Panic Attacks

Anxiety is a fear of finding out the truth of your own thoughts, feelings, and motives, most of which are unconscious. Hebrews 4 says we ought to meditate on scripture daily because the word of God is quick and powerful, able to separate bone from marrow. As we think upon and understand the truth of God and look at ourselves honestly, God can begin to work in us to reveal our unconscious (or hidden) feelings, thoughts, and motives.

To understand panic attacks, we must understand that they are REAL for the person who is experiencing them. Sometimes panic attacks feel like heart attacks: heart palpitations, sweaty hands, intense anxiety.

The conceptual framework to understand a panic attack is to see it as “to attack oneself with panic.” If one is afraid of their impulses getting out of control because they haven’t learned or been taught how to manage them; or if they experienced their parents being out of control with their impulses such as abuse, rage, or addiction, then of course they are going to panic and their panic is going to overwhelm them in order to try to protect themselves from their other impulses. Some of the symptoms of panic attacks include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and fear of losing control. As one gains insight into these things which they have been afraid to look at, they free themselves from the underlying fears and anxiety.

• Refer when a counselee shows signs of extreme anxiety or panic attacks.
• Refer if the counselee is feeling more and more out of control, depressed, hopeless, or suicidal.