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...is the fear of having spontaneous Panic Attacks. The intensity of the attack can be extremely severe and many people feel they are having a heart attack and/or are going to die or are going insane. It is not unusual for people to become chronically anxious about having another one.
It seems rather logical, the progression from the first panic attack to the onset of Panic Disorder, and even onto Agoraphobia or avoidance. The first panic attack, that may strike "out of the blue," is enough to send you packing to the nearest doctor or medical assistance. "What the hell was that?"
It is logical, I feel, that we would presume that something major happened, and our mind tells us it could be life-threatening, a heart attack. With the dissociative experiences that may accompany this, we may feel we have a brain tumor or worse. The doctor checks us out and says "No, you are fine."
You look at them with gaping mouth and say "No, there is something terribly wrong." When asked to elaborate on the actual experience, words do not seem to describe adequately the experience. The doctor may mention that you are probably "stressed" and need to relax more. The number of different statements made at this time is astounding.
So you leave, still rattled by what has happened, but not quite reassured that nothing is wrong. The old mind starts talking to you. "What if ... he really wasn't listening to you .... what if he didn't attach the heart monitor properly ... what if he didn't pick up an obvious symptom of something major happening physically ... what if.."
It is very difficult to let go of the experience of the first panic attack, especially when it happens when you are out there minding your own business and doing what you normally do, i.e., driving the car, talking to friends, ironing, gardening, watching TV, shopping ...you know, normal life. It is what we do after this point that denotes the next step. Some people do let go of the experience and continue with their normal life. They may find that another panic attack strikes and then they start to become concerned.
Others become caught up by their mind almost immediately. The anxiety and concern about what had happened with that first panic attack leads to an ever increasing spiral of anxiety - and the resulting symptoms. The heart missed a beat or starts to race, they start to feel nausea or headaches, neck aches, or breathing difficulties.
next: Social Anxiety
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