Panic Attacks --Why Do They Feel This Way?
continued:
What Martin, Terri and Luke had in common was a normal body chemistry reaction to a
frightening situation. The difference was, of course, there was no outside reason for Luke
to suddenly go to "battle stations".
Many professionals feel that a panic attack is a normal response to a very dangerous
situation but without there being anything dangerous to trigger it. The body has just gone
into to panic mode on its own and the person has no more control over it than had either
Martin or Terri.
I have come to believe, to some extent, that if a person can think through what is
happening to them during a panic attack, they can break the cycle of becoming more afraid
thus causing even more panic. That doesn't work for everyone but, as a support person, it
will be useful for you to know what is behind the strange feelings.
In the table below, I listed the symptom and gave the major cause. Of course, they are
all interrelated but I just wanted to keep it simple.
Hope this information helps.
Ken
SYMPTOMS |
CAUSES |
| Heart Pounding |
Heart speeding up to move blood and oxygen
faster. |
| Breathing faster |
Obtaining more oxygen for the muscles |
| Chest pain |
Muscles tightening. |
| Rubbery legs |
Blood supply building up in the
legs/decreased oxygen to the brain |
| Feeling of Dissociation |
Less blood going to the brain and/or some
think a trance state is almost reached. |
| Bright lights are disturbing |
Pupils have opened for more acute vision |
| Walls are bending inwards |
An effect of the pupils opening wide |
| Sweating |
The body is harder to hold onto in a fight |
| Numbness in hands |
Due to the diversion of blood to the
muscles |
| Tingling in mouth |
A result of hyperventilating |
| Choking sensation |
Due to muscle tension |
| Shaking |
Due to muscle tension |
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