Myths vs. Truths about Panic Attacks

Dr. Johnna Medina Daniels Profile
Dr. Johnna Medina Daniels

Dr. Johnna Medina Daniels

Licensed Psychologist

Expertise:

Addiction, Health Behavior Change, Exercise/Yoga Interventions for Mental Health, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Learn More About Dr. Medina Daniels
  • Ever rushed to the ER convinced you were having a heart attack, only to be told it was "just" a panic attack? You're not alone, and you're not overreacting. This comprehensive guide cuts through the confusion and fear surrounding anxiety and panic attacks with clear, science-based facts that will change how you understand these intense experiences.

    From debunking the myth that panic attacks are dangerous medical emergencies to explaining why you can't actually suffocate during one, this resource separates fact from fiction. You'll discover why your nervous system is actually working perfectly during a panic attack, learn to distinguish between real medical symptoms and anxiety responses, and understand why fighting anxiety often makes it worse.

    • Distinguish between panic attack symptoms and actual medical emergencies - Learn the key differences between anxiety responses and serious conditions like heart attacks, seizures, and breathing emergencies

    • Understand the science behind anxiety and panic responses - Discover how your sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work together, and why panic attacks are actually signs of a healthy stress response system

    • Develop healthier relationships with anxiety and panic - Move beyond the "calm down immediately" approach to learn evidence-based strategies for relating to anxiety without making it worse

    • Barlow, D. H., Craske, M. G., Cerny, J. A., & Klosko, J. S. (1989). Behavioral treatment of panic disorder. Behavior therapy20(2), 261-282.

    • Beck, J. G., Shipherd, J. C., & Read, J. (1999). Response patterns to repeated CO2 inhalation in individuals with high anxiety sensitivity. Behaviour research and therapy37(11), 1073-1089.

    • Craske, M. G., & Tsao, J. C. (2005). Assessment and treatment of nocturnal panic attacks. Sleep medicine reviews9(3), 173-184.

    • Kircanski, K., Craske, M. G., Epstein, A. M., & Wittchen, H. U. (2011). Subtypes of panic attacks: a critical review of the empirical literature. Focus9(3), 389-398.

    • Kyriakoulis, P., & Kyrios, M. (2023). Biological and cognitive theories explaining panic disorder: A narrative review. Frontiers in psychiatry14, 957515.

    • Schenberg, L. C., Bittencourt, A. S., Sudré, E. C. M., & Vargas, L. C. (2001). Modeling panic attacks. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews25(7-8), 647-659.

    • Telch, M. J., Cobb, A. R., & Lancaster, C. L. (2014). Exposure therapy. The Wiley handbook of anxiety disorders, 715-756.

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