Panic attack & loneliness

Sudden attacks of palpitations, suffocation, internal trembling, seemingly out of nowhere, for no apparent reason. And after this, multiple visits to doctors who say that you are physically healthy. All this makes you doubt your own adequacy and, out of despair, come for a consultation with a psychologist, who will suddenly say that panic attacks are not a disease, but a psycho-emotional disorder, which is based on psychological problems. And, at the beginning, it can be difficult to believe, but let’s try to figure it out.

In this article, I relied on the work of psychologist and gestalt therapist Gianni Francesetti “Panic attacks. Gestalt therapy in the unity of clinical and social contexts,” which was recommended to me by my supervisor.

First of all, it is worth understanding and accepting that panic attacks can be an important symptom that organizes life, and you need to be careful to get rid of them quickly, incl. medicinally.

At the beginning, a panic attack is noticed only at the level of physiological symptoms: my heart is pounding, I’m having a heart attack, my body is shaking on its own, etc.

Over time, during psychotherapy, it becomes clear that certain feelings are hidden behind the symptom and that the body is shaking, and at the same time I am scared, ashamed, sad, etc.. Detecting feelings simultaneously with the manifestation of the symptom is already a big step.

But there is a deeper level of awareness — these are needs. In a situation with panic…