Panic Attacks and PTSD: What’s Really Happening in the Mind and Body?

A panic attack can feel like being trapped in an invisible storm—your heart races, your breath shortens, your body shakes, and a sense of impending doom takes over. For many, it feels completely out of their control.

But panic attacks aren’t random. They are deeply connected to the way trauma is stored in the mind and body.

For people with PTSD, panic attacks often seem to come out of nowhere. They might be triggered by a sound, a smell, or even nothing they can consciously recognise. This is because PTSD isn’t just a memory of an event—it’s an unprocessed experience that remains active in the nervous system.

Understanding what’s really happening in the body during a panic attack can be the first step toward lasting relief.

What Is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is an extreme fight-or-flight response. It happens when the nervous system detects a perceived threat—even when no immediate danger is present.

• Your heart beats faster to pump blood to your muscles, preparing you to escape or fight.

• Your breath becomes shallow as your body tries to take in more oxygen.

• You may feel dizzy or detached as blood flow moves away from your brain and toward your limbs.

• You might shake, sweat, or feel nauseous as adrenaline surges through your system.

• Your thoughts race as your mind tries to make sense of the ‘danger’ it has detected.

For someone with PTSD, the body isn’t just remembering the trauma—it’s reliving it, even if the conscious mind doesn’t understand why.

Why Do Panic Attacks Feel So Overwhelming?

The body is wired for survival. When something overwhelming happens—whether it’s a car accident, a violent incident, or deep emotional distress—the nervous system steps in to protect you.

In the moment of trauma, there are three possible responses:

1. Fight: You react with aggression or attempt to regain control.

2. Flight: You try to escape the situation as quickly as possible.

3. Freeze: The mind and body shut down, storing the experience to process later.

Panic attacks often happen when the freeze response wasn’t fully processed. The nervous system remains on high alert, waiting for the right conditions to process the trauma—but instead, the fear gets triggered by everyday experiences.

This is why panic attacks can happen seemingly out of nowhere. The body is still holding onto an event that wasn’t resolved.

Panic Attacks vs. PTSD Flashbacks

While both are linked to trauma, panic attacks and PTSD flashbacks work slightly differently:

• A panic attack is the body reacting to an unseen perceived threat. There may not be a specific memory attached to it, just overwhelming physical sensations.

• A flashback is a replay of the traumatic event. The person may experience vivid sights, sounds, or emotions as if the trauma is happening again.

Both are signs that the trauma is unprocessed.

Why Traditional Coping Strategies Often Fail

Many people are taught to "breathe through" panic attacks or use distraction techniques. While these might help in the moment, they don’t resolve the underlying trauma.

• Breathing exercises can calm the nervous system temporarily, but they don’t clear the trauma that’s causing the panic.

• Cognitive therapy can help people understand their triggers, but it doesn’t always access the part of the mind where trauma is stored.

• Medication can dull symptoms, but it doesn’t address the root cause.

For lasting relief, the nervous system needs to fully process and release the trauma, rather than constantly managing its effects.

How the Boulderstone Technique Resolves Panic Attacks for Good

Panic attacks aren’t just a psychological issue—they are a physical response to unresolved trauma. The Boulderstone Technique works by allowing the nervous system to do what it was unable to do at the time of the trauma: fully process and release the experience.

1. It identifies where the trauma is stored in the body, rather than just in the mind.

2. It guides the person through processing the trauma without overwhelm.

3. It restores the natural flow of life force, so the nervous system no longer reacts as if the trauma is still happening.

Rather than forcing someone to relive their trauma, this technique gently allows the body and mind to resolve it—so that panic no longer has a reason to happen.

Panic attacks aren’t random, and they aren’t something you have to live with forever. They are your body’s way of telling you that something hasn’t been processed yet.

Once the trauma is resolved, the body no longer needs to sound the alarm. The nervous system naturally returns to a state of balance.

If you’re struggling with panic attacks or PTSD, you don’t have to manage them for the rest of your life—there is a way to fully heal.