'Panic Attacks'

Introduction. Fear is a part of the human dilemma in life. There are dangers just from living and if we perceive a personal threat involving harm and death, fear can grip our hearts. The Bible warns us concerning life before the rapture of the believers out of this world, as a fearful time. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy that the last days before the exit of the church and divine intervention would be earmarked as ‘perilous’ or dangerous [2 Timothy 3:1-9]. Men are described as possessing self-love, without natural affection, and a time of great learning with an unwillingness to come to the truth (God’s Word) among other characteristics. Where dangers and life crises happen, there is accompanying fears. When a person experiences a serious trauma in their life, their mind may attempt to block it out. However, the horrific fear of a past tragedy may cause the one affected to have an intense fear. This takes momentary possession of their mind, will, emotion, and body. A person sexually molested as a child, the tragic death of loved ones, the horrors of war, or any other tragedy in life may generate into a ‘panic attack’.       

Panic attacks affect many.  Panic attacks are common enough that some people experience them with frequency and they occur with great fear, anxiety, and stress. I have never experienced the symptoms what would be considered a panic attack, but if a person begins to have them they can cause them alarm and negative emotions during the attack. The emotion of fear takes control of their mind and will (The temperament of man is made up of mind, will, affection, and emotion; the mind normally controls the soul of a man — but not so with a panic attack, the emotion of fear rules). Fear is a powerful emotion that can produce paralysis in a person’s nerves/muscles or can produce adrenaline in his blood to excite “flight or fight”. The emotion of fear takes control of their soul (temperament) and physiological stresses occur in their body.               

Definition of a panic attack:  “A panic attack is a sudden surge of overwhelming anxiety and fear, Your heart pounds and you have difficulty breathing. You may even feel like you’re dying or going crazy. Left untreated, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder and other problems. They may cause you to withdraw from normal activities. But panic attacks can be cured and the sooner you seek help, the better. With treatment, you can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of panic and regain control of your life.” Source: HELPGUIDE.org.

When do they occur? They can occur at different times and at any place without warning and can happen even in your sleep. Some people can sense if they are about to have a panic attack. For this reason they can cause a person to experience anxiety in their life since they are not predictable when they might occur.

Why do they occur? A traumatic experience earlier in one’s life can later cause a person to be in a state of intense high anxiety and fear.   The panic attack is the fallout from a life crisis that initiates them later. They usually start in a person’s life when a fearful happening like the death of a loved one, triggers their onset. Subsequent panic attacks continue over time, triggered with inner fear and anxiety. Some of the fears encountered may be suicidal thoughts, fear of dying, and helplessness. Panic attacks last at intervals of 20 to 30 minutes. The signs and symptoms begin abruptly and they rarely last more than one hour.

The physical signs and symptoms are the following: shortness of breath; sweating; heart palpitations or a racing heart; nausea or upset stomach; chest pain or discomfort; feeling dizzy, light-headed, or faint; trembling or shaking; numbness or tingling sensations; choking feeling, hot or cold flashes.

Cure?                                                 

There is no known cure. 

There are claims of cure — for certain the symptoms can be diminished over time and lessened but there may be no known cure. (There are claims of cure for panic attacks but reoccurrence is possible). How to be delivered from panic attacks? Prayer needs to be a part of one’s regimen. Seek divine intervention with the fear that you are experiencing. It’s certainly permissible to ask God to heal you from panic attacks where they never return. However, if they continue to persist, prayer can lower your anxiety which might reduce the severity and frequency of them. Scripture clearly teaches that fear is not to have a dominating grip on our life. Here are a couple of the many Scriptures that deal with fear. Psalm 56:3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in You (God).” Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“ 

Different methods to treat Panic Attacks.

However, conventional wisdom indicates that there is no known cure to completely eliminate panic attacks. There are different methods for treating panic attacks: Prescription medication; natural herb supplements; and lifestyle changes. Sometimes persons with advanced serious depression and anxiety must be administered with prescription medicine by a medical doctor or psychiatrist. If a person is under the care of a medical practitioner, they should follow the prescribed treatment. They should also understand any side effects they might incur from the medicine and stay in close relationship with the issuer. If any of the medicine’s side effects occur, they must report them to the doctor or psychiatrist. 

Medicines may be administered. 

Medicines might harm.

A person taking a prescription should work with the doctor to reduce the amount if possible over time and hopefully, not remain on a medicine permanently since the medicine might become addictive, harmful to their body, or ineffective. If any of these things appear to be occurring, they need to consult their doctor or psychiatrist. Some of the drugs used for panic attacks are Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, and Zoloft. Some drugs can actually produce the anxiety symptoms of a panic attack.

Over the counter supplements? Do they help?

There are many over-the-counter nutritional supplements that are touted to cure or help with panic attacks. A person seeking help from nutritional supplements does so at their own risk. If anyone is under medical care using prescriptions, the doctor must be consulted to determine if there might be side effects with the medication that they are presently taking. Usually there is no documented, scientific data available to validate the claims of over-the-counter supplements to eliminate panic attacks.

A third approach is to manage panic attacks.

The third approach is an attempt to manage panic attacks. For most there is no “silver bullet” to prevent or eliminate panic attacks. The below suggestions might help to reduce the intensity and frequency of panic attacks. 

1) Change your nutritional habits (Lifestyle change). Eating healthy can help to reduce weight; depression; improve one’s endurance, stamina; lower anxiety; and eliminate or minimize heart attack, stroke, and cancer, etc. 

2) Change your exercise regiment (Lifestyle change). Strenuous physical exercise (or work) can reduce your anxiety level and improve your physical stamina. This can also enhance your sleep. 

3) Weight reduction (Lose weight).

4) Reduce your anxiety level in your everyday life. High anxiety level makes you a prime target for panic attacks. How? Avoid known happenings that cause you to have high anxiety.

*  Inventory things in your life that cause anxiety. For example, a telephone call late at night can cause anxiety if late night calls in the past involve a tragedy.

* Learn to lower your level of everyday anxiety with meditation, prayer, and Bible Study. 

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

* Avoid stimulants like nicotine and caffeine. Caffeine can be found in coffee, teas, colas, and chocolate (These stimulants can contribute to high anxiety). We realize that caffeine and chocolate are so much of the American culture.

* Good night’s rest. If you are restless from the cares of the day, prayer and melatonin (3 mg low dosage to higher dosage) can help. Most drug stores and pharmacies carry melatonin (See a pharmacist for direction).

5) Other coping techniques: Deep breathing or guided imagery (Control your thought life). Avoid negative people and negative thinking.

“Philippians 4:8-9 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the peace of God shall be with you.”

6) Go easy on yourself — people who have panic attacks tend to be overly critical of themselves (This may be a temperament weakness with you). Having an Arno Temperament Profile administered will help you to understand whether stress and anxiety are temperament related.

7) Continue to educate yourself on the issues of high anxiety, fear, and panic attacks. (You might consider the books Overcoming Panic Attacks by Ray Comfort & Running Scared by Edward T. Welch).

Remember. Things to remember about panic attacks:

1) You are “OK”. There is nothing spiritually wrong with you that cause them.

2) Learn to sense the first symptoms of a panic attack.

3) Improvement comes in small steps “no silver bullet”.

4) You have survived them before.

5) Go easy on yourself (don’t be over critical of yourself or others). 

God’s will to save the fearful.                          

Many different fears may control you.  

Panic attacks are a fear that controls people involuntarily for a time. There are many other fears that may harm us if we allow them to become an obsession. The fear of dying and the uncertainty of death after life is an issue that trouble many. Jesus assured us that He is the way to God, the truth of God, and the eternal life [John 14:6]. Further, Jesus will give you peace if under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, you are willing as a sinner in need of the Savior, to call upon Jesus to save your soul.

God will help you if you fear dying lost.

The gospel of Jesus Christ [Romans 1:16] when believed is the power of God to save you. The gospel message: Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world [Romans 5:8], was buried, and arose from the dead the following third day [1 Corinthians 15:3-4]. God promises to save anyone willing as a sinner to call upon Jesus to save their soul. This occurs when a person is under the conviction of the Holy Spirit regarding their lost condition and impresses on them their need of the Savior Jesus Christ.  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” [Romans 10:13]. Suggested prayer: ‘Jesus, I believe that you died on the cross to save me from my sins and was raised from the dead, I call upon You now to save me, in Jesus name, amen.’ 

God’s will to overcome fear.  

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you need to consider becoming a disciple of the life and teachings of Jesus. Once you have inward peace with God that you are saved [Romans 5:1], in obedience to His command, please consider doing the following: Find a local church that believes in the mandate to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus [Matthew 28:19-20]. This will require that you obey the directive of Jesus to be baptized by this church in water immersion. Purchase a Bible if you do not have one, study it, and listen to anointed teaching and preaching of the church. Incorporate daily praying in your life. Support the church chosen by faithfully giving financial support and attend their services when they meet. Begin daily spiritual disciplines of Bible study, prayer, and as the Lord gives you the opportunity, share you new saving faith in Jesus Christ [Acts 1:8].

Park Crest Counseling. We are a Christian faith-based counseling service that believes that God really does care for us and divine intervention is needed in a life crisis. We counsel pre-marital, marital, addiction, and parent-difficult child employing the Arno Temperament Profile to aid a person to understand themselves and others they find themselves in conflict, stress, depression, or anxiety. We do not charge for the counseling offered since we are faith-based and Christian. The counseling is effective for anyone seeking spiritual direction and help for their life. For a private screening, call 417-380-3553. Park Crest Counseling is with the National Christian Counselors Association. 

Joe Honeycutt

Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor &

Certified Temperament Counselor

National Christian Counselors Association

*The article ‘Panic Attacks’ addresses a fear syndrome prevalent in our society today. The information provided is not to be construed as counseling since all our counseling is done in private dealing with a person’s own issues and their own unique temperament. Our counseling focuses on the temperament of the person including how a person relates with other people, natural strengths and weaknesses, and the sin patterns within the person. The spiritual, emotional, and temperament boundaries and weaknesses unique for the individual are identified with the Arno Temperament Profile. The counseling is designed for the ‘Total Man’ – body, soul, and spirit. If you are without the ‘peace of God’ [Romans 5:1] in your life, coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ will make peace possible (See ‘New Birth’ at www.parkcrestcounseling.org/?p=7607.).   

***The Scripture references in the article have insertions with parentheses  [   ] or (   ) to clarify and explain.  The scripture quotes and references are from the NKJV or otherwise noted.  Archaic words may be updated to current spelling or meaning.  Names for God or words referring to God are normally capitalized out of respect for God.  The references are listed below in the order found in the article.  Scriptures quoted in full in the article are not included below.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despiser of those that are good. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by Me.”

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Romans 5:8 “But God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Romans 10:13 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen.”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you will be witnesses of Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.”