Panic attacks can feel terrifying, but for some people, the fear of having another one can become just as debilitating as the panic itself. Over time, this fear can lead to avoidance, safety behaviours and agoraphobia, gradually shrinking a person's world.
In this episode of The Happier Life Project, Gabby Sanderson is joined by BABCP-accredited psychotherapist Joe Parkins to explore panic disorder, agoraphobia, the cycle that can keep anxiety going and how to finally break free from it.
Joe explains what actually happens during a panic attack, why our fight-or-flight response can create such intense physical sensations, and how one frightening experience can develop into a fear of panic itself. He also breaks down the connection between panic disorder and agoraphobia, and how avoidance and safety behaviours can unintentionally reinforce anxiety.
The conversation examines what recovery can involve, including acceptance, exposure and challenging catastrophic interpretations of bodily sensations. Joe shares his perspective on medication alongside therapy, the lifestyle factors that can help or hinder recovery, practical ways to respond when panic strikes, and how loved ones can offer support without reinforcing avoidance.
Joe Parkins is a BABCP-accredited psychotherapist and former anxiety sufferer. After experiencing severe panic disorder and agoraphobia throughout his teens and early twenties, he eventually recovered and went on to train as a psychotherapist. Joe now works as a High Intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapist for NHS Talking Therapies and runs a private practice specialising in the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia. Having experienced severely debilitating anxiety disorders firsthand, Joe combines his personal experience with his knowledge of evidence-based treatments to help sufferers recover from anxiety efficiently and effectively.
Joe also runs the Instagram account Freedom From Panic, where he shares content primarily focused on panic disorder and agoraphobia. He has created a four-episode mini-series exclusively for the My Possible Self app, exploring panic disorder, agoraphobia, common misconceptions and the steps towards recovery. Details can be found below.
Whether you've experienced panic attacks yourself or want to better understand and support someone who has, this conversation offers practical insights, reassurance and hope that recovery is possible.
To download the My Possible Self App: https://mypossibleself.app.link/podcast
My Possible Self Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypossibleself
Joe’s Website: https://freedomfrompanic.com/
Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freedom_from_panic/
Joe’s online course: https://www.anxietyfitness.com/community/marketplace/freedom-from-panic-a-step-by-step-guide-to-overcoming-panic-disorder
