What is panic?

Panic is a sudden spike in alarm.

Your body decides something is wrong before your mind has time to check the facts.

Heart rate up.
Breathing shallow.
Thoughts speeding up all at once.

Nothing new has actually happened yet. But everything feels urgent.

That’s the key part.

Panic is not danger itself. It’s your system reacting to the possibility of danger.

This is why panic feels convincing. It shows up fast. It demands attention. It makes everything feel bigger than it was a moment ago.

Most panic passes once the body settles. Not because the situation magically changed, but because the alarm turned itself off.

Understanding that difference matters.