You may feel like you're going to lose control or go crazy during a panic attack because your body's alarm system is activated, and your brain interprets intense physical sensations and thoughts as signs of danger. A racing heart, dizziness, racing thoughts, or feeling disconnected from reality can make you believe something terrible is about to happen.
For many people with panic disorder, the fear of losing control becomes just as frightening as the panic attack itself. And sometimes, that fear is what keeps the cycle of panic going.
Why Does a Panic Attack Make Me Feel Like I'm Losing Control?
During a panic attack, your body's fight-or-flight response (its automatic alarm system) kicks in. Your heart might race, your body might shake, and your thoughts might feel impossible to slow down.
When these sensations feel overwhelming, it's easy to interpret them as evidence that you're about to lose control of your body or mind.
During panic, the feeling that you're about to lose control can be so convincing that you start treating the feeling itself as proof.
Often, what makes panic so frightening isn't just what you're feeling, but what you believe those feelings mean.
Can a Panic Attack Actually Make Me Go Crazy?
Feeling like you're going crazy is a recognized symptom of panic attacks, but experiencing panic doesn't, by itself, mean you're developing a serious mental illness.
Intense fear, racing thoughts, and unfamiliar sensations can make you question whether you're losing your mind.
You might repeatedly tell yourself you're okay, Google your symptoms, or mentally check whether you're still thinking normally.
Constantly trying to prove you're not going crazy can become another way of keeping your attention focused on the fear.
If you're experiencing persistent hallucinations, strongly held beliefs that others don't share, or other new changes in your mental state, it's important to seek a professional evaluation rather than automatically assuming they're caused by panic.
Why Do I Feel Detached From Reality During a Panic Attack?
Some people experience derealization, which means their surroundings suddenly feel dreamlike, distant, or unreal.
Others experience depersonalization, which means feeling disconnected from themselves or their bodies.
These sensations can happen during intense anxiety and may feel especially frightening when you interpret them as signs that you're losing your mind.
The more you monitor whether you feel normal again, the more attention you may give to the sensations you're afraid of.
Why Am I So Afraid of Having Another Panic Attack?
When you've experienced a frightening panic attack, you may start worrying about what could happen if you have another one.
Maybe you avoid driving alone, going into stores, traveling, or being somewhere you can't easily leave.
You might constantly check how you're feeling or only go places with someone you trust.
The fear of losing control during a panic attack can become the very reason someone starts avoiding situations where panic might happen.
Over time, these attempts to prevent panic can make your world smaller, even when you're not actively experiencing a panic attack.
How Can I Stop Being Afraid of Losing Control During Panic Attacks?
Overcoming the fear of losing control doesn't require constantly convincing yourself that nothing bad will happen.
In my work with clients, we focus on changing how you respond to panic rather than finding more ways to make it disappear.
That means gradually approaching situations you've avoided and reducing the habits you rely on to prevent panic or feel safe, such as constantly checking your symptoms, staying near exits, or leaving situations as soon as anxiety appears.
We also work on staying engaged with everyday life while allowing uncomfortable sensations to be present, rather than distracting yourself for the purpose of making them disappear.
You don't have to wait until you're completely free of anxiety to start doing the things you've been avoiding.
Can Exposure Therapy Help With the Fear of Going Crazy or Losing Control?
Yes. Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you become less afraid of panic sensations and the situations you've associated with them.
Exposure therapy involves gradually facing feared sensations and situations rather than continually avoiding them. This may include carefully practicing with physical sensations such as a racing heartbeat or dizziness, when medically appropriate, and returning to activities you've been avoiding.
Rather than trying to prevent every panic attack, we work on helping you stop checking, escaping, and changing your plans whenever panic shows up.
Progress in panic disorder treatment isn't just having fewer panic attacks; it's being able to live more freely even when anxiety is present.
At Regnier Restorative Counseling, I specialize in exposure-based therapy for adults with panic disorder and agoraphobia, which can involve fear or avoidance of situations where escaping or getting help might feel difficult.
I offer in-person therapy in Reston, Virginia, and virtual therapy throughout Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is feeling like I'm going crazy a symptom of a panic attack?
Yes. Fear of losing control or going crazy is a recognized symptom of panic attacks. Although the experience can feel terrifying, having this fear during panic does not, by itself, mean you're losing touch with reality.
Why do I feel like I'm going to do something out of control during a panic attack?
Panic can create an intense fear that you'll act unpredictably or lose control of your behavior. The fear itself doesn't mean you intend to do something dangerous, but repeatedly monitoring your thoughts and actions can keep you focused on that possibility.
Should I keep telling myself I'm not going crazy when I panic?
Not necessarily. If you repeatedly reassure yourself because you feel you must eliminate every doubt, that reassurance can become another behavior that keeps the fear going. Exposure-based treatment can help you practice responding to uncertainty without constantly checking or reassuring yourself.
Can online therapy help with the fear of losing control during panic attacks?
Yes. Online exposure-based therapy can help people work on their fear of panic sensations, reduce avoidance, and return to activities they've been missing. Regnier Restorative Counseling offers virtual therapy for adults physically located in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Get Help for Panic Attacks and the Fear of Losing Control
If you've spent years worrying that your next panic attack will be the one where you finally lose control, you know how exhausting that fear can become.
Maybe you've tried breathing exercises, reassuring yourself, researching symptoms, or avoiding situations where panic might happen. And yet, you're still afraid of another attack.
I'm Kate Moore (Regnier), LCSW, and I specialize in helping adults with panic disorder stop fearing panic and get back to living their lives.
Through exposure-based therapy, we'll work on changing how you respond to feared sensations and reducing the avoidance that's been keeping you stuck.
I offer in-person panic disorder therapy in Reston, Virginia, at 11737 Bowman Green Dr., Reston, VA 20190, and virtual therapy throughout Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
If you're tired of planning your life around the possibility of panicking, I'd love to help you explore what it could look like to start doing those things again.
Learn more about my panic disorder therapy services or contact Regnier Restorative Counseling to schedule a consultation.
