How does the nervous and endocrine system work together when you panic?

The nervous and endocrine systems work together in a complex feedback loop to produce the body's response to panic.

1. The nervous system detects a threat. This can be anything from a physical danger to an emotional stressor.

2. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated. The SNS is responsible for the body's "fight or flight" response. It increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, and releases adrenaline and other hormones that prepare the body for action.

3. The endocrine system releases hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream and affect different organs and tissues in the body. In response to panic, the endocrine system releases hormones such as cortisol, which helps the body mobilize energy, and thyroid hormone, which increases the body's metabolic rate.

4. The body responds to the threat. The increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate help the body to prepare for action. The release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol gives the body the energy it needs to respond to the threat.

5. The parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) is activated. The PSNS is responsible for the body's "rest and digest" response. It decreases the heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate, and helps the body to return to a state of calm.

6. The body returns to a state of calm. Once the threat has passed, the body returns to a state of calm. The heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate slow down, and the levels of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol decrease.