Physical Effects of Panic

[sparky2004]

*The number one purpose of panic is to protect humans from danger*


Nervous and Chemical Effects


When the body detects danger, the brain sends messages to a section of the nerves called the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system has two subsections or branches called the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. These two systems aredirectly involved in controlling the body's energy levels and preparation for action. Simply put, the sympathetic nervous system is the fight-flight system, which releasesenergy and readies the body for action (fighting or fleeing). The parasympathetic nervous system is the restoring system, which returns the body to a normal state. Activation of the sympathectic nervous system is believed to cause most panic-attack symptoms.


The sympathetic nervous system releases two chemicals - adrenaline and noradrenaline from the adrenal glands attached to the kidneys. These chemicals, in turn, are used as messengers by the sympathetic nervous system to continue activity so that once activity begins, it often continues and increases for some time. The activity of the sympathetic nervous system is stopped in two ways. First, other chemicals in the body eventually destroy the chemical messengers adrenaline and noradrenaline. Second, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes activated and restores a relaxed feeling (it does the exact opposite of the sympathetic nervous system). In other words, panic can neither continue forever or spiral to ever-increasing and damaging levels.


Another important note is that the chemical messengers, adrenaline and noradrenaline, take some time to be destroyed. This is why some people tend to still feel keyed up or on edge for some time because the chemicals are still "floating" around in the person's system.


Each physical effect of the fight-flight system is intended to prepare the human to fight or flee, or in other words, to protect the human. The fight-flight systems affects the heart, blood flow, breathing, swetaing, pupils, muscles, and digestive system, as well as other parts of the body. The physicalreactions are real, but they are not harmful.Edited by: sparky2004

[Jenneh]

interesting stuff!


we've just learnt all about that in biology -- that was good revision, thankyou


Jen xxxx

[terified girl]

My therapist taught me that but please keep bringing the information, very interesting to read, always!