Anxiety Attacks: Why They Happen and How Therapy Can Help

Reut, 39, woke up one morning and began her day as usual. Like every morning, she prayed and then prepared coffee for herself and her husband. They sat together on the balcony, sipping their coffee and chatting about the day ahead — an ordinary routine she cherished.

Afterward, she left for work.

Everything felt normal. It was the simple rhythm of daily life that she loved.

Her workday passed smoothly, though it was slightly more intense than usual. She had one important meeting, several phone calls, and the usual office tasks. As the day ended, she gathered her things and left the office.

“Today was especially busy,” she thought to herself. “I hope the boss liked the presentation I prepared.”

She took the elevator down and began walking toward her car. As she stepped outside, she felt a slight discomfort and mild dizziness. Still, she breathed a sigh of relief as the workday was finally over.

The First Signs

On the way to the car, the dizziness intensified. Suddenly, she felt weak. Her heart began to race, and she struggled to catch her breath. At the same time, she experienced a strange sensation of detachment, as if she were no longer fully present.

She felt she had to sit down immediately, or she might faint.

Reut sat on a bench near her workplace and drank some water. After about fifteen minutes, the sensations faded as quickly as they had appeared. She continued to her car and drove home.

But she arrived home shaken and frightened.

Later that evening, as she rested on the couch, the dizziness suddenly returned. Instantly, her body tensed.

Within seconds, the same symptoms reappeared — the racing heart, the weakness, the breathlessness.

After a few minutes, everything subsided once more. But now she was terrified.

When Anxiety Takes Over

In the weeks that followed, Reut began experiencing repeated anxiety attacks. The episodes not only continued, but they gradually intensified.

Her worries spread into many areas of life. She became anxious about her health, finances, and about countless other possibilities. Small physical sensations immediately led her to fear that something was seriously wrong.

Her quality of life began to decline. She withdrew from social interactions, distanced herself from her husband and children, spent more time in bed, and felt increasingly overwhelmed.

Concerned about her condition, her husband suggested that she visit her family doctor.

Searching for a Medical Explanation

Reut underwent a series of medical tests, including cardiac examinations. Thankfully, the results came back completely normal.

Her doctor invited her into the office and gently explained: “Thank God, all your tests are normal. It appears that you may be experiencing anxiety attacks.”

Reut was stunned.

Anxiety attacks? That couldn’t be right. Aren’t anxiety attacks something only “crazy” people have? Why me? Does this mean I’m crazy too?

At that moment, a new journey began.

Understanding Anxiety

The word anxiety often sounds intimidating, but what does it really mean?

First and foremost, anxiety is not a mental illness. In many cases, anxiety is a signal from within that something deeper may be troubling a person, even if they are not fully aware of it.

Anxiety does not always arise from a clear external trigger. Sometimes it appears after stressful thoughts, but it can also emerge suddenly and unexpectedly.

This unpredictability often causes people to fear not only the present moment but also the possibility of future attacks. They begin trying to avoid the sensations they experienced during the attack.

Ironically, these efforts can worsen the problem. The brain receives a message that danger is approaching, which can feel like walking through a minefield, never knowing where it is safe to step or when the next explosion might occur.

Anxiety Is Not the Same as Fear

Fear generally arises in response to a real and immediate danger.

Anxiety, by contrast, is a negative emotional state linked not to an existing threat but to the possibility that something might happen.

For this reason, the experience of anxiety often includes a sense of helplessness and panic, and an overwhelming feeling that something is wrong, without a clear reason.

The Three Dimensions of Anxiety

Anxiety usually manifests in three interconnected ways: physical, emotional, and cognitive.

Physical Symptoms

Reut experienced a racing heart, dizziness, weakness, and shortness of breath. These sensations were very real, even though all of her medical tests were normal.

This indicates that physical symptoms can arise as a result of emotional stress.

Emotional Reactions

Emotionally, Reut felt intense fear and panic when the symptoms appeared. The experience itself was frightening.

Thought Patterns

At the cognitive level, her mind filled with alarming thoughts. She wondered if she might be having a heart attack or if something serious was happening to her body.

These thoughts reinforced the feeling that she was in real danger.

Why Would Anxiety Appear?

At first glance, Reut seemed to have no reason to suffer from anxiety.

She grew up in a loving and supportive family, and her childhood and teenage years were happy. She was married to a husband she loved and had children she adored. Her life appeared stable and calm.

Where did the anxiety come from? What was she really afraid of?

Beginning the Healing Process

Following her doctor’s recommendation, Reut scheduled an appointment with Michal, a well-recommended emotional therapist.

This marked the beginning of a therapeutic journey that would eventually surprise even Reut herself.

In therapy, the connection and trust between therapist and patient is especially important. Without that bond, real progress is difficult to achieve.

Reut’s story did not end with fear — it became the beginning of a deeper process of understanding and healing.

The next article will explore effective approaches for treating anxiety attacks and regaining emotional balance.

Anat Doron is a psychotherapist and therapist in the “Nafshi BeShe’elati” department.