Panic Attacks: The Brains Misfiring Alarm System
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions, even though there is no actual danger or apparent cause. These experiences can be deeply unsettling, as they often lead to thoughts of losing control, having a heart attack, or even dying. The discomfort during a panic attack arises from rapid physiological changes in the body that activate the fight-or-flight response. Sometimes, this system misfires, causing your brain to perceive danger when there is none. Let’s break down how this works:
1. The Brain Senses Danger (Even When There Isn’t Any)
A part of our brain called the amygdala, which controls emotions and threat responses, detects a perceived danger (real or imagined).
This triggers the part of our brain called the hypothalamus. This part activates the body’s stress response, also known as the fight-or-flight response.
2. The Fight-or-Flight Response Kicks In
Your sympathetic nervous system is then activated, preparing your body to either fight or flee from the threat.
This sends a surge of adrenaline through your body, making your heart pump faster and sending more blood to your muscles, which causes a number of uncomfortable symptoms:
Increased heart rate: Your heart beats faster to deliver more oxygen to your muscles and organs.
Shallow breathing (hyperventilation): You start to breathe rapidly, which can lead to dizziness or tingling in your extremities.
Sweating: Your body sweats to cool down, as if you're about to exert yourself physically.
Tight chest or pain: Muscles around your chest tighten, and your heart works harder, which can feel like a heart attack.
Shaking or trembling: Your muscles tense up in preparation for action, causing shaking.
Dilated pupils: Your pupils widen to sharpen vision and detect danger.
Gastrointestinal issues: Blood is redirected away from your digestive system, which can cause nausea, cramps, or diarrhea.
3. Next Comes Cortisol and the Prolonged Stress Response
As the body continues in fight-or-flight mode, cortisol (the stress hormone) is released, prolonging the heightened alert state.
The body remains in “survival mode,” which keeps symptoms like rapid heartbeat and shallow breathing going, even though there’s no real danger.
The physical symptoms (like chest pain or shortness of breath) can feel overwhelming and may trigger catastrophic thinking, such as "I’m having a heart attack" or "I’m going to die."
This fear of the symptoms intensifies the panic attack, creating a feedback loop that makes everything feel worse.
5. The Body Calm Down (Eventually)
Once the perceived threat passes (or the brain realizes there’s no real danger), our parasympathetic nervous system kicks in. This is responsible for helping the body calm down. Once this kicks in, the heart rate slows, breathing normalizes, and muscles relax.
However, after such a heightened state, the body may feel fatigued and drained, and
Final Thoughts
Panic attacks are intense, and can feel incredibly uncomfortable and distressing. However, they are NOT life-threatening. When we understand what’s happening in the body we can reduce the fear and anxiety that often accompanies a panic attack. For many people, knowing that the body will eventually calm down can make it easier to manage the symptoms. Look out for the next blog, where we’ll discuss strategies to help manage these attacks when they happen.
