Adrenaline
The hormone of the fast response, which readies the body for fight or flight within seconds.
What it does
It speeds the heart, opens the airways, redirects blood to the muscles. That is why, during panic, you feel pounding and tingling — these are not signs of illness but of an alarm working well at the wrong moment.
Why it matters
Because it is released quickly and broken down relatively quickly. That is precisely why a panic attack has a peak and an end — the body cannot sustain that state for long.
See also
Transference and countertransference
Transference is when you unconsciously carry feelings from earlier relationships onto the therapist; countertransference is the therapist's response to them.
Impostor syndrome
The feeling that you haven't earned your place and that sooner or later others will discover you aren't that capable.
Rationalisation
A reasonable-sounding explanation for something you did for entirely different reasons.
