Question

I used to have panic attacks excessively, although they are much less common now. Regardless, seeing someone else have one or hearing people talk about it puts me on edge. Why?

Answer 1

It's not uncommon for individuals who have experienced panic attacks themselves to feel on edge or anxious when witnessing someone else having a panic attack or hearing people talk about it. There are several reasons why this might happen:

1. Empathy and Emotional Resonance: If you have experienced panic attacks in the past, you might empathize strongly with others going through similar experiences. Seeing or hearing about someone else's panic attack might trigger memories of your own past struggles, leading to feelings of anxiety or unease.

2. Mirror Neurons: Mirror neurons in the brain are responsible for imitating or mirroring the emotions and actions of others. When you observe someone else experiencing a panic attack, your mirror neurons might fire, causing you to feel some level of distress as if you were experiencing the panic attack yourself.

3. Fear of Relapse: Witnessing or hearing about panic attacks may remind you of your own vulnerability to experiencing them again. This fear of relapse can create anxiety and heightened sensitivity to panic-related topics or situations.

4. Conditioning: If you have been conditioned to associate panic attacks with fear and discomfort, encountering situations related to panic attacks (even indirectly) might trigger an anxiety response.

5. Traumatic Associations: If you have experienced particularly severe or traumatic panic attacks in the past, any reminder of panic-related situations can elicit a stress response.

6. General Anxiety Sensitization: When you've struggled with anxiety in the past, your overall sensitivity to stress and anxiety-related cues may be heightened. As a result, seeing or hearing about panic attacks can activate your stress response.

Over time, as you continue to experience fewer panic attacks and work on managing your anxiety, these reactions might decrease in intensity. However, it's essential to recognize that feeling on edge in these situations is a normal reaction given your personal experiences. If you find that this response significantly affects your well-being or daily life, consider seeking support from a mental health professional. They can help you process these emotions and develop coping strategies to manage any distressing reactions more effectively.