The Science of Panic Attacks: What Happens to Your Body?
Experiencing a panic attack can be a profoundly unsettling event. The intense fear, racing heart, and feeling of impending doom can make it seem as if you're losing control or even dying. But what's actually happening inside your body during a panic attack? Let's delve into the science behind these intense episodes.
Understanding Panic Attacks
Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear that trigger severe physical reactions when there's no real danger or apparent cause. Symptoms can include a pounding heart, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath, feelings of choking, and feelings of impending doom.
The Biological Mechanism
Panic attacks are primarily a product of the body's "fight-or-flight" response - a primitive, automatic reaction designed to protect us from danger. When your brain perceives a threat, it signals your adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol. These hormones prepare your body to either confront or flee from the threat.
Adrenaline: This hormone increases your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels, boosting your energy and preparing you for physical action. This is why during a panic attack, you may experience a racing heart, sweating, and trembling.
Cortisol: Known as the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose, and suppresses non-emergency bodily functions like your immune response and digestion. It also communicates with the brain regions that control mood, motivation, and fear.
In a panic attack, these biological responses are triggered even though there's no physical threat present. The "false alarm" can lead to intense physical sensations and feelings of fear and terror.
Brain Regions Involved
The amygdala, a small, almond-shaped structure deep inside the brain, plays a critical role in triggering panic attacks. It's responsible for processing emotions, survival instincts, and memory. If the amygdala perceives danger, it can initiate a fight-or-flight response.
Simultaneously, the prefrontal cortex - the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, logical thought, and reality-testing - may not perform its role of assessing the danger accurately, further intensifying the panic response.
Navigating Through Panic Attacks
While panic attacks can be frightening, understanding the science behind them can help to demystify the experience and make them less threatening. Moreover, it's important to remember that panic attacks, while uncomfortable, are not dangerous. They are a misfiring of a system designed to protect you.
At A.J.B. Counseling, we specialize in helping individuals understand and manage panic disorder. We use evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, acceptance interventions, and modified gestalt grounding techniques to help you regain control over your life.
Are you ready to take the next step in managing your panic attacks? Book a consultation with us today. You're not alone in this journey, and with the right strategies and support, you can regain control over your life.
