the june note.

Hey, hi, hello,

As you might notice, this blog is a little different to others. you might even realise it is full length (don’t get used to this)! I had the opportunity to write a magazine styled piece for a University assessment this semester, so that’s what this is. it’s a colloquial piece that’s informative, it fits TheBdrop bill and it written by me :)

Don’t tell me if you don’t like it, this is the first time i’m letting more than one person read my uni work xx
Without further ado, here is a piece about the freudian perspective on panic attacks

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You’re on a night out with friends, the night is going well–– suddenly, out of nowhere, your heart begins to race, your chest tightens, and the room shrinks. What was that?!

Panic attacks can be very frightening, especially if you don’t know why they occur. While modern sciences would turn to investigate an individual’s brain chemistry, Sigmund Freud, who some may call the father of psychoanalysis, finding reason through looking into the past and upbringing of individuals, elements of yourself that you might not always consider.

What is a panic disorder?

The issue lies when an individual experiences panic attacks on multiple occasions. They involve intense fear where there is no immediate danger, you may feel numbness in your body, like tingling fingertips, your heart pounding through your ears or shortness of breath as explained by Klevebrant and Frick (2022).  Understandably, if you’re out with friends, or are in class and of a sudden you feel the listed symptoms, you are going to feel overwhelmed or out of control. Panic attacks are more likely among people who experience depression or anxiety already, but anyone can feel the effects of panic attacks––might I add a panic attack differs from the panic you feel when you have lost your keys and must leave for work in 5 minutes (haha, is that too niche?).

Where does that Freud guy come into this?

Sigmund Freud believed that our behaviours; the way we act and the things we do are influenced by our unconscious (Mcleod, 2024)––the part of our mind that we are not aware of. So, he noted the is psyche–your mind, is composed of three parts: 1.) the conscious–which is what we feel, think and are experiencing, 2.) the preconscious- our memories, anything learnt, 3.) last but not least, the unconscious–– the largest sector of the mind; housing repressed memories, fears and desires. From Freud’s perspective, the unconscious protects you and I from harm, like modern explanations of mild anxiety. The issue is the unresolved material, especially those from our early childhood. Perhaps as a child you were told not to make a scene or that children should be seen and not heard (Asselmann et al., 2016), so as an adult you are introverted, preferring to enjoy yourself without the spotlight. However, on this occasion you denied rejected the fear and actually were enjoying yourself with friends, yes at the club, but not in the front where the DJ calls out people from the audience while playing their set. Despite this, BAM! These colourful warm light shines over your face. The panic from this situation, could, from the psychoanalytical perspective be an instance of repression and transference combo.

So, to protect you from things that your mind might perceive as unacceptable or uncomfortable, like being the centre of attention, you push them down like a beach ball under water. Over time your grip becomes flimsy, the avoidance of these situations, thoughts or feelings slip from your grasp or are suddenly interrupted by a beam of light at the club, pulling you into the spotlight and all that was repressed bursts from everywhere–anxiety spikes and transforms into a panic attack.

This is the beginning of another layer of avoidance, a defence mechanism Bailey and Pico (2023) describe as rejecting thoughts or in this case, it would be the person avoiding the club. For other people it could be never going to the grocery store, in the fear of the panic attack reoccurring.

Why should this be important to me?

Perhaps you don’t find yourself at the club, but you work, study or have relationships at some capacity, and need to eat, right?  Young adults (yes, 30 years old are young too) are under so much pressure with having to live in this economy, figure out our purpose all the while accepting when we have to change paths. Modern psychology says that initial occurrences take place when an individual is under immense amount of stress, has been involved in a tragedy of something related. Panic attacks can feel isolating, but they’re not as uncommon as they may seem, the most important thing to managing these experiences are people, that is why you should care. Even the most brave person in your life could be managing quietly, with even this basic knowledge you can be a great support.

How can I help?

Modern day Freud would say talk about it, the key to breaking free is understanding the underlying problem. Free association is a therapy technique he spoke a lot about, the process involves speaking openly and uncensored, to uncover what is hidden beneath the surface. You can help by learning a few little techniques to enable your friend, family member, or acquaintance a bit of free therapy. This might be simply by organising to grab a coffee or hang out one another’s house, creating a safe and comforting environment with the person can relax, while being their true self, so they can express themselves freely. Then provide the person—your friend, to talk about whatever is on their mind. This could be a dream, memories or anything else that might be float around their mind scape. The more they are able to say the less they are feeling boxed in by these repressed thoughts and feelings.

You could also suggest professional therapy if you notice the perception of fear interfering with their day, like their work, relationships or overall health/routines. Back in the day Freud would hypnotise patients, placing his hand on their heads while asking them to say the first thing that comes to mind during free association therapy sessions (Sosnoski, 2021). Fear not, nowadays practitioners will sit in their own chair and simply ask the client to speak openly about whatever is on their mind, keeping a log of progression over the course of a few sessions.

Cracks in the iceberg:

Panic attacks can feel like your mind is turning against you, but Freud would argue that its simply the hidden parts of yourself trying to be heard. Like an iceberg, there’s more beneath the surface. When emotions, fears, or memories are pushed down too deep, they don’t disappear––they find a way to resurface, often catching us off guard.

While modern psychology has evolved far beyond Freud’s original ideas, his theories still remind us that our past, unconscious thoughts, and even childhood experiences shape how we react today. If you or someone you know is struggling with panic, know that help is available, and healing often begins by simply talking, and listening.

So whether you’re at the club, in a lecture, or lying awake at night, remember this: it’s okay to crack the surface and see what’s beneath.

You don’t have to do it alone.