Panic Attacks - The Fight Or Flight Response

Before I begin, allow me to point-out that I am not a doctor. I am simply someone who has had a vivid experience with Panic Attacks of many kinds.

They tore at me at the worst times, often in quick succession – like tidal waves. I began to fear their return. The fear of fear, as it is known. It is a merciless cycle that can cause vertiginous amounts of frustration, both mechanically and socially.

I was prescribed relaxants, that did little but numb me to the stress, and I began to fear coming off the effects of the sedative. Forming another destructive addition that I would have to break; sooner or later.

Realization came one dreary afternoon. I broke free from my reverie. I had had enough. There is so much I was willing to lose, and I had lost much. Friends, career, myself, love.

Treatment wasn't working in the long term. Fed up, I decided to break a personal taboo and visit a psychologist. Just to have a chat.

I've always had a thing for psychologists, a phobia if you will. Yet speaking to him made me understand one thing above all. In order to conquer your fear you need to face it. And to face it, I had to understand it. So, I embarked on my life-changing mission of knowing my enemy.

Panic attacks are very distinctive and terrifying. A sudden explosion of fear, the desire to run (anywhere) in reckless abandon. Thoughts of death, illness, pain and violence (No, you aren't going crazy! Thought patterns will change! -- thanks Just Toyia ). Some physical symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Sweaty Hands
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Chest Pain

Now looking at the list, it is easy to see how you might think you are suffering a heart attack. In fact, people who rush to an emergency room claiming a heart attack are usually told they are suffering from panic related disorders. Panic attacks are not as uncommon as one might think. Chances are you've had one yourself. Isolated panic attacks occur in around 10% of normal and healthy individuals each year.

Panic attacks are set into motion by the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS). It is an entirely natural process. The key to controlling a panic attack is understanding that you are not in fact suffering a major condition. But are simply reacting.

Furthermore, many of the symptoms you are suffering are the exact reverse of what you fear. Shortness of breath is caused by hyperventilation. Not hypo-ventilation. You are breathing too quickly! An easy way to see this for yourself is to hold your breath for as long as you can. When you breath again it should be much smoother!

It seems evolution has not quite caught up with us yet. Yesterday we ran the risk of being eaten by Lions. An SNS responsive gave us the means to reach into hidden reserves, increasing our night vision (eye dilation during panic attack), allowing us to grip our weapon, (sweaty palms - debatable!). In short, we are prepared for:

1. Fight
2. Flight

Today -- in the main -- our enemies are phantom beings who we cannot fight of run from. Stress. Responsibility. Yet despite this, our body reacts to danger the same way. But the fact that we cant act is what causes us to feel the way we do.

We are simply performing a prehistoric scripted act contained in our DNA, that hasn't had time to catch-up with modern day society.

I hope this information can help you contain and control panic attacks. To see them the way they are and break free of them.

Have a great day!

Thoog.