Dan’s Blog

Am I Having a Panic Attack?

by Dan Regan | Mar 15, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Am I Having a Panic Attack? (Understanding What’s Happening)

Your chest gets tight, you can’t get enough air and you feel dizzy as you heart starts to race. You struggle to think clearly and just want to escape from this uncomfortable situation. You may feel out of control, scared and confused. You might wonder, is there something seriously wrong with me, or am I having a panic attack?.

Many people who experience a panic attack for the first time worry that something serious is happening to their body. It feels so overwhelming and it feels that there must be something medical happening. You might call out an ambulance or paramedics because you think you are having a heart attack..

The symptoms of a panic attack can appear suddenly and feel extremely intense. Your heart may start racing, breathing may feel difficult, and you might feel dizzy, shaky or overwhelmed. Even more problematic, you can’t think clearly and no amount of reason or logic seems to make any difference..

Because these sensations are so physical, it’s very common for people to wonder whether they might be having a medical emergency rather than a panic attack..

Understanding what happens during panic can help make the experience far less frightening and hep guide you towards the right support..

Shortness of Breath and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Mar 14, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Shortness of Breath and Anxiety (Why It Happens and What Helps))

When anxiety and panic strike, your breathing becomes faster and shallower, yet it can feel like you are struggling with a shortness of breath. You may suddenly feel as though you can’t quite get a full breath, or that your breathing has become tight or shallow.

In my anxiety work in Ely, one of the most common and unsettling physical sensations people experience during anxiety is the feeling that they cannot get enough air. You try and breath faster to get more air yet this just makes things worse. I’ve covered before how anxiety can link to chest pain as a result of accelerated breathing.

Many anxiety clients have told me how they have been told that they ‘don’t breathe properly’. It can become habitual to stay tense and on edge. Anxiety leads to a change in your breathing, and that change can create worry that something is medically wrong.

Many people describe feeling as though they cannot take a deep breath, or that their breathing has become tight or restricted. When this happens suddenly it can feel frightening and may lead people to worry that something serious is wrong.

In reality, shortness of breath is a very common physical symptom of anxiety.

Understanding why it happens can help make the experience far less alarming and help you to find a solution that helps.

Why Anxiety Makes Your Heart Race

by Dan Regan | Mar 14, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Makes Your Heart Race (And Why It Isn’t Dangerous)

One of the most common physical symptoms people notice during anxiety is a racing or pounding heart.

You might be sitting quietly when suddenly your heart begins beating faster or pounding in your chest, leaving you wondering if something is wrong.

This sensation can feel frightening, especially if it appears suddenly or without an obvious reason.

Sometimes you are already feeling anxious, tense and worried when it happens. Your breathing accelerates, your heart thumps and you start to feel more and more hot, tense and distressed. On other occasions, it comes out of the blue and you have to battle both your anxiety and your fear that comes from such an uncomfortable feeling.

Many people worry that something is seriously wrong with their heart when this happens. In reality, a fast or pounding heartbeat is one of the body’s most common responses to anxiety.

In my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely, this is something people often mention when they first come for support. Understanding why it happens (and why it isn’t dangerous) can make the experience much less alarming and puts you in a stronger position to feel calmer more quickly.

Fear of Dying and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Mar 12, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Fear of Dying and Anxiety

One of the most frightening experiences people describe when struggling with anxiety is the sudden fear that they might be dying.

This often happens when anxiety creates intense physical sensations such as a racing heart, dizziness, or difficulty breathing. In the moment, these sensations can feel so overwhelming that the mind interprets them as something seriously wrong.

In my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely, many people say this is one of the most distressing parts of anxiety. Even when medical checks have shown nothing physically wrong, the experience can still feel very real. Only recently I was working with a client who felt so bad from anxiety that she would start dreading the worst and imagining scenarios of how her own funeral would play out.

It can feed into health anxiety and the worry that there is something wrong with you that has been missed. It can also link to anxiety around anything medical or that involves hospitals and procedures.

Many people also suffer anxiety around death itself – their own thoughts about no longer being here can create panic, as well as news and stories that involve someone’s passing.

Understanding why this happens can help reduce some of the fear surrounding these sensations.

Fear of Losing Control and Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Mar 11, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Fear of Losing Control and Anxiety

One of the most frightening experiences people describe when struggling with anxiety is the fear of losing control.

Anxiety can make you feel like you are no longer in charge of your own thoughts and feelings. Your mind races and won’t switch off. You feel physically hot, tense and on edge. You struggle to think clearly and get on with things. Back when I had anxiety I remember feeling like I was two different people – the ‘real’ me when I felt calm and comfortable, and the anxious me when the unwanted thoughts and feelings took over and felt uncontrollable.

You might worry that you will panic, say something embarrassing, collapse, or even feel as though you might ‘go crazy’. These thoughts can feel incredibly convincing in the moment, which often makes the anxiety even stronger.

In my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely, the fear of losing control is something many people mention when their anxiety has become intense or overwhelming. It creates more worry about what might happen and how you’ll cope. It can all feel exhausting, frightening and overwhelming.

Understanding why this happens can help you see that this experience is actually a very common part of anxiety.

Signs Your Anxiety Is Getting Worse

by Dan Regan | Mar 9, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Signs Your Anxiety Is Getting Worse

In this article I cover some signs that your anxiety is getting worse.

Anxiety can come and go, and many people experience periods where it feels more intense than usual. At times it may settle again on its own, but sometimes people begin to notice that anxiety is gradually taking up more space in their minds and their lives.

At times you may feel that you can cope with your anxious thoughts and feelings. Then, at some point you notice that your anxiety has begun to take over. You experience all of the physical symptoms of anxiety and your mind races as you overthink with worry.

In my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely, many people tell me they didn’t realise how much their anxiety had grown until it started affecting everyday life, sleep, and confidence. They had begun to avoid things and no longer enjoyed the things they used to. In many cases, more and more time became spent mindlessly doom-scrolling on a screen as a means of escape. They felt as though they were only existing rather than living.

Recognising the signs early can help you understand what is happening and decide whether it might be helpful to seek support.

When Should You Seek Help for Anxiety?

by Dan Regan | Mar 6, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

When Should You Seek Help for Anxiety? Signs It Might Be Time

When should you seek help for your anxiety?

Many people experience anxiety at some point in their lives. It’s a natural response that helps us prepare for challenges, stay alert and respond to potential danger.

But sometimes anxiety can begin to take up more space in everyday life. It can start to feel overwhelming, debilitating and limiting.

People often ask themselves questions like:

“Is my anxiety bad enough to get help?”

“Should I be coping with this on my own?”

“Am I failing if I need help?”

“Am I overreacting?”

When I talk with people in Ely and Newmarket, these types of thoughts are very common. In fact, many people live with anxiety for quite a long time before considering whether talking to someone might help.

Understanding when your anxiety may benefit from support can make that decision feel much clearer.

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Intense

by Dan Regan | Mar 4, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Intense (and Why They’re Not Dangerous)

Panic attacks can feel terrifying, but they are actually the body’s natural fight-or-flight response activating too strongly.

For many people, panic attacks are one of the most frightening experiences anxiety can produce. Many people in Ely and the surrounding area describe exactly the same experience, often worrying that something serious is wrong when in reality the nervous system is simply reacting too strongly.

Whilst you may know certain triggers, people often describe how their panic attacks often feel like they come out of nowhere.

A racing heart, tight chest, dizziness, shaking or a sudden sense of losing control can appear quickly and feel overwhelming. In those moments, it can genuinely feel as though something is seriously wrong.

Many people worry they are having a heart attack, about to faint, or losing control in some way. You may know logically that everything is ok, yet your mind reacts to some perceived danger. And because your mind works on patterns, it can feel like your anxiety and panic start to spread into other similar situations. It can all feel overwhelming, frightening and debilitating.

In reality, panic attacks are a powerful – but normal – response from the nervous system.

Understanding what is happening in the body can often make panic attacks feel far less frightening.

Why Anxiety Sometimes Feels Like Self-Sabotage

by Dan Regan | Mar 2, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Why Anxiety Sometimes Feels Like Self-Sabotage (and what to do about it)

Does it sometimes feel like you are self-sabotaging your attempts to overcome anxiety?

Many people in Ely and Newmarket who come to me for help with anxiety notice something confusing: They want change and to feel better – they try to move forward and make progress – yet something inside them seems to push back and hold them back.

It can feel like self-sabotage: taking one step forward and two steps back.

You start questioning yourself. Why do you hold yourself back? Why can’t you follow through?

Even more frustratingly, you may know there is no logical reason for your anxiety. And at times you may feel fine. Yet the anxiety is always lurking and can resurface at any time.

This is all very common, and it doesn’t mean you lack willpower or commitment. In fact, it often reflects how your nervous system learned to respond to threat – it’s not some sort of flaw in your character or capability.

When I used to struggle with anxiety, this sense of stop-start and forwards-backwards was a common pattern. One day could be the great and the next I was a ball of anxiety. A situation may go well and I felt positive that this was the time when everything would improve. Yet, when the next similar situation arose, the same old anxious thoughts and feelings would resurface. You start to try and hide it, avoid possible triggers and work around your anxiety.

This article covers what is happening if your anxiety sometimes feels like self-sabotage, and what to do about it.

Low Confidence and Anxiety: Why They’re Often Linked

by Dan Regan | Feb 23, 2026 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Low Confidence and Anxiety: Why They’re Often Linked

My latest regular Ely Standard column is all about the link between confidence and anxiety. My article also appears in the Cambs Times, Hunts Post and Wisbech Standard.

Many people describe struggling with low confidence – hesitating to speak up, doubting themselves, struggling to make decisions or holding back through fear of getting things wrong.

What’s often less obvious is that anxiety frequently sits underneath low confidence, quietly shaping how safe or capable someone feels in everyday situations.

In my work as an anxiety specialist in Ely, I regularly meet people who feel frustrated with themselves for “not being more confident”, without realising how much anxiety and overthinking are influencing their confidence levels.

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