renewal of a child’s emotional attachment to a parent. Treatment takes place by bringing mother and child closer together. It requires strict coordination of each action with a psychotherapist. Because mistakes in this situation are unacceptable.

Many people consider autism to be an incurable disease and give up. However, with so many techniques and with the right approach to treatment, anything is possible, even complete disappearance of symptoms.

Is hypnosis dangerous?

It is important to understand that hypnosis is not a person's exceptional psychic abilities, but a skill that he has learned. Treatment with hypnosis will be successful if the person himself gains reliable access to his own mental resources, and the doctor only helps him to properly cope with the disorders.

Danger lurks when a specialist manipulates a person who is in a trance, while he already has harmful attitudes and is completely lacking control over what is happening. As a result, their strengthening provokes the development of PA. A striking example of such manipulations is Kashpirovsky’s mass hypnosis.

This technique is not suitable for everyone. It does not work on people who are resistant to this kind of suggestion. It is impossible to treat patients with a hysterical personality type, who easily become dependent on the doctor, as well as people with inadequate attitudes. It is important that there is a desire to be cured.

In general, hypnosis is a powerful weapon of influence on the psyche, the consequences of which can be unpredictable. In some cases, harm can occur from the session, so it is important to take precautions. The final decision in favor of hypnosis as a method of treating PA should be made only after consultation with a specialist.

Choosing a specialist

The pitfalls of hypnotherapy include the fact that you cannot trust the management of a session to a person who does not have a medical education. Currently, there are many courses that teach hypnotic techniques, often used by people with mental disorders. And many of them try not only to solve their problems in this way, but also to treat others, making money from it. Accordingly, you should approach the choice of a specialist consciously.

The body has a high degree of protection from “unauthorized” influence, and it is almost impossible to instill in a person something that contradicts his life principles. Treatment should be trusted only to a kind and reliable person who is professional in his work. The effectiveness of therapy directly depends on this. It would be useful to study customer reviews about the results of treatment.