Panic and anxiety attacks can feel very similar, but they are not the same. Both cause fear and discomfort, but they happen in different ways. These attacks are not just about stress—they come from how the brain is wired. When certain brain parts are not organized properly, they can trigger these episodes.
In this article, you’ll learn the differences between panic and anxiety attacks, how they are connected to a disorganized brain and primitive reflexes, and how In the Cortex can help through brain reorganization.
What is a Panic Attack?
A panic attack is a sudden and intense feeling of fear or panic. It comes out of nowhere and can make you feel in danger. Some symptoms include:
– A racing heart
– Sweating
– Shortness of breath
– Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
Panic attacks can feel scary, like you are having a heart attack, but they are not life-threatening. They usually reach their peak after a few minutes and then fade away.
What is an Anxiety Attack?
An anxiety attack builds up over time and usually happens in response to stress or worry. People who experience anxiety attacks might feel:
– Nervous or restless
– Constant worry about something
– Trouble focusing
– Difficulty sleeping
Anxiety attacks last longer than panic attacks and are connected to things happening in your life, like school stress or work challenges.
Are Panic and Anxiety Attacks the Same Thing?
While panic and anxiety attacks have some similarities, they are not the same.
– Panic attacks are sudden, and it feels like they happen for no reason.
– Anxiety attacks build up over time and are triggered by stressful situations.
Even though these attacks look different, they both come from how your brain responds to fear.
How a Disorganized Brain Correlates to Panic and Anxiety
The primitive brain, which controls the fight-or-flight response, plays a big role in these attacks. This part of your brain helps you stay safe by reacting to danger. But sometimes, it becomes overactive, even when there’s no real danger.
This happens when primitive reflexes—automatic reactions babies are born with— do not go away when they should. When these reflexes stay active, they make the brain feel like it is constantly in danger. This can lead to panic or anxiety attacks, even during regular activities.
Retained Reflexes and a Disorganized Brain
In most people, primitive reflexes fade away as they grow up. But if the brain doesn’t organize properly, these reflexes stay active, causing stress and emotional problems. Some examples include:
– Moro Reflex: This reflex makes the body overreact to loud noises or sudden changes.
– Fear Paralysis Reflex: If this reflex isn’t integrated, a person might “freeze” when faced with a challenge or an unexpected situation, or when they’re put on the spot.
When these reflexes stay active, the brain reacts to normal situations as if they are dangerous, causing fear, stress, and anxiety.
How In the Cortex Helps with Brain Reorganization
In the Cortex offers programs to help people reorganize their brains and calm the primitive brain. These programs focus on integrating primitive reflexes and developing the primitive brain so it can do its job automatically, and you can live in the cortex, the part of the brain that helps with planning, thinking, and managing emotions.
Brain reorganization exercises help the brain work better by:
– Calming the fight-or-flight response
– Integrating primitive reflexes so they don’t cause emotional overreactions
– Strengthening the primitive brain so the cortex has more bandwidth for better decision-making and focus
This approach offers a long-term solution for people struggling with panic and anxiety attacks.
Why Brain Reorganization is a Better Option
Traditional treatments for anxiety and panic often focus on managing symptoms with medication or therapy. But these methods don’t always fix the root cause — a disorganized brain. In the Cortex programs help people reorganize their brains and experience lasting change without medication.
When the brain is properly organized, people feel calmer and better able to handle life’s challenges. They have fewer panic and anxiety attacks and more control over their emotions.
While panic and anxiety attacks are different, they both come from an underdeveloped and overreactive primitive brain. This happens when the brain is disorganized and primitive reflexes stay active longer than they should.
In the Cortex offers brain reorganization programs that address the root cause of these attacks. Through simple exercises, the programs help people feel more in control of their emotions and reduce the frequency of panic and anxiety attacks.
