Panic Attacks - When you feel as if your heart stops...
I hope this finds you well today, wherever you are and whatever you face.
something bad was about to happen. I couldn't tell my husband what happened and he looked
helpless, but my fear was so overpowering and I couldn't face going back to sleep, for fear this
panic attack would happen again. I had always been anxious, but this had never happened, and
shook me to the core. This was at the beginning of my homeopathy studies in 2018.”
Many of us face our days with anxiety and panic attacks, so this week we will pay some more visits to homeopathic remedies that can support us during panic attacks. Please also visit back to our posts on anxiety, as anxiety is closely linked with panic.
While anxiety can be overwhelming, in panic attacks the fear can threaten to take you out, and often a panic attack can feel to the person as if they're having a heart attack. Reasons for that are:
- Your heart is racing
- there can be chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- weakness or numbness
All these symptoms may be known to you as symptoms in a heart attack, also.
Alongside the above symptoms, one can experience chills, trembling, and sweating also.
Panic disorders can run in families, some people are naturally anxious and if stress is added, panic attacks can happen.
A person might have experienced something that may cause them to panic thinking it may happen again.
The reasons can be varied. Nonetheless, every person who has panic attacks needs to be listened to.
What can help?
Some people find cognitive behavioural therapy very helpful, others are helped by talking things through with someone they trust, meditation, grounding themselves, learning the warning signs and working around that.
In general medicine antidepressants (SSRIs) may be offered or anti-anxiety medications such as benzodiazepines (benzos).
When you have an acute panic attack, these will not help immediately, rather it'll take a few weeks before these medications will take effect.
They can come with side effects, like emotional numbness, headaches, nausea, dry mouth, weight gain or loss, and insomnia.
As a homeopath, I always try a natural route first.
I can advise here for acute panic attacks. If you feel you have suffered from panic or anxiety for a long time, please speak to me about your natural options to get better.
Acute Remedies for Panic Attacks:
- Aconite:
comes on suddenly with very strong fear (even fear of death), great anxiety, strong palpitations, shortness of breath, flushed face; a trigger can be a frightening experience and this may be the underlying cause. - Arsenicum Album:
deep anxiety about health, obsessive about tidyness, order and security. Chilly. panic attacks around midnight or very early hours or morning (up to 2am). very restless, but exhausted. - Argentum Nitricum:
panic because of stage fright (anticipation), feeling hurried. accompanied by digestive symptoms (belching or stomach aches) - Kali Phos:
startled, jumpy, sensitive, overworked. exhausted. deep anxiety. fear they cannot cope. insomnia. Rest often brings relief.
Check out on how to take remedies here:
and on potency and dosage here:
“My next panic attack - I was better prepared. I had Aconite and Arsenicum beside my nightstand. It didn't stop the attacks happening, but the remedies helped me to calm in a space of 10 minutes and go back to sleep until morning.
I've been seeing a homeopath for years now. My panic attacks are largely a thing of the past. When I don't mind myself, they may rear their ugly head, but I know what to do. Rest, mindfulness, take a step back, re-evaluate what's going on in my life.”
How do panic attacks affect or have affected your life?
©Stephanie Joachim - Tree of Life Homeopathy - June 2024