Panic attacks are your friend!

• Written by Natasha Swerdloff

"Panic attacks are your friend!" If you have experienced one or more panic attacks, you may find this statement rather confusing or even provocative. But what I want to tell you is that panic attacks are actually your body's alarm system. A panic attack is a well-intentioned mechanism designed to "wake you up" so you can find your way home again. Let me elaborate a little. 

When a panic attack strikes, most people feel like an avalanche of emotions and physical symptoms is washing over them. Your heart pounds in your chest, you break out in a sweat, and it can even feel like you are on the verge of losing your mind or your life. Many of us know how intense this experience can be. But no matter how serious the situation feels, it is essential to understand that the symptoms themselves are not life-threatening. The most acute symptoms usually disappear within a few minutes.

If this experience is recurring for you, and you find yourself in a state of fear of when the next attack will come, what you are experiencing is probably what is known as panic anxiety. It can feel like an insurmountable enemy, but there is good news. With the right understanding, you can navigate through this storm and find your way back to a life where anxiety does not dominate you. 

Yours sin and din krop er ikke dfine fwomen

When a panic attack strikes, your system goes into alarm mode. It may feel like punishment, but in reality, your body is trying to protect you. It's like a built-in mechanism designed to make you notice something that is out of balance—namely, your own thought patterns.

Although it may seem like a panic attack comes out of the blue, you can often trace it back to a previous period of intense worry or stressful thoughts. The power of thought is both a gift and a challenge. It is how we use this gift that determines whether we experience inner peace or chaos.

What if you start seeing these intense moments as catalysts for insight rather than insurmountable enemies? By understanding that your panic attacks may be a natural reaction to your thoughts, you have the opportunity to understand their deeper message. They are your body's way of signaling that you are now well on your way to using the power of thought in a way that creates unrest and fear within you. 

So before we dismiss the idea that panic attacks can be 'our friend', let's take a quick look at the physiology behind them. Put simply, when you get caught up in anxious thoughts or dwell on worries for a long time, a part of your brain called the locus coeruleus is activated. This part of the brain releases a hormone called norepinephrine into your system. This hormone then triggers the typical symptoms of a panic attack: rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, hot and cold sensations, nausea, and so on.

The Role of Thought in Anxiety

In other words, it is the way we use our thoughts, or the narrative we tell ourselves, that influences our emotional state. Our thinking acts as a driver, steering us either toward emotional well-being or, conversely, over the edge into anxiety and panic.

If you have experienced a panic attack while doing something seemingly harmless—such as watching a football game or playing with your children—it may seem as if your panic attack is independent of your thoughts. But if you reflect on your emotional state a few hours before the panic attack, you will probably discover that you were anxious or worried about something.

This is where the 'friendly' part comes in: your body triggers a panic attack to alert you that you are emotionally out of balance. Basically, it's like an alarm bell ringing to make you aware of your mental state. The rush of noradrenaline is your body's wake-up call.

The next time you feel a panic attack coming on, try this:

Stay where you are:Find a quiet place and breathe deeply.

Stay calm:Use music, reading, or something else to distract your attention.

Avoid feeding fear:Refrain from delving further into worry or fear. 

You will probably notice that the symptoms begin to subside quite quickly. This is because your body is working to bring itself back into balance.

Of course, no one wants to experience a panic attack. It is important to understand that finding yourself in this state is often the result of an innocent misunderstanding. There is no reason to feel guilty or ashamed about it. 

Perhaps you have unconsciously focused on stressful or anxious thoughts without being aware of where they might lead you. It is a natural human tendency to dwell on worries or fears; it is part of our survival mechanism. But sometimes this mechanism can become overactive and result in a panic attack as a kind of 'emergency call' from your body. 

So even though it feels scary, it's good to remember that it's basically an innocent misunderstanding that has arisen because we haven't learned what creates our experiences. 

I hope this helps you understand that what you experience as terrible while it is happening is actually your body and mind's way of helping you return to a state of calm and well-being. As long as you interpret the symptoms correctly.