Why Panic Attacks Are Debilitating and What to Do About it

[CrystalShiloh]

While I was still in school, I would have panic attacks brought on by situations in which I was afraid would make me seem stupid. Also, I had tremendous trouble whenever I would take tests. I was studying to be a linguist and I did an independent study on foreign language anxiety and as I see it, the brain is sort of an organic computer; particularly, it has a processor. Whenever someone is anxious about something, that takes up all of the person's processing power and leave little to nothing left to think straight. Further, the right hemisphere of the brain is emotional and the left is logical. Only one hemisphere can control the brain at any one time. Ergo, when someone is anxious, the right side of the brain is in charge. When someone is in such a emotional state that they cannot be rational; they should try doing something to activate the left side of the brain. I have found that math works well. It doesn't have to be overly complicated.

[tigerpaw]

as I see it, the brain is sort of an organic computer;

I am glad you mention this.  This is exactly what the modern day meds treat.  Chemical Imbalance is real and treatable.

[MrBBB]

With the new multi-core processors you have the option of shutting of some of the cores. That would be nice if humans could adjust their brain settings like this, shut off that right side of the brain when it gets out of control!

[markidee]

I've seen pictures of Zen Buddhists during meditation. It's like both hemispheres of the brain hardly flickering, and there is a cool blue "pool" at the base of the mind. Makes me think of Psalm 23: "he makes me lie down beside still waters,/he restores my soul." In fact, "soul" to the ancient Hebrews was interchangeable with "breath."

I think the trick is meta-cognition: call it meditation, prayer, deep-breathing, non-doing--what you will, but I think we do have a certain level of control. It increases our attention span, and it's not easy. And yet, I have really been blessed by the small tools I've chiseled with my mind and breath.