For most of my life, I would have said: absolutely not.
Panic attacks come when they come, and there's nothing you can do about it—right?
Panic attacks come when they come, and there's nothing you can do about it—right?
At least, that’s what I believed. Until I started asking deeper questions.
My First Memory of Panic
The first panic attack I remember happened when I was 3 or 4. We were at LAX, waiting for my dad to arrive from a trip. I looked up and couldn’t find my mom anywhere.
In a flash of desperation, I spotted my dad—or so I thought—and ran to grab his leg. I clung to it with everything I had, eyes squeezed shut, thinking I was safe. When I opened my eyes, it wasn’t my dad. It was a complete stranger.
But I can still feel that panic in my body today. Being lost was the worst thing imaginable.
But I can still feel that panic in my body today. Being lost was the worst thing imaginable.
At that age, I couldn’t stop the panic. But now? I’ve learned that I can catch it before it spirals.
Does Panic Help?
This question might sound strange, especially if you’re in the thick of it. But when you’re calm, try asking yourself:
“Has panic ever helped me?”
For me, the answer was surprising: yes... and no.
What Panic Gave Me
Once I looked closely, I realized panic did give me something: movement.
In a state of panic, I take action. I move. I do something—and sometimes that’s incredibly useful.
In a state of panic, I take action. I move. I do something—and sometimes that’s incredibly useful.
So I kept that part.
When panic rises, I now intentionally choose action before I freeze.
When panic rises, I now intentionally choose action before I freeze.
What Panic Took from Me
Not all of it helped. The frantic energy, the loss of control, the freezing—those weren’t helpful.
After a car accident I was in, that frozen feeling nearly kept me trapped. It wasn’t until I moved through the panic that I could escape the wreckage.
So, I learned to visualize letting go of what didn’t serve me:
- Dropping the frantic parts into a lake.
- Sending the fear off in a balloon.
- Tossing the overwhelm off a cliff.
Rewriting My Panic Response
By analyzing my panic response—piece by piece—I stopped seeing it as something terrifying. I saw it as a system I could rewire.
Now, when panic shows up, I know:
- What to keep (movement, clarity, urgency).
- What to let go (frantic spirals, freezing, fear of fear).
This shift has helped me prevent full-blown panic attacks. Not by avoiding them—but by understanding and reshaping them.
Your Turn
If you’ve ever had a panic attack, is there one beneficial thing you’ve taken from the experience? Maybe it’s awareness. Or energy. Or motivation. I’d love to hear what it is—because there’s so much, we can learn from what we once feared.
If you’ve ever had a panic attack, is there one beneficial thing you’ve taken from the experience? Maybe it’s awareness. Or energy. Or motivation. I’d love to hear what it is—because there’s so much, we can learn from what we once feared.
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