Having a panic attack is one of the most often experienced disorders that there is. An estimated 4-5% of people are severely impacted, in one way or another. When a panic attack happens, a casual mood can turn into an eye-popping, jittery, can’t sit still experience. like what a husband feels while waiting for his wife to give birth to their child.

A small amount anxiety is not a bad thing. It helps protect you from potential danger, real or imagined. Let me elaborate.

Human beings are the most amazing and fascinating creatures that God made. One distinct feature of the human being is our having feelings. Although we do not necessarily conclude that animals do not have feelings, what humans experience has a depth and significance that go far beyond what animals feel.

For feelings that provide us good, we look for ways to improve it even more. For feelings that provide us harm and pain, we try to reduce it or get away from it as much as we can. Anxiety is no exception. There is no need to totally remove negative feelings because at least some of them are not 100% harmful. The idea is to be in control and not be controlled.

Let’s use fear as an example. Fear, as you know, is one of the most common emotions we as humans have. It is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) deterrents to our success. Yet in spite of the negative perception we may have about fear, it also has its own silver lining. Fear can help us from getting hurt, both physically and emotionally. The “little” fear we all have actually helps protect us. We need that “little” amount of fear.

The same is true with panic. A “little” panic can serve as a form of defense. But being consumed by abnormal amounts of panic may hinder you from functioning at a normal level and may deter you from taking action when it is needed.

Panic attacks are actually a product of the mind. It is the result of chemicals being released by the brain in response to a perceived threat or danger and it can be controlled. While the danger may only be perceived, it should not progress to the level of an “attack”. In a dangerous situation, this leaves you exposed. In a non-dangerous situation, it just leaves you paralyzed.

While panic symptoms are not abnormal, they also are not something that most people should have to endure. There is help available. Life is too precious to be hindered with anxieties. Find out more here about how to eliminate panic and anxiety.