What Are Panic Attacks?

A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming fear that comes without warning and without any obvious reason.  Because of that description, it is typically been called agoraphobia.  The “agora” part of the word is a Greek word that refers to the “market place.”  So the typical understanding of a panic attack is that something in the market place triggered the overwhelming fear, and to control that, the person who experienced the panic attack begins to withdraw, eventually ending up staying in one part of their home.  But they still can have a panic attack, for there is no place safe from the terror.

A panic attack can be terrifying, many times even resembling a heart attack.  In fact, emergency rooms probably understand panic attacks better than anyone else, for they see people in the midst of an attack who are convinced they are having a serious heart attack.

The symptoms include a racing heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, trembling, sweating, and even choking.  They experience chest pains, hot flashes, chills, tingling in the fingers and toes, and are convinced they are about to die.

Research has shown that panic attacks have nothing to do with the marketplace.  That’s why they can occur anywhere.  A better name for a panic attack would be “phobiaphobia.”  A panic attack is triggered by the fear of having a panic attack.  I once explained it to a lady this way.  Think of the panic attack as being like a big, scary dog sitting there looking at you and growling.  Anyone who understands the behavior of a dog will tell you not to show that dog any fear–it will only get worse.  Now you don’t go up and try to pet the dog either.  Your best behavior is to simply ignore the dog.

Now to someone who has suffered from panic attacks, it doesn’t seem possible to just ignore it.  There needs to be another part to the picture.  You need another person there with you to reassure you and help you ignore the dog.  Panic attacks thrive on our being isolated.  That’s why treatment is so often based on having a support person with you to talk you through the early stages of the panic.

Another interesting fact that the research has uncovered is that in many cases, but not all of them, is that the anxiety that leads to the panic is related to being in a close relationship with someone who is unpredictable.  Sometimes they are warm and caring, other times they are abusive and cruel.  The anxiety associated with that kind of relationship can be at the foundation of our fear of the panic.

Question:  Do you know anyone with panic attacks?  Could you be the supportive person that helps them “ignore the dog?”   Don’t forget to leave a comment.