Panic Attacks Hurt, But Can They Actually Hurt You Physically?

Anyone who has ever experienced a panic attack can tell you that they definitely hurt emotionally, and can make you feel like you are in morbid danger. Some people even worry that they might die during a panic attack; but can panic attacks actually hurt you physically?

Fortunately for all of us, there is absolutely no evidence that panic attacks can hurt you physically or be life-threatening in the moment. The symptoms of the attack can vary widely, ranging from feelings of shortness of breath, elevated heart rate, or a vague sensation that the world is "closing in on you." All of these can contribute to a feeling that you are in real physical danger, but the research suggests this is just not true.

As terrifying as these symptoms can be, it is important to realize panic attacks are an emotional phenomenon, not a physical phenomenon. In researching this article, for example, I searched for a single verified case of a panic attack sufferer dying from an attack. But despite all my searching, I did not find one known case of panic attacks resulting in physical death.

So sufferers can take comfort in this information: there is virtually no chance of a panic attack causing you serious bodily harm. However, that does not mean that panic attacks and anxiety do not take a physical toll on your body, especially over time.

A growing body of research suggests that panic attacks (and in fact all stress) can cause a weakening of the immune system, making you susceptible to a wide range of physical problems including ulcers, fibromyalgia, increased colds and flues, irritable bowel syndrome, and many others.

The reason that emotional problems like panic attacks can affect our long-term health is because of something known as the mind-body connection. While it is not very well understood, there is an enormous amount of evidence that our state of mind plays a large role in keeping us physically healthy. So even though panic attacks won't hurt you physically, over time they can contribute to a weaker immune system and compromised physiology, even slowing our healing response time.

The greatest threat from panic attacks is when they become habitual, and the sufferer begins accepting "that's just the way things are." As bizarre as it sounds, individuals suffering with the attacks on a regular basis can actually get used to them. When this happens, the attacks simply become a way of life for many people, and they lose the motivation to confront the problem head on.

In these situations panic attacks are in fact dangerous, because over time they can contribute to a poor quality of life, and weakened physical state, not to mention the damage they do to our self image and confidence.

So sufferers can take comfort in the fact that panic attacks will not physically hurt them; and there is virtually no chance of dying from an attack, so put that thought out of your head right now. But remember, it is also important to not become complacent about the attacks. Make it a point to confront the issue head-on, and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.