Can You Die From A Panic Attack?

It may feel like it but, the fact is, your body won't let you. Every one of us has an autonomic nervous system that is directly involved each time we are faced with danger. The brain sends out signals to the nervous system. The nervous system is divided into two subsections - the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system gets us ready to "fight or flee" (the "fight or flight" response), and the parasympathetic nervous system calms the body back down to its normal state.

Any time either of these systems is triggered, they stimulate the total body, which has an "all or nothing" effect. Thus, when a panic attack occurs, the person often experiences multiple different symptoms all through the body.

The sympathetic system tells the body to release adrenaline from the adrenal glands on the kidneys. Adrenaline functions as the body's chemical messengers to keep the activity going. When a panic attack starts, it does not switch off as effortlessly as it is turned on. There is always a phase of what would seem increased or endless anxiety, as these messengers travel throughout the body.

After a while, it is time for the parasympathetic nervous system to do its job, which is to return the body to routine functioning after the perceived danger is no longer present.

We can will the parasympathetic nervous system into action by utilizing a coping strategy that we have learned, for instance, a relaxation technique. A helpful thing to bring to mind is that this system will be brought into action at some stage whether we will it or not. The body cannot stay in an ever-increasing spiral of anxiety. It reaches a place where it simply must kick in, relaxing the body. This is one of the many built-in mechanisms our bodies have to protect us.

Eventually the sympathetic nervous system will stop, even if you try to keep it going with worrying thoughts, and the parasympathetic nervous system will take over. This is because, in time, it becomes a little smarter than us and realizes that there really is no danger. You can be certain that your body's primary goal is to keep you alive and well.

You will not die from a panic attack, no matter how hard you try to convince yourself otherwise. Your body will override that alarm and search for a state of balance. There has never been a reported event of someone dying from a panic attack.

It may help to remember this the next time you have a panic attack; the causes of panic attacks cannot do you any real harm. Your mind possibly will make the sensations last longer than the body intended, but eventually everything will return to a state of balance.

The interference for your body that is caused by a panic attack is nothing more than the sensations of doing strenuous exercise. Our body is not distressed by these symptoms because it knows its own capability but our mind panics and overreacts. Most of us have a tendency to always think the worst and magnify our own sensations. A racing heartbeat becomes a heart attack. An excessively active mind makes us think we're on the verge of a breakdown. The correct information will go a long way in overcoming panic attacks.

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