What a Panic Attack Really Is—and Why You’re Not Losing Control
If you’ve ever had a panic attack, you know how frightening it can be. The surge of fear is sudden and intense. Your body reacts as if you’re in immediate danger—even when nothing around you explains it. Many women quietly wonder, Am I losing control? Am I having a heart attack? Is something seriously wrong with me?
Let’s be clear from the start: a panic attack feels dangerous, but it isn’t. Understanding what’s happening in your body is one of the most important steps toward freedom.
Bella’s Story
Bella wasn’t doing anything unusual when it happened. But she was busy and short on sleep.
Normal life: She was driving home from the grocery store, mentally reviewing her to-do list for the evening. Dinner. Homework. A quick email she still needed to send.
Then a pounding heart: Suddenly—out of nowhere—her heart began to pound. Her chest felt tight. Her hands tingled on the steering wheel.
A thought rushed in just as fast as the symptoms: What is happening to me?
Her breathing became shallow. She felt lightheaded, almost detached, as if the world around her wasn’t quite real. Another thought followed, louder and more frightening: What if I lose control? What if I pass out while driving?
“What’s happening?”: Bella loved the Lord. She trusted God. She had handled plenty of hard things in life. But in that moment, none of that seemed to matter. Her body felt like it was sounding an alarm she couldn’t shut off.
By the time she pulled into her driveway, the intensity had eased—but the fear lingered.
What if this happens again?
And what if next time I can’t escape it?
What Bella didn’t realize yet was this: her body wasn’t breaking down. It was responding—powerfully, but mistakenly—to perceived danger.
What Is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is an intense, overwhelming surge of fear or discomfort that arises suddenly and often unexpectedly. It can happen in quiet moments or during everyday activities—while driving, working, sitting in church, or lying in bed.
What sets a panic attack apart from ordinary stress or anxiety is its intensity. The body reacts as though it is in immediate danger, even though there is no real physical threat.
At the heart of a panic attack is the body’s fight-or-flight response, a God-designed survival system meant to protect you in truly dangerous situations.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
—2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)
During a panic attack, that protective system misfires.
Why Panic Attacks Feel So Intense
The fight-or-flight response is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. When activated, it triggers a cascade of physical changes:
Heart rate increases
Blood pressure rises
Muscles tense
Breathing speeds up
In real danger, this response is life-saving. But during a panic attack, the alarm goes off without an actual threat. The body prepares for danger that isn’t there—and the sensations can feel overwhelming.
This is why panic attacks often feel sudden, confusing, and out of control.
Common Symptoms of a Panic Attack
Panic attacks can include a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms, such as:
Rapid heart rate or palpitations
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Shortness of breath or choking sensations
Chest pain or discomfort
Nausea or stomach distress
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Hot flashes or chills
Numbness or tingling
Feeling detached from reality (derealization)
Feeling detached from yourself (depersonalization)
Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
Fear of dying
These symptoms are frightening—but they are not dangerous.
👉 You might like this article:
Driving Phobia: What It Is and How to Overcome It
The Physiological Impact of Panic Attacks
During a panic attack, several systems in the body are working overtime:
Increased Heart Rate
Your heart races as your body prepares to act. Though alarming, this does not indicate a heart attack.
Hyperventilation
Breathing becomes shallow and rapid, which can cause dizziness, tingling, or a sense of suffocation.
Muscle Tension
Muscles tighten to prepare for action, often leading to aches or a jittery sensation.
Sweating and Trembling
These responses help regulate body temperature under stress.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Digestion slows down during a fight-or-flight response, leading to nausea or stomach discomfort.
Derealization and Depersonalization
You may feel detached from your surroundings or from yourself. Though unsettling, these sensations are temporary and harmless.
Most panic attacks peak within about 10 minutes and gradually subside as the nervous system settles.
Fearful Thoughts and Panic
Along with physical sensations, panic attacks trigger fearful thoughts:
I’m having a heart attack.
I’m going to pass out.
I’m losing control.
I’m going to die.
These thoughts are not signs of danger—they are part of the survival response. The mind begins to catastrophize, imagining the worst-case scenario.
This creates a feedback loop:
Physical sensations trigger fear
Fear intensifies the sensations
The cycle feeds on itself
Understanding this cycle is crucial for breaking it.
👉 Suggested article for you:
The Fear Cycle Explained: Why Anxiety Feeds on Itself
Types of Panic Attacks
Uncued (Unexpected) Panic Attacks
These occur without an obvious trigger. They can happen while resting or doing ordinary activities. The unpredictability often leads to fear of future attacks.
Cued (Triggered) Panic Attacks
These are tied to specific situations, such as driving, flying, public speaking, or crowded places. Avoidance may follow, which can gradually shrink a person’s life.
👉 Suggested article for you:
Faith Over Fear: Overcoming Fear of Leaving Home and Panic Attacks
You Are Not Losing Control
Bella’s experience felt terrifying—but her body was not failing her. It was responding to a false alarm.
The same is true for you.
“When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
—Psalm 56:3 (NKJV)
Understanding panic doesn’t instantly remove fear—but it removes the mystery. And when fear loses its mystery, it loses much of its power.
The steps toward healing are not about forcing calm or avoiding sensations. They are about learning to respond wisely, steadily, and with faith when anxiety shows up.
A Gentle Word About Support
The information here is meant to bring clarity—not to replace personalized care. When panic has been shaping your decisions or limiting your life, working with a counselor can make the process safer, steadier, and far less overwhelming.
You don’t have to walk this road alone.
Final Encouragement
When Bella began to understand what her panic attacks truly were—and what they were not—the fear slowly loosened its grip. Her body wasn’t betraying her. God hadn’t abandoned her. And she wasn’t losing control.
The same hope is available to you.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
—Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
If panic has been stealing your peace, help is available.
Dr. Lucy Ann Moll meets online via Zoom.
👉 Schedule a complimentary phone consult here:
https://lucyannmoll.as.me