In today’s stressful and fast-paced world, fear and stress have become a part of our daily lives. When these feelings become overwhelming, they can lead to panic attacks. If you've ever felt your heart suddenly racing, your breath becoming short, and a strange anxiety growing inside you — that migh have been a panic attack. But don’t worry — you’re not alone.Let’s understand together what a panic attack really is, and why our body reacts this way.
What is a panic attack?
Imagine everything is calm, but suddenly, you start feeling intense anxiety or fear. Your heart races, breathing becomes difficult, you feel dizzy, start shaking, your hands or feet go numb, and you may feel disconnected from reality or like you're losing control. Sometimes there's a choking feeling in your throat, a wave of heat, or nausea. This might be a panic attack. It's a sudden sensation that comes without a clear reason. Although the symptoms are frightening, a panic attack is not actually dangerous.
Why do panic attacks happen?
A panic attack can begin when your brain misinterprets a situation as dangerous. And when you also feel like you can’t handle this "threat," your body responds with alarm. There are various contributing factors:
Long-term stress
Sensitivity to strong emotions
Sleep disorders
Past psychological trauma
Genetic predisposition
Research also shows that sometimes changes in certain areas of the brain can contribute to the development of panic.In the end, even though panic attacks may feel terrifying, they do not cause real harm. It’s important to remember: you are not alone — and there are always ways to understand, manage, and overcome these attacks.