What happens in the brain during a panic attack?

A sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying

The center of the brain that is responsible for emotions tends to overreact during a panic attack, causing the flood of seemingly uncontrollable emotions, increased heart rate, perspiration, and respiratory upset. Basically, the brain releases too many signals at one time, overwhelming the body and causing panic attacks.

I couldn't tell you exactly, but what happens is that it gets convinced that you are in danger. So it reacts by preparing you to have a flight response. Your head gets light because your blood is directed towards your extremities to help you run. You heart starts beating faster and you hyperventilate because that what they'd do while running. You can even dissociate because your brain wants to protect you from reality. That's "why" it happens. Your brain gets convinced that you're in danger when you're not.

When having a panic attack, the brain usually turns off reality and all you can worry about at the moment is your fear

The amygdala, the part of your brain that's associated with fear, malfunctions during a panic attack, triggering feelings of extreme anxiety.

The sympathetic nervous system kicks in, activating your "fight or flight" response. Your heart rate increases, you start breathing heavily, and you get all sweaty. This is a NORMAL response that happens when a person feels anxious. The best thing to do is recognize when these are happening and try to calm yourself down with breathing exercises, talking yourself out of it, etc.

The prefrontal region of the brain is most often the area that is connected with anxiety, among other things. Research has shown that the amygdala that consists of a cluster of nerves and is associated heavily with fear and aggression may activate and cause panic attacks due to abnormal activity.

You think you're losing control and that you're in a nightmare. But you're awake so it's like you're living the nightmare.

The brain goes into fight or flight response. The same things that happen to your brain when you are in danger happen during a panic attack.

The physiology of a panic attack is the obvious signs that you get during a panic attack. The brain has an important role during a panic attack but lots of research is still being conducted. Panic attacks are episodes of intense fear - when this happens the nervous system begins to release energy to prepare the body for action. Then the nervous system provides a stabilizer to bring you to a calmer state. Research has found that certain areas of the brain are linked with panic attacks such as the amygdala which is the fear center of the brain. The brain releases Adrenalin into the blood stream which causes the body to feel stressed.