A panic attack is the equivalent of a fight-or-flight response, developed to protect us from danger -- whether real or perceived. It can be like a fire alarm going off when there is no fire.
Anxiety is a reaction to danger, trying to protect you. If anxiety is triggered in the absence of a threat, you need to learn to recognize where there is no danger. Be sure to get medical testing after your first possible panic attack to be sure nothing else is wrong.
Listen as Dr. Lata McGinn joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss anxiety and panic, plus what you can do about these conditions.
Lata K. McGinn, PhD, is the co-founder of Cognitive Behavioral Consultants, a private evidence-based clinical and training center in Westchester and Manhattan. She is also a tenured Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Clinical Program at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University. Dr. McGinn is the Past-President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy and the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy.