Feeling of the Week: Anxiety

Panic can feel like a sudden ambush...your heart races, your chest tightens, your thoughts spiral, and nothing feels safe or certain. It’s fast, loud, and overwhelming. But underneath all that intensity is a very human equation:

Panic = Fear + Anxiety.

Fear is your brain’s response to an immediate threat. Anxiety is your body’s anticipation of a future one. When both flood your system at once, your nervous system lights up like a fire alarm, loud and impossible to ignore.

But here’s what panic is not: weakness, brokenness, or a sign that you’re losing control. It’s actually a sign your body is working too hard to protect you. When panic hits, you don’t need to “power through” or pretend you're fine. You need to slow the spiral.

Start by noticing the equation.

Name it: This is fear. This is anxiety. My body thinks I’m in danger.

Then ask: What’s one thing I can do to signal safety right now?

That question can interrupt the panic loop and begin the process of regulation. What helps your body feel safe when your brain is on high alert? That’s worth getting curious about.