Panic can be described as an overwhelming and abrupt awareness that everything in one's environment possesses life and presence. This realization can create feelings of vulnerability and chaos, as it shifts one’s perception of reality. The suspension of normalcy can lead to a crisis of understanding, where even the familiar turns unsettling.

In William S. Burroughs’ "Ghost of Chance," this concept is explored, emphasizing how such insights can disrupt an individual’s sense of security. The notion that the world is animated and filled with potential dangers can induce fear, prompting a visceral response that alters one’s emotional state and experience of reality.