Expert reveals visceral reality of living with chronic panic disorders

For those who have never experienced a panic attack, the symptoms can seem inexplicable. Dr Brian Hoeflinger, a US-based neurosurgeon with 26 years of experience, described the sensation in a detailed explanation shared on Instagram on 30 March.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a panic attack causes sudden, temporary feelings of fear and strong physical reactions in response to ordinary, nonthreatening situations.

When you’re having a panic attack, "you may sweat a lot, have difficulty breathing and feel like your heart’s racing."

While these episodes usually last between 5 and 20 minutes, the physical intensity often mirrors a heart attack, making medical evaluation essential to rule out underlying conditions.

'The fear is uncontrollable'

To illustrate the sheer intensity, Dr Hoeflinger compared the experience to sliding toward the edge of a 3,000-foot cliff. He described the rapid escalation of survival systems: "Your heart starts racing immediately, your body tenses and you're trembling, and you start to hyperventilate... the situation is out of control as you slide faster and closer towards that ledge."

The crux of the experience is a total loss of agency. "You feel the impending doom of yourself falling off the cliff... and there's no way to stop it," Dr Hoeflinger explained, adding, "The fear is uncontrollable, and you are now in full-blown panic because you think that you're going to die at any second."

Panic attack management

• Shift focus from internal sensations to the external environment.
• Utilise grounding techniques to signal safety to the nervous system.
• Implement long-term lifestyle adjustments to manage anxiety levels.