What is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack (also known as an anxiety attack) is
relatively brief episode of intense fear that comes on
suddenly, where the person is both terrified of the physical
symptoms that are afflicting them as well as by the
associated fears that either triggered or accompanied the
attack.
A panic attack typically lasts for at least ten
minutes but can stretch on for much longer, even hours or
days if cyclic in nature. Cyclic panic attacks are where a
person is subject to a continuous cycle of attack after attack,
with a new attack triggering even as the previous one is
fading away.
The fears associated with a panic attack are
strongest when the attack begins. These fears demand our
attention, yet the more attention we give them – the more
we fear them - the greater they become. Fighting, arguing
with, fearing or trying to flee the panic attack and its
disturbing symptoms causes negative adrenalin to flood our
being. This in turn causes even greater anxiety and even
more disturbing sensations to afflict us during the attack.
In my case, a typical panic attack included an
increased heart rate, flushed face, increased temperature,
shortness of breath, chest feeling constricted, a complete
lack of peace, and an intense churning/discomfort in the
stomach. These physical symptoms were accompanied by a
terrifying fear that was so vivid and threatening that I
would often ‘scream’ in my mind. (Many sufferers wail or
scream quite loudly during an attack.)
What triggers panic attacks?
A panic attack can be triggered by an extremely stressful or
fearful situation, or even by an exceptionally terrifying
fearful thought. Subsequent exposure to the same situation
or fearful thought could trigger further attacks. Being afraid
that another attack may come increases the likelihood of
them striking again.
The stress of trying to making an important life
decision can also trigger a panic attack. (See below for how
this can affect Christians in particular.)
Panic attacks can even trigger without a cause,
however, in these cases, the mind typically searches for a
reason for the attack, and may latch onto a fear which then
becomes the associated fear for that attack. It is typical for
the mind to latch onto a fear that has terrified the person in
the past.
A mind prone to anxiety is the perfect seedbed in
which a panic attack can take root and flourish. Some
people by nature have a sensitive nervous system, which
can be due to past or recent traumas or even due to genetic
inheritance. However, those suffering from depression are
especially susceptible to panic attacks as their minds are
locked in a state of constant anxiety.
1 Peter 5:8 is a perfect description of how panic
attacks operate. 'Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour.’ Although Satan has been defeated by
Christ’s victory on the cross, he masquerades as a roaring
lion and tricks people into believing that panic attacks have
real power and can devour them, when in fact they have no
power at all.
Dealing with Panic Attacks
In late July, 1990, I read ‘Self Help for Your Nerves,’ by Dr
Claire Weekes, which taught me all about the ‘fearadrenalin-
fear cycle,’ (1) and how the more we fear, flee or
fight panic attacks, the worse we become as the additional
adrenalin produced prolongs symptoms and produces more
disturbing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
sensations. It is a very vicious cycle.
To recover from panic attacks we need to break this cycle.
This is how I learnt to break the panic attack cycle:
1. do not fear panic attacks – let them come,
2. when an attack comes, do not fight or fear it, nor debate
or argue with its associated fears, instead, just accept it for
the time being,
3. let time pass while reminding ourselves that the panic
attack’s intensity will fade as we do so. (2) (3)
30
After I read ‘Self Help for Your Nerves,’ whenever a panic
attack hit me, I said to myself: “Peter, you're having a panic
attack. Don't fight it or fear it, just accept it, and learn to
live with it, don't debate it and argue with it, and let time
pass, and it will fade.”
To my amazement, the above technique worked,
as it broke the fear-adrenalin-fear cycle. First the intensity
of the attacks reduced, then their frequency grew less, and
finally I found that in most cases, I was able to nip the
attack in the bud before it could take off.
Another thing that can help when afflicted by an
annoying re-occurring panic attack is to share the panic
attack topic or fear with a wise Christian friend, so that we
can get a fresh, healthier perspective on the issue. Although
a fearful thought may seem larger than life to us, our friend
will see right through it. In this case, trust their perspective,
not our own fearful one. (A word of caution, it is not wise
to continually run these fears past our friends, as this will
not only drive them crazy, but in time we need to learn how
to find a fresh perspective ourselves from prayer and Bible
study.)
Another small note: if you suffer from panic
attacks and you simply cannot put into practice the steps I
have outlined above, I recommend seeing a doctor. If the
doctor recommends anti-depressants and professional
counselling, consider the advice carefully. Anti-depressants
dull the effects of depression and panic attacks and this is a
huge help in overcoming them. (See my entry, Depression,
Christians, and Anti-Depressant Medication.)
2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity
(of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear),
but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of
calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and selfcontrol.’
(Amplified Bible)
A panic attack (also known as an anxiety attack) is
relatively brief episode of intense fear that comes on
suddenly, where the person is both terrified of the physical
symptoms that are afflicting them as well as by the
associated fears that either triggered or accompanied the
attack.
A panic attack typically lasts for at least ten
minutes but can stretch on for much longer, even hours or
days if cyclic in nature. Cyclic panic attacks are where a
person is subject to a continuous cycle of attack after attack,
with a new attack triggering even as the previous one is
fading away.
The fears associated with a panic attack are
strongest when the attack begins. These fears demand our
attention, yet the more attention we give them – the more
we fear them - the greater they become. Fighting, arguing
with, fearing or trying to flee the panic attack and its
disturbing symptoms causes negative adrenalin to flood our
being. This in turn causes even greater anxiety and even
more disturbing sensations to afflict us during the attack.
In my case, a typical panic attack included an
increased heart rate, flushed face, increased temperature,
shortness of breath, chest feeling constricted, a complete
lack of peace, and an intense churning/discomfort in the
stomach. These physical symptoms were accompanied by a
terrifying fear that was so vivid and threatening that I
would often ‘scream’ in my mind. (Many sufferers wail or
scream quite loudly during an attack.)
What triggers panic attacks?
A panic attack can be triggered by an extremely stressful or
fearful situation, or even by an exceptionally terrifying
fearful thought. Subsequent exposure to the same situation
or fearful thought could trigger further attacks. Being afraid
that another attack may come increases the likelihood of
them striking again.
The stress of trying to making an important life
decision can also trigger a panic attack. (See below for how
this can affect Christians in particular.)
Panic attacks can even trigger without a cause,
however, in these cases, the mind typically searches for a
reason for the attack, and may latch onto a fear which then
becomes the associated fear for that attack. It is typical for
the mind to latch onto a fear that has terrified the person in
the past.
A mind prone to anxiety is the perfect seedbed in
which a panic attack can take root and flourish. Some
people by nature have a sensitive nervous system, which
can be due to past or recent traumas or even due to genetic
inheritance. However, those suffering from depression are
especially susceptible to panic attacks as their minds are
locked in a state of constant anxiety.
1 Peter 5:8 is a perfect description of how panic
attacks operate. 'Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy
the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for
someone to devour.’ Although Satan has been defeated by
Christ’s victory on the cross, he masquerades as a roaring
lion and tricks people into believing that panic attacks have
real power and can devour them, when in fact they have no
power at all.
Dealing with Panic Attacks
In late July, 1990, I read ‘Self Help for Your Nerves,’ by Dr
Claire Weekes, which taught me all about the ‘fearadrenalin-
fear cycle,’ (1) and how the more we fear, flee or
fight panic attacks, the worse we become as the additional
adrenalin produced prolongs symptoms and produces more
disturbing physical, mental, emotional and spiritual
sensations. It is a very vicious cycle.
To recover from panic attacks we need to break this cycle.
This is how I learnt to break the panic attack cycle:
1. do not fear panic attacks – let them come,
2. when an attack comes, do not fight or fear it, nor debate
or argue with its associated fears, instead, just accept it for
the time being,
3. let time pass while reminding ourselves that the panic
attack’s intensity will fade as we do so. (2) (3)
30
After I read ‘Self Help for Your Nerves,’ whenever a panic
attack hit me, I said to myself: “Peter, you're having a panic
attack. Don't fight it or fear it, just accept it, and learn to
live with it, don't debate it and argue with it, and let time
pass, and it will fade.”
To my amazement, the above technique worked,
as it broke the fear-adrenalin-fear cycle. First the intensity
of the attacks reduced, then their frequency grew less, and
finally I found that in most cases, I was able to nip the
attack in the bud before it could take off.
Another thing that can help when afflicted by an
annoying re-occurring panic attack is to share the panic
attack topic or fear with a wise Christian friend, so that we
can get a fresh, healthier perspective on the issue. Although
a fearful thought may seem larger than life to us, our friend
will see right through it. In this case, trust their perspective,
not our own fearful one. (A word of caution, it is not wise
to continually run these fears past our friends, as this will
not only drive them crazy, but in time we need to learn how
to find a fresh perspective ourselves from prayer and Bible
study.)
Another small note: if you suffer from panic
attacks and you simply cannot put into practice the steps I
have outlined above, I recommend seeing a doctor. If the
doctor recommends anti-depressants and professional
counselling, consider the advice carefully. Anti-depressants
dull the effects of depression and panic attacks and this is a
huge help in overcoming them. (See my entry, Depression,
Christians, and Anti-Depressant Medication.)
2 Timothy 1:7 ‘For God did not give us a spirit of timidity
(of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear),
but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of
calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and selfcontrol.’
(Amplified Bible)
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