Panic Attack Treatment in London

Therapy for panic attacks is proven to be highly effective in helping people overcome panic and regain control.

At KlearMinds, our experienced therapists use a blend of integrative psychotherapy, CBT and counselling, that can really help you turn things around. We can help you understand panic attack triggers and show you effective step-by-step strategies, which you can use to successfully reduce and eliminate symptoms of panic.

Panic Attack Therapy London

Panic Attack Symptoms

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and panic at certain times. It’s a natural response to stressful or dangerous situations. But someone with panic disorder has feelings of anxiety, stress and panic regularly which seem to occur any tme, often for no apparent reason. You may start to avoid certain situations because you fear they’ll trigger more attacks. This can create a cycle of living “in fear of fear”.

A panic attack can occur suddenly without warning, and for what appears to be no logical reason. Panic attack symptoms can be frightening, particularly if they appear to come from out of nowhere. Alongside feelings of anxiety, a host of other symptoms can accompany an attack such as:

  • A racing heartbeat
  • Chest pains
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Feeling Faint
  • Chills
  • Trembling
  • Nausea
  • A churning stomach
  • Shallow breathing or shortness of breath
  • An overwhelming fear of dying
  • A feeling of dread
  • Tingling sensations in the body
  • Numbness
  • Hot flushes in the body
  • A choking sensation

Most panic attacks last for around 5 to 20 minutes. In certain situations, the shock of the physical symptoms can make people fear they are having a heart attack. However, it is important to note that the symptoms of a racing heartbeat and shortness of breath during a panic attack will not cause a heart attack.

People with panic disorder tend to experience general feelings of worry and anxiety in their daily life. They can experience panic attacks on a regular basis. The number of attacks you have will depend on how severe your condition is. Some people have attacks once or twice a month, while others have them several times a week.  As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of panic disorder isn’t fully understood.

What Therapy Can Help Treat Panic?

Counselling and integrative psychotherapy can help people to address panic in a number of ways including understanding and managing panic symptoms, overcoming panic attacks and reducing panic frequency. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to be free of unexpected panic altogether by the end of a course of treatment. These therapies also help people develop the skills needed to feel confident in coping should a panic attack occur again in the future.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is also an effective therapy for dealing with panic disorder and panic attacks. According to this model, people who suffer from panic disorder often have distorted ways of thinking that they are not aware of and these thoughts bring on a cycle of fear. By recognising and reshaping these thought patterns, people can take control over their panic. Relaxation training and exposure might also be used to help an individual overcome the problem, and homework assignments such as journals or breathing exercises are typically part of the programme. Weekly sessions of CBT for panic, over a period of 7 to 14 weeks, are recommended by the UK National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE).

Psychotherapy can help people understand the roots of panic attacks, which do not have an obvious connection with here and now stimuli which is the main focus of CBT Therapy. By exploring areas in people’s past that contribute to your panic, these can be uncovered and dealt with. This helps remove the issues that are often out of awareness but powerfully fuel the physiology which gives rise to panic. When CBT strategies to manage panic do not “stick” psychotherapy enables people to address the root problem fueling panic enabling CBT tools to work much better in a lasting way.

Medications for Panic Disorder

There are some medications that can help control the physical symptoms that accompany panic disorder, but medication is rarely used alone to treat the problem.

If you and your doctor think it might be helpful, you may be prescribed:

  • a type of antidepressant called an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or, if SSRIs are not suitable, a tricyclic antidepressant (usually imipramine or clomipramine).  There can be side effects with SSRIs including headaches, nausea, loss of libido, dizziness, insomnia and dry mouth. Sometimes when the medication is started, the symptoms can feel worse before the full effects kick in.  Like with SSRIs, there can be side effects with tricyclics. These can include constipation, weight gain, drowsiness and sweating.
  • an anti-epilepsy medicine such as pregabalin or, if your anxiety is severe, clonazepam (these medicines are also beneficial for treating anxiety)

Antidepressants can take 2 to 4 weeks before they start to work, and up to 8 weeks to work fully. Keep taking your medicines, even if you feel they’re not working, and only stop taking them if your GP advises you to do so. You should never attempt to stop taking antidepressants on your own as this can result in severe withdrawal symptoms.

Combination Treatment for Panic Disorder

In certain cases, when panic symptoms are severe or exacerbated by other conditions such as depression, some people find a combination of medication and counselling can be more helpful. Once the severe physiological symptoms have abated and the individual feels more in control, it is possible to move towards reducing or eventually stopping medication. Again you should never reduce or stop taking medication suddenly or without proper medical supervision.

Additional Help for Dealing with Panic Attacks

Alongside medication and/or counselling, the options listed below can assist people in coping with or reducing panic disorder symptoms.

  • Support Groups can help people feel less alone by sharing experiences and strategies for dealing with panic attacks. A group can help alleviate the isolation and fear that many sufferers experience.
  • Mindfulness is a technique that shows people how to sit and observe difficult thoughts and feelings without judging them negatively. This practice can enable people to build a stronger sense of inner peacefulness and self-control.
  • Meditation and Breathing Techniques can be learned and practiced on your own to help keep a calm demeanor during or between panic attacks.
  • Lifestyle Changes such as exercising more, improving your diet and avoiding anxiety stimulating substances such as caffeine drinks or harmful substances such as nicotine and alcohol can also help alleviate feelings of panic.

Meet Our Experienced Therapists

Amanda Reynolds - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Amanda is a highly experienced Advanced CBT and Integrative therapist with more than 11 years experience. She draws upon a wide range of therapies and works proactively to help clients understand, process and resolve their concerns and conflicts. Amanda can assist you to quickly identify problematic thoughts and behaviours which negatively impact your personal and professional well-being.
Meet our Team
Paul Glynn - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Paul Glynn holds over 35 years experience as a therapist and is KlearMinds Clinical Director. Paul offers a warm, pragmatic and interactive approach to help you understand and go beyond the difficulties you are facing. He is passionate about empowering clients to develop the tools that can help them to resolve stuckness and positively change repetitive, problematic behaviours.
Meet our Team
Kate Thomlinson - Psychotherapist & Counsellor London
Kate is a highly skilled therapist with over 9 years experience. She has worked successfully in a variety of settings, including media, TV, journalism, law and higher education. She draws upon a broad range of therapeutic skills including existential, CBT, mindfulness and psychoeducation to enable clients to achieve the outcomes they want, in terms of professional and personal satisfaction and wellbeing.
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Judy Harrison - Psychotherapist and Couples Therapist London
Judy holds over 25 years experience as a psychotherapist, with individuals and couples. She utilizes a wide range of therapies, including CBT and psychoeducation and has considerable experience in Career Coaching, Mindfulness Meditation and Mediation. Judy works proactively with clients to help them understand and address problematic situations and experiences and develop positive skills they can draw upon for life.
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Karen Gubb - Clinical Psychologist London.webp
Karen is a highly experienced psychologist, executive and career coach with over 21 years experience. Karen draws upon a variety of therapies and coaching skills, tailoring her approach, to best suit the learning style of each client. Karen works proactively. She can help you understand and constructively change problematic thoughts and patterns of behaviour so you can realise your personal goals.
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Maggie Morrow Award Winning Therapist

Maggie Morrow is an award winning psychotherapist, an accomplished life coach and counsellor, and Founder of KlearMinds. In 2007 she was awarded the BACP National Award for advancing the quality of therapy service provision to the highest standards in the UK.
Maggie’s experience spans over 25 years helping people overcome problems so they can enjoy more fulfilling and satisfying lives.

 

Meet our Team
Tania Turner Counsellor and Couples Therapist in London
Tania is an experienced psychotherapist and couples counsellor with over 10 years experience. She is highly skilled in helping couples and individuals address a wide range of concerns. She has a warm, collaborative, insightful approach and uses a range of therapies including psychodynamic and mindfulness, to enable her clients to understand and resolve issues constructively.
Meet our Team

Therapy Reviews

Build Self-Confidence and Overcome Relationship Problems
….I had tried counselling before and thought it wasn’t for me. I now realise that finding the right counsellor makes all the difference. I went to see Maggie when I felt I was no longer able to cope and everything in my life was going wrong…. I cannot recommend Maggie enough. I feel in control, grounded and confident… capable of moving forward in my life. My sessions with her have not only helped me gain…. Read More
A very grateful Lawyer!
Control Anxiety – Depression – Improve Relationships – Career Coaching
…therapy with Judy… has changed my life forever. I suffered daily from anxiety and.. negative thought[s].. holding me back..in my relationships… during lockdown..i was put at risk of redundancy.. I saw 3 different therapists before this, none of which really understood and helped me… Judy helped me understand things… control my anxiety… get back on track… I was blown away with her…. Read More
Events Producer
Help to Find the Best Therapist
…KlearMinds seems to put thought and care into matching their clients with the right therapist. When I initially called… a very kind woman who basically gave me a free therapy session, spending almost an hour on the phone with me, before matching me with the best therapist I’ve ever had. …. Paul was amazing… he was an integral part of getting me through… Read More
Anonymous
Overcoming Anxiety & Work Stress – Improving Career & Relationships
After a number of false starts with therapists, I can only say that I wish I had found Maggie sooner!… Over a period of 15 years I had seen multiple therapists and psychiatrists to address issues relating to anxiety, depression and workplace stress…. Maggie really helped me to elucidate and articulate the origins of deeply embedded patterns of negative and self defeating thinking, which proved essential… Read More
Dan, Civil Servant
Manage ADHD, Feel Empowered & in Control
the 10.. therapy..sessions… has truly left a profound impact on my life. Judy… equipped me with invaluable tools to better manage various aspects of my life. The sessions were instrumental in fostering positive changes, and I now feel more empowered and capable of navigating life’s challenges with a new found sense of control. Judy’s expertise and the structured approach of integrative therapy has proven to be…. Read More
Ola 30, female with ADHD
Help With Bereavement & Depression
I was coping with a major bereavement and it felt like a crisis… Straight away Maggie was warm, kind and understanding… I didn’t want to be in therapy for a long time, I just wanted to get better, get on with my life… I cannot recommend Maggie highly enough to you. Whilst life still presents me with challenges I can cope with them as I feel so much stronger now… over six weeks… after each session I’d… Read More
TV Director, London
Healing Past Wounds and Trauma
I met with Tania at KlearMinds for 12 sessions…Trust was immediately established between us….Tania helped navigate me through some difficult unresolved trauma from my childhood which had been holding me back a long time. Tania helped me look at my past through a lens of warmth, understanding and curiosity, rather than…Tania’s help has changed my life as I have finally…. Read More
Analyst, Investment Management
Overcoming Trauma, Depression, Parenting Problems, Career Issues
I have seen Maggie for a short batch of sessions, on 4 occasions… I’ve needed help with…post-natal depression…childhood trauma…career…work/life balance…parenting struggles… the services she provides, have been absolutely transformational… Without fail, each time, Maggie has..quickly distilled..the root..issue..and given me highly..actionable..advice..I can…use..long past attending one to one sessions…. Read More
COO, London
Career Change, Confidence Building
My experience with Amanda has been nothing short of transformational. I was completely stuck, down in the dumps about my career and not sure how to move forward. Amanda was absolutely brilliant in her approach…Amanda has helped me understand myself, step back and look at the facts around me and increased my confidence hugely….After the first few sessions I had already….Read More
Anonymous, London
Career & Life Coaching
I initially sought out a life or career coach as I felt stuck in a toxic situation at work…I have seen a number of therapists over the years and definitely felt this was the best experience I have had. I really appreciated Maggie’s combination of empathy and practicality, an investment that has truly paid off… working on a psychological level to understand the situation and other dynamics…really helped me navigate…. Read More
Partnership Development Manager
Overcoming Career Anxiety & Work Stress
I had never thought I was someone who would need counselling or therapy, as I had always been very strong. However when my career wasn’t going quite as I had planned it, I found I was becoming very negative and mentally spiralling out of control – in fact turning myself into a victim. Maggie was outstanding at providing me with what I needed, not as a “quick fix” but by giving me the tools to use whenever I may need… Read More
Corporate Finance Lawyer
Maggie Award Winning Therapist

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Author: Maggie Morrow, Award Winning Psychotherapist, Counsellor & Life Coach
Last updated: 16th May 2023

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