Panic

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/panic

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the nature of the sensation?A sudden, overwhelming fear that incapacitates rational thought and logical reasoning
2. What is the cognitive impact?Dominates consciousness, leading to intense anxiety, uncertainty, and frantic agitation
3. Why does panic happen?It happens when your brain thinks something dangerous is happening, and it triggers the fight-or-flight response to help you stay safe.
4. How does panic change your body?Your heart beats faster, you breathe quickly, and your pupils get bigger so you can see better, all to give you energy to run or fight.

Panic: An acute, overwhelming emotional state characterized by intense fear that overrides cognitive functions and triggers a fight-or-flight response.
Fight-or-flight response: An involuntary physiological reaction to a perceived threat, preparing the body for immediate action through hormonal and nervous system activation.
Mass panic: A phenomenon where fear and agitation spread rapidly through a group, leading to collective, often uncoordinated, behavioral responses.
Herd behavior: The tendency for individuals in a group to act similarly or follow the actions of others, particularly in situations of uncertainty or perceived danger.