In the past couple of posts, we have been talking about how some people are able to move past a panic attack experience, while others get stuck in the panic place. As a refresher, there are three reasons why someone transcends from having a simple panic attack to developing panic disorder: 1) Selective attention and hypervigilance; 2) Safety behaviors; and 3) Avoidance.

If you have ever had a panic attack, you know it is not fun. It is essentially the “tsunami” of anxiety. It might build slowly or hit you suddenly. But either way, once this process starts, anxious thoughts and symptoms multiply and intensify until pop! You are in the midst of a full-blown panic attack and are engulfed by racing thoughts, a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, sweaty palms.