The development of panic attacks is based on a person’s increased sensitivity to somatic sensations, focusing on them (listening to bodily symptoms) and a catastrophic interpretation of unusual and uncomfortable bodily sensations. Not all people are equally sensitive to signals from their body - changes in heart rate, difficulty breathing, dizziness. However, people prone to panic are usually very good at grasping their physiological ailments, which are caused by some external or internal reasons (stuffy room, heat, fatigue, intense negative emotions). Having sensed, for example, a change in heartbeat or difficulty breathing, they interpret this is catastrophic - “I have something wrong with my heart, I might have a heart attack” or “I might suffocate”, as a result the person’s anxiety increases, and attention is focused on the physiological process that frightened him. At the same time, on the one hand, an increase in anxiety leads to an increase in bodily symptoms and the appearance of new ones (the “fight-flight” reaction is activated); on the other hand, attention directed at the symptoms itself causes their intensification. This phenomenon is known as somatosensory amplification. As a result, anxiety grows, along with it its bodily manifestations increase, and a panic attack occurs. A panic attack is an attack of very severe anxiety with somatic symptoms in the form of tachycardia, discomfort in the heart, difficulty breathing, dizziness. It is often accompanied by feelings of altered consciousness - derealization and depersonalization: the world is not like that and I myself am somehow not like that. A panic attack, as a rule, does not last long, the anxiety subsides within a few minutes, but the person may feel like a lot of time has passed. In order for a single panic attack to develop into a panic disorder, when the attacks are repeated regularly, the person must be very afraid of panic attacks and concern themselves with the problem of preventing them. Of course, a panic attack is extremely unpleasant, and hardly anyone wants to experience it over and over again. And there are adaptive ways to deal with these conditions, including seeing a therapist or using the right self-help. But people often engage in maladaptive ways of coping with panic, which include scanning the body for suspicious warning signs of a panic attack, protective behavior (for example, carrying anti-anxiety medications with you at all times), and avoidant behavior. The person begins to avoid those situations that, in his opinion, can cause a panic attack. Gradually, these situations can become more and more numerous, and the person greatly limits his life. While a person avoids panic attacks with all his might, he retains the belief that they are extremely dangerous. Reducing avoidant behavior and learning to tolerate panic, cope with anxiety without running away, and live fully despite possible panic attacks are important targets of cognitive psychotherapy for panic disorder. Together with a psychotherapist, small and feasible steps are taken, while work with catastrophic ideas is carried out in parallel. I would be glad to discuss the topic and comments! If you are tormented by panic attacks, anxiety, obsessive thoughts - contact us, we will sort it out. Sometimes a few meetings are enough to significantly improve the condition. Make an appointment by phone. (WhatsApp, Telegram) 8-916-150-88-30.