That is easier said than done, if you are having a panic attack. For people who do not have them, I think that it is difficult for them to understand this disorder. Some may think that those who suffer from them are weak and should just “suck it up.” Panic Disorder is not merely a fear or dread of doing something such as public speaking, but the anxiety from public speaking may trigger a panic attack. I know that this sounds confusing, but there is a subtle nuance here.

It may help if I described what a Panic Disorder is and how it differs from other fears. When a panic attack occurs it may not be clear what triggers it, as panic attacks may come out of the blue without any warning. For me, it is accumulative both in quantity and time. So, the combined stress and anxiety at work and at home may trigger panic attacks. Or if I am working on a long project that is unclear as to how well it is going, it may trigger panic attacks, as well, from the build-up of stress and anxiety over time. What sets panic attacks apart is that they can be debilitating. I have worked with a great deal of people who also have suffered from Panic Disorder. One such co-worker was fired because of a failure to bring projects to completion, which I believe was caused by the debilitating effects of Panic Disorder. Another co-worker quit because he was having frequent panic attacks. I too have gone to my employer to quit because I was having a cluster of panic attacks. Something had to give. Fortunately for me my employer let me have a little time off and restructured my work responsibilities. Not all employers are this understanding.

So, what does a panic attack feel like? It is hard for me to describe. It is like no other feeling that I have ever had. Imagine being hyped up on massive amounts of caffeine, riding a roller-coaster, being chucked of the roof of a building, being buried alive in a casket, and just being notified that there is no way that you can avoid being blown up by a nuclear bomb all at the same time. Now ratchet that up a few more notches and you will be getting close to what a panic attack feels like. When experiencing their first panic attack, some think that they are having a heart-attack. Certain things such as caffeine can enhance or trigger a panic attack.

When I have a panic attack, it is very crippling. I become very agitated like a caged animal. I may lash out at people and have the desire to be left alone or to get out. My mind races, I have the feeling of hopeless doom, my stomach is in knots and I get this strange feeling in my chest. Many times when in the storm of a panic attack, I will not realize it. Only when I return to the calm after the storm will I realize that I just had an attack.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is emblazoned with “DON’T PANIC” in large, friendly letters on its cover. I just wish I could.