Why Panic Attacks Feel So Frightening – Ely Standard Feature

I was recently featured in the Ely Standard discussing panic attacks – something I see regularly in my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely.

Panic attacks are one of the most frightening experiences people can have, and many people initially believe something serious is happening to their body.

Many people describe their first panic attack as feeling like a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or something seriously wrong with their body.

The feelings are so overwhelming that you can become anxious about having another panic attack. You get caught in a loop of dreading the worst and felling on edge.

This is completely understandable.

You may start to avoid certain situations where you have previously experienced a panic attack. And, because your mind works on patterns, you may find they start to occur more frequently.

Panic attacks feel frightening, especially when you don’t know what is happening or how to  deal with it.

It’s encouraging to see anxiety and panic attacks being talked about more openly, as many people experience these symptoms but don’t always understand what’s happening.

 

Why Panic Attacks Feel So Real

A panic attack is caused by the body’s natural “fight or flight” response being triggered very quickly.

When this happens:

• adrenaline is released
• the heart beats faster
• breathing changes
• muscles tense

These changes are designed to help us respond quickly to danger. They are our evolutionary hired wired protection system.

The difficulty is that anxiety can trigger this response even when there is no immediate threat.

You get caught in a loop or worrying about having another panic attack, feeling anxious about the possibility and then this leads to having a panic attack. You then start to fear it even more, especially in situations where you feel it may be embarrassing.

Because there is no actual, logical threat, it may feel as it your panic comes ‘out of nowhere.’ However, it is your mind responding to anxious thoughts and feelings, as well as linking panic with previous experiences of attacks.

 

Common Symptoms

Many people experience panic attacks at some point in their lives, even if they’ve never had anxiety before.

People may experience:

• a racing heart
• dizziness or lightheadedness
• breathlessness
• shaking or sweating
• a tight feeling in the chest

Because these sensations are so physical, it’s very common to think something serious is happening. Many people call out a paramedic/ambulance or seek urgent medical help.

Your body prepares for action and exercise when you are not planning this. It all happens at the wrong time and feels disorientating and frightening, even though your body is designed to do these things.

You can read more about how anxiety works and why these symptoms feel so intense on my anxiety hub page.

 

The Fear of Losing Control

Another common experience during panic attacks is a strong fear of losing control or that something terrible is about to happen.

These thoughts are part of the brain trying to make sense of the physical sensations.

You feel like something serious is happening to you and you aren’t in control over your own mind and body.

you may also worry about this happening in important situations, when away from home or in front of other people. You dread another panic attack and, when it doe happen, you struggle to clam yourself and think clearly.

 

Why Panic Attacks Settle

Although panic attacks feel overwhelming, the body cannot stay in this heightened state for long.

As adrenaline reduces, the body naturally begins to settle.

However, the experience can still feel unsettling for quite some time afterwards.

 

Why the Fear Can Continue

For many people, the most difficult part is not the panic attack itself, but the fear of it happening again.

This can lead to:

• avoiding certain situations
• becoming more aware of physical sensations
• increased worry about future panic
• heightened focus on how you are feeling

You start to fear the panic attacks. This anxiety keeps you in high alert and, inadvertently, can lead to more anxiety and panic.

In my work as an anxiety therapist in Ely, this is something I see regularly.

Many people I speak to initially believe something is seriously wrong, only to later understand that these experiences are part of the body’s natural anxiety response.

 

Understanding Panic Attacks

Understanding what is happening during a panic attack can be very reassuring.

When people recognise these symptoms as part of the body’s natural response, they often begin to feel less frightened by them.

It is a normal human experience, however, it is just happening at the wrong time and at too intense a level.

You can also read more about:

👉 Am I Having a Panic Attack?
👉 How to Calm a Panic Attack in the Moment
👉 Why Anxiety Makes Your Heart Race

Without this understanding, you panic about the panic and so it gets more intense and lasts longer. Knowing what is happening means you can take action to tackle your panic attacks. You can experience them less and less and nip unwanted feelings in the bud should they begin to rise.

 

Read the Ely Standard Article

The Ely Standard article will be available online shortly – I’ll update this page with a link once it’s live.

You can also find it in this weeks paper edition that is out now.

 

Panic Attacks Therapy and Support

If panic attacks have been happening more regularly, it’s important to know that this is something that can change.

Panic attacks can feel frightening, but they are not medically dangerous.

With the right understanding and support, it’s possible to break the cycle of fear and feel more in control again. It’s something I’ve seen my clients achieve time and time again.

If panic attacks or anxiety are affecting your day-to-day life, support is available.

A free initial consultation is there simply to talk things through and see what might help – without pressure or expectation.

To your health and happiness,

Dan Regan

Anxiety Therapy and Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

 

Could you use some help with your anxiety? Struggling with anxiety, stress, worry and fear and need some help? Find out how I can help with a Free Initial Consultation. Learn more here: Appointments

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