Have you ever wondered what it's actually like to have a panic attack?

Today I'm going to break down the physical signs of a panic attack.

Welcome back to Savvy Psychologist. I'm your host, Dr. Monica Johnson.

Every week on this show, I'll help you face life's challenges

with evidence-based approaches, a sympathetic ear, and zero judgment.

In order to understand panic attacks, we must first understand our own nervous system.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are two branches of the autonomic nervous system,

which is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions.

These two systems work in opposition to each other in order to maintain balance and respond to different situations.

Understanding the relationship between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is essential for comprehending their role in panic attacks.

The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the fight or flight response.

It is activated in response to perceived threats or stressful situations.

When the sympathetic nervous system, or SNS for short, is activated,

it triggers a cascade of physiological changes that prepare the body for action to either confront the threat or escape from it.

During our Neanderthal days, this was super important.

Because if you saw a saber-toothed tiger, you needed to be ready to evade or fight.

However, these days, most threats aren't life or death, which is why I want to emphasize the idea of perceived threat.

If you perceive giving a presentation for class as a threat, it's possible for you to have a panic attack.

Because your brain is going to interpret that data the same way it does a bear chasing you down.

During a threat or stressful event, the SNS releases stress hormones, like adrenaline and nor epinephrine.

These hormones increase heart rate, dilate the pupils, raise blood pressure, redirect blood flow to muscles,

and increase respiratory rate, among other responses.

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