Janet Adeyemo

From the lady who jerks at the sound of the creaking door to the man whose heart skips when he meets his wife scan through his phone. Panic, an overwhelming fear, is a constant reminder of the humane attribute existent in you.

No need to panic when you experience panic. Read that again.

Since panic is a humane experience, it is important that we delve into understanding the differently types of panics as we must not undermine the fact that some persons have kicked the bucket from shock resulting from  panic.

There are two types of panics. These panics may lead to anxiety.

Things like accident, unforeseen circumstances, hardship etc. can stir panic. How about the mental cause and solution?

The physical causes subconsciously lead to the mental cause and if not worked on or sorted out leads to anxiety and sometimes death.

Here are the two types of panic. The normal panic and the panic attack.

Now imagine,

����: You are driving a car on the highway and intend to change lanes.

���: Suddenly, another car speeds by and cuts you off, forcing you to swerve to avoid a collision. This close call is referred to as a “near miss.”

At that moment, the near miss triggers a physiological response in your body. Adrenaline is released, causing your heart rate to increase, your breathing to speed up, and cortisol levels to surge. This physiological reaction puts your body into a state of hyper-alertness, preparing you to take control of the car and avoid potential danger. This is a physical response to the near miss.

So, after your body experiences the hormonal release—Adrenaline rush and the physical reaction, you know what your mind does? Your mind looks for an explanation for why your body reacted that way. In this case, your brain quickly analyses the situation and identifies that you nearly got into a car crash. This understanding provides a reason for your body’s agitation.

Now, because of this answer your mind got, something happens to the panic and anxiety. Once your mind has a logical explanation for the physical response, it helps prevent the escalation of ANXIETY. Knowing that the “danger” has passed, your mind allows your body to calm down. Your heart rate and breathing return to normal, and the adrenaline rush subsides.

Assuming there was no reason found as to why you’re feeling or reacting that way, it will lead to another state called ��������������� ������������������.

When you experience a panic attack, your body undergoes a sudden and intense physical reaction, akin to the sensation you felt during a near-miss incident on the highway. For instance, imagine you’re standing in your kitchen, calmly pouring a cup of coffee, and suddenly, without any prior warning or apparent cause, you feel a surge of adrenaline rushing through your body. Your heart starts racing, your breath becomes rapid, you might start sweating, and your cortisol levels increase, putting your body into a state of hyper-awareness.

Now, as your body is in this aroused state, your mind instinctively tries to understand why this is happening. Without a clear explanation, your mind starts to feel uneasy and may perceive it as a sign of actual danger. Drawing from primitive instincts, your mind escalates the fear, thinking that imminent danger is lurking. As your heart races, your mind races too, attempting to find an explanation to make sense of what’s happening and to decide how to protect you.

During this process, your mind might come up with various scenarios, like thinking you’re having a heart attack, questioning your upcoming wedding plans, fearing being fired from your job, or even fearing death. If your mind cannot find a rational explanation for the physical sensations, it might exacerbate the anxiety to the point where you feel an overwhelming urge to physically escape the situation and leave the room.

In summary, a panic attack occurs when your body reacts to an overwhelming surge of adrenaline and arousal without any apparent external cause. This triggers a cascade of fearful thoughts as your mind tries to make sense of the situation, often leading to escalated anxiety and the desire to flee from the perceived threat. Recognizing the nature of panic attacks and seeking appropriate support can help individuals better cope with and manage these distressing episodes.

Our mind has a role in escalating anxiety. We must understand and devise a way to solve it. An easy way is to Craft a cause to that panic since there was no actual cause for it. This cause should defined as excitement. “i’m super excited that why I felt that way” play tricks on your brain. This is called  “anxiety reappraisal.” This would help you take charge of your space, calm and think properly.

As soon as you feel the anxiety take over your body, take control of your mind,5- 4- 3- 2- 1 just start telling yourself “I’m so excited” and push yourself to move forward.