The Hidden Danger of Panic Attacks

"Panic attacks aren’t dangerous." At least, that’s what they say.

Before diving into the technical side of this disorder, I want to very much challenge that statement. From my own experience and research, I’ve learned that panic attacks can be dangerous—more than people realize.

When you start to understand the anatomy of the respiratory system—our so-called "breathing system"—it becomes clear that panic attacks and chronic hyperventilation can cause serious damage to your organs. And at the core of it all? The nervous system, which plays a crucial role in how our body responds to stress. I won’t turn this into a full lecture on how everything works, but understanding this has given me insight into how I can try to heal—though it takes a lot of work. Our bodies are wired for survival, built for the fight-or-flight response, but when that system is constantly activated, it takes a toll.

Healing isn’t just about calming down—it’s about retraining the body and mind to break free from survival mode.

Adrenaline and noradrenaline are the primary hormones of the alarm phase, preparing the body for action. Heart rate and breathing accelerate, blood sugar and cholesterol levels rise, and blood flow increases to the muscles, heart, and lungs while decreasing to the skin, digestive system, and reproductive organs. In short, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, putting the body in a state of high alert—ready to fight or flee.

During this phase, the body burns through a massive amount of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other essential nutrients needed to sustain this response. To counteract these losses, the body produces cortisol, a hormone that helps restore homeostasis (the balance between various processes).

Once the threat is gone, the body gradually calms down, and recovery begins.

But when your body has endured certain events—such as trauma or prolonged stress—and enters this state, it gets stored in a specific part of the brain. This memory can be triggered unconsciously, keeping you in a constant fight-or-flight mode.

As a result, the chronic depletion of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements makes recovery extremely difficult. The nervous system and immune system weakens, leaving the body vulnerable to infections. Over time, this ongoing strain can lead to life-threatening conditions like heart failure. At this stage, both physically and mentally, you are completely drained—pushed to the absolute limit of exhaustion, with nothing left to give.

And just like that could I write a whole doctoral thesis on it.

I really couldn't wait to write about this. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard it: "It's all in your head" or the dutch way "It’s all between your ears." If only they knew. Those words have fueled my anger more times than I can remember. I’ve scolded people for their ignorance, for their narrow-minded view of something they clearly don’t understand. But the real breaking point? When even the doctors couldn’t explain it to me.

So... you know... there’s that—just another thing I apparently understand better then some experts I encountered. 🙃 Oh, sorry—not sorry. 😉