Panic Attacks

When faced with a situation that makes you stressed, your body releases chemicals, including cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline.

These invoke the ‘fight or flight’ feelings that help us to deal with the stressful situation.

This is perfect if the activity is a physical one, or if we are able to see our exam or presentation through to the end.

If we are in a position where we can’t ‘take flight’, or fight, say in a crowded lift, then these chemicals can accumulate and in extreme cases induce a panic attack.

What often happens next is that the panic attack becomes associated with the place in which it occurred, such as lifts, and lifts then have to be avoided in the future at all costs, in order to avoid a repeat panic attack.

This is alright as long as the original source of the anxiety is also dealt with and eliminated. If not, and we continue to live in this state of high anxiety, chances are that another panic attack is highly likely.

This will probably happen in a different location, say the supermarket, which will also have to be avoided in the future, and little by little our world begins to shrink around us as more and more areas become places to be avoided.