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A panic attack is what
happens when someone has an inappropriate response to the
bodies normal "fight or flight" response.
Although the symptoms may be uncomfortable and
frightening, they are not dangerous.
The symptoms include rapid
heart beat, numbing or tingling sensation in the fingers,
chest pain, hot flushes, breathlessness, dizziness and
sweating. There is also often a feeling of impending
doom, and extreme fear.
When the body is under
threat, it responds by releasing adrenaline from the
adrenal gland. This is part of the normal protective "fight or
flight" response. The heart rate and strength
increases in order to provide more oxygen to the main
tissues of the body. Contraction or expansion of various
blood vessels divert blood from the skin, fingers and
toes to the large muscles of the body. This reduces
bleeding in the case of an "attack", and may
cause a feeling of coldness or numbness in the hands of
feet. Breathing rate increases to exchange more oxygen to
ready the body for exertion such as flight.
Breathlessness, dizziness and pain or tightness in the
chest may be felt. Muscles tense to prepare for escape,
but may cause spasms, trembling and cramp when no action
is taken. The pupils of the eyes dilate to admit more
light and increase peripheral vision to scan for danger.
Sensitivity to bright light may occur. The digestive
system shuts down to conserve blood for the muscles, but
may cause a dry mouth and nausea.
Thoughts are focused on the
search for the threat, maintaining vigilance and
alertness. When there is no explanation for the emergency
response of the body, thoughts of going crazy, loosing
control or dying may occur. Some people may think they
are having a heart attack.
The fight or flight response
is time limited due to adrenaline being metabolised by
the body. What tends to happen in a panic attack is that
the body goes into a positive feedback loop. No threat is
present as such, but the fear causes a release of
adrenaline. The symptoms of the fight or flee response
cause more fear which causes en even greater release of
adrenaline, which causes more fear etc.
In other words, panic
attacks are very often (but not always) due to the
misunderstanding the bodies normal reaction to anxiety
and causing an even greater response of the fight or
flight response. Studies at the university of Oxford have
shown that many people who suffer from panic attacks have
far fewer once they can correctly identify what the
bodies normal response to anxiety and fear is.
©
AEST
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