Panic Is the Problem
We know that we are all different even though we have the same disease. Symptoms vary from one person to the other. Some of us love summer and others breathe easier in winter. It’s crazy. Some of us like low humidity and others are better breathers with a higher humidity count. No matter what your normal symptoms are, there is something that many of us living with COPD will experience from time to time: a panic attack.
Panic
It brings on episodes of extreme fear. Its symptoms include heart palpitations, sweating, shaking, and shortness of breath with a choking sensation. There are many reasons why we suffer from panic attacks, including daily stress, brain chemistry, pollution, or traumatic events in the past. Even with anxiety meds, most of us will experience anxiety from time to time.1
Your body in panic
Your renal glands release adrenaline and cortisol. At the onset of a panic attack, adrenaline floods your bloodstream and your heartbeat quickens. Blood is sent to the muscles and your breathing becomes fast and shallow while your blood sugar spikes. This leaves you with little energy once the attack is over.1
Your brain in panic
Your brain releases stress hormones telling you there is danger. This causes a flight or fight response. While you are making this decision, your heart rate is quickening and you are gasping for air. Do you run away from it, or do you stay and fight the dragon? The brain will begin telling you horrible scenarios of what might happen.1
When you are feeling anxiety, you are living in the past or future. Anxiety and panic attacks come from a memory of something you experienced or from a story you have conjured up in your mind about how bad your situation could be. A panic attack can last up to 30 minutes or longer and may feel like a full-blown heart attack. Anxiety has a double negative effect on our lungs, causing even more breathlessness.1
Overcoming a panic attack
First, you have to learn to trust. Trust in yourself and your ability to overcome the things your brain is telling you. Give yourself permission to trust yourself. Remember to practice scenarios in your mind, always with the intention of having a positive outcome.
Concentrate on your breath while focusing on a single object - it could be a lamp or a set of keys. Just concentrate on your object and your breath. Breathe with the intention of calming yourself using pursed-lip breathing and deep abdominal breathing. Stop the chatter in your brain. If you practice often, these breathing methods will become your 'go-to' when you are short of breath.
Reflect on your panic attack
Look at the past and answer the 5 W's of what, when, why, where, and who. Let's also not forget about how this began.
- How did it happen?
- Why did it happened?
- What triggered it to happen?
- When did I first feel it coming on?
- Where did it happen?
- Who has control over my panic attack?
Answering the above questions, and writing in your journal, will give you more information and make you more powerful should you have another attack.
What are some of the causes of your panic attacks?
Editor’s Note: We are extremely saddened to say that on January 7th, 2024, Barbara Moore passed away. Barbara’s advocacy efforts and writing continue to reach many. She will be deeply missed.
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