When people suffer a high level of anxiety this may reach panic proportions. Individuals in a state of panic experience a variety of very unpleasant symptoms. They may be subject to overbreathing, palpitations, sweating, and feelings of helplessness. In addition the excessive overbreathing leads to pins and needles in the hands and feet which causes further stress.
As with anxiety the panic attacks are a sign of an underlying emotional problem. It is essential that the cause of the anxiety is investigated and treated by a skilled therapist. This may be achieved either by individual psychotherapy, by the use of hypnotherapy or a combination of these two approaches. If panic attacks are left untreated the situation in which they occur becomes associated with the anxiety, if this happens the person may well avoid that situation and become phobic to it.
SEE PHOBIAS.