The Relationship Between Panic & Control
Having a panic attack is a terrifying experience. If you have experienced panic attacks before, you know full well about this - heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and feeling like you are having a heart attack! It’s no fun to say the least.
Like anxiety, panic is all about a perceived threat. Your mind and body begin to respond to what is perceived as a real threat to you in some way. You are compelled to do one of three things: flight, fight, or freeze. So why is this such a terrifying experience?
Many people have a very real root perception of being and feeling literally out of control in many areas of their lives. When you think about some situations that are threatening - the loss of income or a job, loss of ability to come and go as one pleases due to the pandemic, potential losses which may be coming soon, a divorce, moving to a new city, and many other situations - these things can leave of feeling very much NOT in control of our finances, our relationships, or our future. This is exceptionally threatening to our sense of security and well-being.
When these threats live inside our head, swirling about with negative possible outcomes and scenarios, fearful and worrisome thoughts, we allow them to affect us deeply. We don’t discuss these fears, we don’t do anything to acknowledge their presence in our thoughts, and so they debilitate us.
One of the first steps to addressing panic is understanding our need for comfort and security. We have happy feelings when we know the certainty of important things and people in our lives. When certainty turns to uncertainty, it stresses us. We begin to feel out of control - that certain things are in motion, and there is no way to stop the bus!
The terrible symptoms of panic are only reactions to that which is going on inside of you. “But,” you might say, “I’ve had panic attacks at times when I wasn't thinking about anything!” This is true, panic attacks do come at these times. However, the latent worrisome fears are in your mind, but simply not presenting themselves at that moment.
Start taking your control back. Start becoming aware of those fears loving inside you, recognize their presence, and begin to manage them. My approach to this is, “I might have some anxiety but anxiety will NOT have me!” Give yourself permission to feel the symptoms, and to acknowledge them. Then, give yourself permission to take the steps to feel back in control. You can use your self-talk narrative to reduce your fearful thoughts. You can use deep breathing. You can use guided imagery to reduce your thoughts. You can take medication. You have lots of options.
