Breathing Through Panic

Panic attacks are often dreaded, unwanted guests in our lives. The question is: Do they serve a purpose? In short, yes. In fact, they are our brain’s exaggerated way of trying to stay safe under the threat of danger. Panic attacks kickstart our sympathetic nerve response, jolting us into fight-or-flight mode. In this state, our adrenaline kicks in, our cortisol levels rise, and our blood starts pumping to assist in evading harm. But, with a prolonged anxiety response and no immediate threat, our bodies begin to break down. Thoughts start to race, and the world feels like it is closing in around us. So what can we do?