DON'T PANIC

Student:  Why do people panic?

Professor:  It would seem that the most direct answer is because circumstances that have a direct bearing on their health or well-being are beyond their control.

S:         Forgive me, but that doesn’t seem very direct.

P:         Would you care to offer another explanation?

S:         I think people panic when they’re frightened.  I think it’s in response to fear.

P:         Yes, I’d agree that people panic in fright and that may be rational – an instinctive fight or flight reaction that we label as panic.  But, doesn’t panic connote another level of response?  One that is perhaps irrational?

S:         Yes, I suppose we might consider someone who’s panicking to be a bit crazed.

P:         Of course the word originates from the Greek god, Pan, god of the forest who frightened people with scary noises and caused panic.

S:         So, I was right then – it’s based on fear.

P:         Well, in the classic sense, I suppose it is.  But we don’t often get frightened by forest sounds any more.  Perhaps we need to understand why people get frightened then.

S:         Maybe, but there are a million reasons.

P:         Yes, but do they all result in panic?  Can you think of a fear that doesn’t cause a panic?

S:         Sure, how about the fear of death?

P:         Yes, people naturally have a fear of the unknown and death is the greatest example.  But, we don’t see people rushing around in a panic about it do we?

S:         No, but it’s a universal truth that everyone understands so there’s no reason to panic.

P:         No rational reason.

S:         Do you think some people panic over death?

P:         No doubt, as the time draws near, people may panic over not having done things they intended or hoped to do, not having their affairs in order, etc.

S:         So, is time a factor relative to panic?  Does the degree of panic increase with the shortest of time?

P:         Not necessarily, I like the dictionary definition that says panic is “sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior.”  Here we have two critical elements of panicked behavior:  “uncontrollable” and “unthinking.”  These behaviors would be more likely the result of terror than simple fear.  If you think of the range of emotions that encompass degrees of fear, perhaps we can get a fix on where panics kick in.  One might be: pensive, apprehensive, worried, startled, frightened, shocked, or terrorized.

S:         I follow you, but how would you describe the state of uncontrollable fear causing wildly unthinking behavior?  Are we talking about a panicked mob of people escaping a burning building or a bunch of investors jumping off bridges when the stock market collapsed?

P:         Both are good examples of panic and I suppose it’s that irrational element that captures the meaning best for me.  When one’s fears and anxieties overcome one’s ability to rationalize, we become susceptible to panic attacks.  And, when circumstances that have a direct bearing on our happiness or health are beyond our control, people may be unable to rationalize a course of action that helps them to escape the predicament.  Then they panic and most likely make matters worse.

S:         I guess that’s why Douglas Adams said, "DON’T PANIC."

P:         "DON’T PANIC," and "know where your towel is!"

Happy Spring!