Exploring the psychology of panic attacks including triggers, responses, and management tips. Insight on fear, anxiety, and panic. Strategies for managing panic attacks through relaxation and visualization. Empathy towards sufferers and evidence-based techniques. Promotions for other empowering podcasts and various coping strategies discussed.
Understanding the evolutionary function of panic attacks helps in interpreting bodily sensations correctly for better coping mechanisms.
Embracing and facing panic instead of avoiding it, along with grounding exercises and visualization techniques, enables individuals to navigate and manage overwhelming emotions effectively.
Deep dives
Understanding Panic Attacks
Panic attacks, characterized by sudden dread and anxiety, are discussed as a core emotional experience, detailing the overwhelming sensations like racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and mental spirals. The podcast delves into the importance of psychoeducation in gaining control over panic attacks, emphasizing the distinction between panic and anxiety. By acknowledging panic as an evolutionary response and learning to interpret bodily sensations correctly, individuals can navigate panic attacks with increased control and coping mechanisms.
Coping Strategies for Panic Attacks
Effective coping strategies for panic attacks are introduced, highlighting the counterintuitive nature of managing intense emotions like panic. The importance of avoiding avoidance is emphasized, encouraging individuals to face panic rather than suppress it. Grounding exercises, breathing techniques, and visualization methods are recommended to navigate panic attacks, promoting a sense of control and empowerment in addressing overwhelming emotions.
Understanding the Response to Panic
The podcast explores the physiological response to panic, elucidating how the fight or flight mechanism triggers symptoms associated with panic attacks. By understanding the evolutionary purpose of panic responses in the face of danger, listeners are encouraged to reframe their perception of panic as a survival emotion. The discussion emphasizes distinguishing between actual threats and perceived triggers that can lead to heightened anxiety responses.
Self-Compassion and Emotional Regulation
Encouraging self-compassion and emotional regulation, the episode emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and confronting fear rather than avoiding it. Through visualization exercises and relaxation techniques, individuals are guided to approach panic with compassion and conscious control. By reframing panic as a manageable emotion and focusing on grounding practices, listeners are empowered to navigate and overcome the intensity of panic attacks.
Panic attacks are awful, they sneak up on us in the worst moments and make us feel overwhelmed by an invisible fear. In today's episode we are going to talk through the psychology of panic attacks including:
Why they occur?
Panic disorders vs. panic attacks
The flight, fight, freeze or fawn response
The car alarm analogy
The function of anxiety and panic
Anxiety avoidance vs. acceptance
7 evidence based tips for managing panic attacks
We also have a 7 minute meditation at the end of the episode that will talk you through a visualisation exercise for managing an actual panic attack. Listen now!
If you need immediate help please call your local crisis centre or access the following resources: