There is no way around it, panic attacks are terrifying. Even if you understand the condition, experiencing a panic attack causes the body to enter into a state of terror and to enter into fight or flight, when adrenaline starts pumping in preparation for you to either fend off an attacker or to flee a dangerous situation. This is a very important part of our body’s defense system. The problem during a panic attack is that there is no source of immediate danger for us to deal with or run away from.
Panic Attack
While panic attacks are terrifying, knowing as much as you can about them can make them much easier to deal with and can even make treatment more effective. In this chapter, we are going to take an in depth look at panic and panic attacks, addressing the concerns and worries that are most frequently brought up by patients who experience them.
Addressing Concerns That Happen During Attacks
During a panic attack, there are a few concerns and worries that are almost universal. For example, most people who are experiencing a panic attack worry that they are going crazy, that they are having a heart attack, and that they may die. These are incredibly common worries and questions, and they can linger long after a panic attack has ended. So, how much truth, if any, lies within these concerns and thoughts?
Are You Going Crazy?
The notion of going crazy or losing it is incredibly common with panic attacks. In fact, it is often one of the criteria used to help make the diagnosis. While it is possible for people with certain psychotic disorders to experience a panic attack, they do not indicate at all that you are going crazy.
Not only do panic attacks not mean that you are going crazy, but they are not, in and of themselves, even indicators of a mental disorder. Panic attacks can happen for a variety of reasons and are simply a misfiring of your body’s adrenal system. They are, however, a sign that you need to speak with your doctor or mental health practitioner, who can help you find the cause of your panic attacks and who can help you obtain the appropriate treatment to reduce your chances of experiencing them in the future.
One of the biggest reasons that people fear that they are going crazy during and after a panic attack is the sensation of unreality that can occur during these events. It is almost as though the situation is not real or that you are watching it happen, rather than being connected to your body. It is important to understand that this is your body’s reaction to an abundance or overload of fear. As you learn to relax, feelings of normalcy return. While many doctors fail to point this out to patients, it is a very important thing to understand. Derealization is a very common part of panic attacks, but it is a temporary effect that dissipates as your body gets rid of the abundance of chemicals your adrenal system has produced.
Are You Going to Die?
One of the hallmark symptoms of a panic attack is a sense of impending doom or a fear that you are about to suddenly die. This is a nearly universal symptom of panic attacks and occurs not only in people with medical conditions, but in people who are otherwise completely healthy and experiencing a panic attack. So, is there any truth to it? Is it possible that you are going to die from a panic attack? Absolutely not.
Panic attacks, while frightening, are not fatal. But this doesn’t mean that you can skip getting treatment. People who refuse to get treatment for panic attacks may end up abusing substances, committing suicide, or even avoiding getting help when medical conditions do arise out of fear of experiencing an attack while away from home. While there is no basis to the fear that you will actually die from having a panic attack, giving in to the fear that they cause or letting them disrupt your career, relationships, and daily functioning can all have a negative impact on your life that could jeopardize your health. Take the time to get help, a majority of people are able to learn techniques that can help them eliminate, mitigate, or reduce the occurrence and severity of panic attacks.
Are You Going to Pass Out?
The feeling that you are about to faint or pass out is also very common during a panic attack, and it can lead many people to become fearful of leaving their home or of venturing out without a companion. There is a great fear of passing out in public, where you will be vulnerable.
pass out
The truth of the matter, however, is that people faint whenever there it too little blood flowing to the brain. While the hyperventilation and shortness of breath that accompany a panic attack may make you feel lightheaded, the truth is that this is not indicative of being near the point of passing out. In fact, during a panic attack, the heart rate increases, also increasing circulation. When you are having a panic attack, blood flow to the brain increases rather than decreases, which means that you are not going to pass out. While the symptoms can indeed be very frightening, they are entirely harmless.