Episode 18: Understanding Panic and Panic Attacks
In this episode, we discuss panic, common symptoms, emotional triggers, and how support can help people feel more in control.
About This Episode
Episode 18 of the Interpersonal Psychiatry Podcast focuses on panic and the intense physical and emotional symptoms that can come with it. Panic can feel sudden and overwhelming, especially when someone is unsure why it is happening or what their body is reacting to.
In this episode, we discuss what panic can feel like, how symptoms may affect daily life, and why understanding the connection between the body, thoughts, and emotions can be helpful. For some people, panic may appear in specific situations, while for others it may seem to come without warning.
At Interpersonal Psychiatry, care is centered around helping patients better understand their symptoms and explore treatment options that fit their individual needs. This conversation offers an approachable introduction to panic, anxiety, and the importance of seeking support when symptoms begin interfering with everyday life.
What We Cover
Episode Summary
Panic can create an intense feeling of fear or danger even when a person may not be facing an immediate threat. Physical symptoms can sometimes include a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, shaking, sweating, chest discomfort, or a sense of losing control.
These experiences can be frightening, particularly when someone does not yet recognize them as symptoms of panic or anxiety. The fear of having another panic episode can also begin to affect routines, relationships, work, school, travel, or social activities.
One of the central themes of this episode is understanding what is happening rather than simply fearing the symptoms themselves. Learning to recognize patterns, triggers, physical sensations, and emotional responses can help make panic feel less mysterious and more manageable.
This episode also highlights that panic can be treated and supported in different ways depending on the individual. A personalized care plan may involve psychiatric evaluation, therapy, medication management, coping strategies, or a combination of approaches.
As part of the Interpersonal Psychiatry Podcast series, this episode gives listeners a clearer understanding of panic and offers a starting point for conversations about anxiety, treatment, and emotional wellness.