Page 182 - The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage

When your mind has an explanation for why your body just freaked out, it
won’t escalate the anxiety. Your mind will allow your body to calm down because it
knows the “danger” has passed. Your life will go back to normal, and you’ll be a
little more cautious when you change lanes next time.

When you have a panic attack, that same “near miss” sensation rushes your
mind and body, without any warning and with no preceding event. You’ll be
standing in your kitchen, pouring a cup of coffee and out of nowhere you have a
sudden surge of adrenaline race through your body just like what happened when
that car nearly missed you on the highway.

Your heart races. Your breath speeds up. You might get a little sweaty. Your
cortisol surges. Your body goes into a state of hyper awareness. Now that your
body is in an aroused state, your mind is going to race to try understand why. If you
don’t have a legitimate reason why, your mind will think you must be in actual
danger. Your mind will go prehistoric on you and escalate the fear, thinking that
danger is imminent.