If a panic attack had a musical soundtrack, what would it be?

Sometimes, I feel as if it’s my life’s goal to accurately describe a panic attack for someone who has never experienced one. The lightheadedness, the rapid heartbeat, the sense of unreality — they all feed an impending sense of nonsensical doom.

But merely using words to describe panic isn’t enough. Most people know that a rapid heartbeat feels like. Most people understand dizziness. Virtually everybody has felt sick to their stomach at one time or another.

It’s easy to understand ONE symptom, and perhaps two. But, unless you’ve had a panic attack before, I think it’s difficult to fully immerse yourself in the idea of having at least six panic-related physiological symptoms coupled with the fear of falling severely ill and/or dying.

I’ve often tried to compare the mental distress of panic with listening to several songs layered one on top of another. Song #1 represents one symptom. Song #2 represents another. Song #3 represents still another. Taken as a whole unit, the experience is disturbing and unnerving.

But today, I found a single solitary song that comes pretty darn close to representing how a panic attack feels to me.

It’s called “Circus Galop,” and it’s a piano tune. Despite the kitschy name, it’s nothing you’ll find in your childhood Lelia Fletcher Piano Course book.

Instead, it’s a piece written by Marc-André Hamelin specifically to test self-playing pianos and MIDI software. Up to 21 notes (yes, 21!) are played at a time.

It’s kind of like mixing Disney, an assembly line, Pennywise the clown (from Stephen King’s “It”), and ragtime music in a blender.

I don’t really recommend listening to this piece if you’re already feeling anxious. It might be triggering.

The song starts off somewhat innocuously. The beginning reminds me of the theme music for one of the most difficult levels of a side-scrolling Super Nintendo video game.

But keep listening.

Of course, both panic and music are both very subjective, and this is one panicky song of many. If you had to choose a song that represents either panic or anxiety for you, what would it be?

Would the mood of the tune be dark or ironically light?

Would the time signature dart back and forth from straight time to a waltz in order to imitate the sensation of a skipped heartbeat?

Would the song be filled with slow and ominous bass notes?

Would the tempo sway back and forth between fast and slow to imitate the ebb & flow of the panic sensation?

Let me know in the comments!

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    Last reviewed: 5 Feb 2012