Dan’s Blog

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 (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.