Panic and feeling rushed

Question
Vraag

I constantly feel rushed and suffer from panic attacks, how do I cope with this?

Answered by NiceDay Psychologist Faye van Spijk
Answer
Antwoord

I'm sorry to hear that you constantly have to deal with feeling rushed and that you suffer from panic attacks. Thank you for submitting this question!

We are exposed to stress on a daily basis and it affects our hormone balance. Cortisol is the hormone that helps our bodies survive and remain functional during stressful periods. In short-term problems it is our salvation, but not in chronic stress. You say you constantly feel rushed and suffer from panic attacks. As I read it now, your body is continuously in a stress mode. If you constantly feel stressed or rushed, more cortisol is produced and this causes the rushed feeling.

There can be several reasons for your rushed feeling. Have you ever tried looking at what makes you feel this way and when your panic attacks occur? The moment you map this out, it can provide a good overview.

Stressful situations activate different systems in your brain. The hormones norepinephrine and adrenaline are released and your body is primed for action. This creates the fight, flight or freeze reaction. This means that you can fight, flee or freeze in stressful or threatening situations. Preparing for this action produces the following physical symptoms: your heart rate and blood pressure increase, your breathing becomes faster or deeper, your muscles tense, the blood drains from your face, you start to sweat more, etc. These symptoms are the body's natural and healthy response to stress. Your body's stress response ensures that you can act properly in emergency situations. Your body will recover once the stressful situation is over.

When stress is present for a long time, it can lead to various complaints. After all, more time is needed to recover, but there is too little time for that during many stressful moments. As a result, the stress accumulates and it can become chronic stress. The complaints are often: head, neck and back complaints, hyperventilation, panic attacks or dizziness, insomnia, cold hands and feet, headache, depression, irritability, concentration problems, high blood pressure, stomach and intestinal complaints.

You indicate that you constantly feel rushed and suffer from panic attacks. It's important not to keep walking around with this! My advice is, therefore, to visit your doctor and ask for professional help with your complaints. Your doctor can tell you more about the options.

You can follow a treatment via NiceDay at various organizations. On this website, you will find more information about such a treatment.

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