Self Hypnosis Techniques: How to Stop Panic Attacks and Control Anxiety

Can we stop a Panic Attack? Where do Panic Attacks come from? What are they? Can we successfully learn to handle this Panic Disorder? Are they an enemy to fight or Panic Attacks happen for a reason? And if there is a reason for them can we use hypnosis to know when they are coming and act accordingly? Is there a Self Hypnosis Technique we can use to stop panic attacks?

To stop Panic Attacks we must first know what causes them. Well, they come from inside your mind. And this, believe me or not, it's a wonderful thing; because if it comes from inside our mind we can handle our mind. And so we can handle and stop Panic Attacks. Here I'm going to give you a simple Self Hypnosis technique to help you to handle what's in my opinion the worst characteristic of a panic disorder, that is that Panic Attacks usually hits without foretelling its arrival. There are no understandable signals and then suddenly you are paralyzed by Anxiety.

As I usually say please check always with your doctor first if you're suffering from Panic Attacks or other so called Anxiety Disorders.

Absolutely not. In reality Panic Attacks are simply a friend too zealous. Let me explain.

Panic attacks are a misused defense of our wonderful bodyguard, our subconscious mind, who tries always to protect us and as a kind of too zealous protector tries to prevent us from doing something which it perceives as dangerous.

That's why panic attacks are paralyzing, cut our legs and block our breath: our subconscious tries to block us in order to prevent us from being at risk. He says STOOOOOP! Just like when a deer is lightened up by car lamps in the middle of the road, it would like to run to a safe place but it simply can't, because its subconscious mind takes over and "decides" that the best defense is staying still. Just like when he was a little fawn.

Panic Attacks transform us in the fawn which to survive remains paralyzed and almost breathless until the danger is over.

It's just the opposite behavior when we are in danger and in a split second we can move fast like a lightning to save our life.

It can seem strange but that's all about panic attacks.

Now, usually there are reasons in our past for being apt to this kind of anxiety or panic disorder, I know there are in mine, but I won't deal with them. First it's required a degree in Psychology before working with your mind in that way, and second I'm not such a big fan of digging out the dirt because you get focused on bad things and there is the big risk that the more you dig the more dirt comes to light. The dirt that you can safely handle will find its own way to come to light.

Rationally we know that if we are in danger the best thing to do is moving away from the source of hazard, in the example above the deer knows that to avoid being hit the best choice is to run away from the road, but for some reasons instead we get paralyzed and cannot move. We could say that our subconscious goes back in time when the safest choice was to remain still, like a little fawn.

Even if Panic Attacks can also be started by certain medicine drugs which have the ability to interfere with our mind and enhance Anxiety, an hormonal imbalance and in rare cases by mental predisposition nevertheless most of the times they are simply a wrongly used defense mechanism that is they are a kind of friend which makes a wrong decision. Our subconscious is always trying to protect us. What we must do is to teach our subconscious mind to judge better is there is a real danger or not. Then stopping Panic Attacks becomes much easier.

ASSESSMENT

The main problem with Panic Attacks is that they are so unexpected that they don't leave us enough time to assess if we are in danger for real. Ask to yourself: Is there a real, rational reason to be paralyzed by fear? Usually our mind tends to transform a mouse in a mountain. And this is positive, because it means that we can then transform the "mountain" back in a mouse. This is one of the cases where our conscious, rational mind helps us, we should take the little scared child/fawn inside our mind by his hand and tell him "Don't worry, I'm with you and there isn't a real reason to be scared."

The aim of the suggestion is to leave us enough time to assess if there is a real danger or not, and in the case there is the best defense is to move away, not to stand still like a piece of ice. If we are able to have a couple of seconds to see if there is really a danger then the Panic Disorder is automatically stopped. Am I wrong?

Now, in another hub I give three simple tools to stop a Panic Attack, but still the main problem about Panic Attacks remains: their unpredictability and their being a sudden hit. This Suggestion aims at establishing a signal that an attack is approaching. Obviously before going on you should read my hubs on Learn Self Hypnosis. I use in the suggestion an itching sensation in my left knee, feel free to use whatever you prefer most, just be sure that it's not a too common event to avoid false signals.

Desired Outcome: to establish a signal that a Panic Attack is coming.

Induction, then

Say to your Subconscious: Dear subconscious, we know that sometimes I have Panic Attacks which make me suffer and cause me a great deal of discomfort. Now I know that those sensations are to protect me and to avoid danger, and I acknowledge this, but you should admit that most of the times there is simply no need for such a Panic Disorder. How many times there was a real danger? Not so often right? While our discomfort was real all the times. We can get rid of that Anxiety right?

Now, since we both know that there is simply no need to suffer that way and I acknowledge the wonderful job you do to protect me, I'd like to establish this new permanent directive so that if there is no real reason to worry then there is no real need for a Panic Attack. I'm sure you agree with me. As a matter of fact Panic Attacks are a waste of energy and in the case of a real danger it is much more useful to be able to move away fast from danger, right?

NOW, I KNOW THAT AN ITCH ON MY LEFT KNEE CAN SIGNAL AN APPROACHING PANIC ATTACK SO THAT I CAN ASSESS IF THERE IS A REAL DANGER AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

I WANT THAT AN ITCH ON MY LEFT KNEE SIGNALS AN APPROACHING PANIC ATTACK SO THAT I CAN ASSESS IF THERE IS A REAL DANGER AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Repeat three times each sentence.

FROM NOW ON AN ITCH ON MY LEFT KNEE WILL SIGNAL THAT A PANIC ATTACK IS APPROACHING SO THAT I CAN ASSESS IF THERE IS A REAL DANGER AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Repeat three times.

IMAGINE THE ACHIEVED OUTCOME AND FEEL HOW YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER BEING ABLE TO KNOW WHEN PANIC ATTACKS ARE COMING.

DAILY REPETITION: I KNOW WHEN A PANIC ATTACK IS APPROACHING SO I CAN ASSESS IF THERE IS A REAL DANGER AND ALWAYS ACT ACCORDINGLY.

Anxiety is a bad beast and a Panic Disorder is one of its worst features. Panic Attacks can stop you from living, but now knowing that they are simply a wrongly used defense to keep us safe and alive don't you feel already better? And knowing that communicating with your subconscious you can change your response isn't simply wonderful? Such is the power that you hold in your hands, or if you prefer in your mind. Sometimes our wonderful mind works simply too well. The key to everything is good communication. And trust in yourself and your abilities.

YOU HAVE THE POWER! Now stop those Panic Attacks forever. And get rid of that Anxiety.

Dear reader, if you like this hub I would appreciate a comment, and also if you rate it and share it. Thanks.

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