Going Crazy or Dying of Panic?
How Fight or Flight in Panic Disorder Causes These Feelings
Feelings of going crazy or dying in the Panic Disorder patient are caused by chemical changes in the body. Though the feelings are real, they are not true. Here's why.
People who have been diagnosed with Panic Disorder can have such severe acute symptoms it can feel as if there is something horribly dangerous going on in their bodies. Because of their unusual symptoms it becomes difficult for panic sufferers to believe that they aren't dying or going crazy.
According to Merck & Co. Inc., Panic Disorder is not dangerous, and it is not a sign of insanity, even though it may feel like it is.
The Doctor's Assurances are not Convincing
Doctors and therapists who do not specialize in panic treatment and who don't properly explain the causes of troubling symptoms, often do not earn enough credibility to convince their patients that they are not crazy or dying. This is why it is important for the person seeking relief from Panic Disorder to find a specialist who is thoroughly familiar with the disorder and its treatment.
Feelings of Dying and Going Crazy are Actually Symptoms (Not Outcomes) of Panic Disorder
Cognitive-behavioral treatment for Panic Disorder teaches that feeling like something is horribly wrong is actually a symptom of the disorder in those who are properly diagnosed. It is caused by chemical changes going on in the body.
The Fight or Flight Response
The body is designed to protect itself from mortal danger. The panic response, also known as the "fight or flight" response, is the body's way of doing this. If a person was being attacked by an animal, for example, the fight or flight response would be triggered causing chemical changes in the body. These changes prepare the body to fight the attacker or run away.
The Overactive Fight or Flight Trigger
People who suffer from Panic Disorder have what is referred to as a "lowered panic threshold" or an "overactive fight or flight trigger." This means that the fight or flight response gets triggered too easily and too often, even when there is actually no danger present.
One symptom of fight or flight is a feeling that there is terrible danger and an overwhelming urge to run away. These symptoms are as real as the pounding hearbeat and sweaty palms. Fight or flight wouldn't motivate people to protect themselves from danger very well if it didn't cause these feelings of impending doom. These feelings are connected to people's very survival instinct, which is why they are so strong and convincing.
When a person has a panic attack but there is no real danger present, the feelings of doom are confusing. The physical dysfunction and emotional upset experienced by the patient further confirm, in the patient's mind, that something is terribly wrong.
When it comes to Panic Disorder, something is, in fact, wrong, but it's not imminent death or insanity. It's that the panic response is being triggered when it shouldn't. Treatment of Panic Disorder involves "resetting" the panic threshold so it does not get triggered as often and as easily.
Group or Individual Treatment?
Most people with a Panic Disorder diagnosis can benefit from treatment. Group treatment for Panic Disorder can be preferable because it is helpful for patients to see others who are experiencing the exact same symptoms. This can help people let go of the belief that they are dying or going crazy. But individual treatment with a Panic Disorder specialist can also be highly effective.
Anyone experiencing troublesome physical or emotional symptoms should always contact a medical or mental health professional for a proper diagnosis. This article is not intended to be personal medical or mental health advice.
