Happy: Heart Panic

So the next time you feel that lurch—that terrifying, wonderful, confusing moment where joy and fear shake hands—take a breath. Touch your chest. Feel the thrum.

There is a particular cruelty to Happy Heart Panic: it often strikes those who have known deep loss. happy heart panic

The sensation is a fast heartbeat. The story is "I am dying." You can have a fast heartbeat and be safe. So the next time you feel that lurch—that

For someone prone to anxiety or panic disorders, the brain "scans" the body, finds these physical symptoms, and sounds an alarm. It assumes that because your heart is racing, you must be in danger. This creates a feedback loop where you become anxious about your excitement. Why Do We Experience This? There is a particular cruelty to Happy Heart

The promotion is yours. The wedding day has arrived. The vacation of a lifetime is underway. By every logical measure, you should be feeling euphoric.

Psychologists sometimes link this to a fear of success or a low "hedonic set point."