Panic Attacks

What is a panic attack?

A sudden rush of physical and emotional symptoms that can occur apparently without warning

Physical symptoms include:

  • Heart palpitations
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Increased sweating
  • Clammy hands
  • Light-headedness, dizziness, faintness
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Nausea

Psychological symptoms include:

  • An impulse to run away
  • Fear of dying, going crazy, going out of control
  • Feeling of unreality

What causes it?

Physiologically the body is reacting to a perceived threat – a similar reaction to the need to escape from a physical danger eg a fire or an accident. The body produces large quantities of a hormone – adrenalin which causes increased heart rate, breathing, muscle tension.

With panic attacks normally there is no apparent or immediate danger and they frequently happen in the most ordinary settings, on a train, in a shop, lecture etc. The lack of obvious explanation can make them more frightening. Sometimes they occur in settings that are more obviously stressful eg in an exam, in a crowd but soon the attack may become more frightening than the situation itself.

Your panic attacks are likely to make you feel out of control and dependent; the victim of your bodily reactions and outside circumstances. The first step along the road to recovery is recognising that you have the power to control your symptoms.  

If you would like to learn ways of managing your panic please contact me.

What is Spiritual Wellness?

Spiritual wellness is not:

Being a deeply religious person.

Attending a place of worship on a regular basis.

Forcing a set belief system on one self and expecting others to follow.

Living life according to rigid rules and cultural norms.

Doing what you want to do, and not caring for what others think because your way and belief system is the right way to live.

Is not a one fit for all approach to life.

 Spiritual wellness is:

Developing a life purpose

Having the ability to spend reflective time alone

Spending time reflecting on the meaning in life

Having a sense of right and wrong and being able to act accordingly

Having a relationship with yourself, your heart, and your soul (essence of your being and life purpose).

Caring and acting for the welfare of others and the environment

Being able to practice forgiveness and compassion in life.

Being authentic.

Basic Counselling Skills Workshop

I am often approached by therapists and those working in the care community asking how they can gain effective communication skills to deal with their clients.

On this ONE DAY WORKSHOP I will show you the basic skills in:

■EMPATHY
■ACTIVE LISTENING
■REFLECTION
■QUESTIONING
■RAPPORT BUILDING

Drawing from the Person Centred Theory of Counselling you will be introduced to the core conditions and you will learn how to recognise signs of mental health which will help you to feel confident in sign posting to relevant services.

There will be short role play exercises just to enable you to understand and feel more confident in practicing your new skills going forward. These exercises will be fun though so don’t worry!!

Please note this is a BASIC SKILLS workshop and does not give you the qualifications to practice as a counsellor, however you will receive a certificate of attendance on the day.

If you are interested in holding my Basic Counselling Skills Workshop I would love to hear from you.