Panic is about as voluntary as a heart attack. Fortunately, it cab be prevented.
....WHY DO DIVERS SOMETIME PANIC?.........
"Most of us in diving reserch believe that panic is the overwhelming cause of the majority of injuries and fatalities in diving.
During a panic attack, yu become so focused on one problem that you fail to see another-and so focused on the wrong solution that you don't see the right one. About 43 possible causes from survey of why divers get panic like " sharks", "darkness", " out of air", and so on.......
Panic is the big underwater killer, nobody know what cause it, anybody can get it, and once you do, you probably can't stop it. As mysteriouss as its causes may be, panic can almost always be prevented.
Finally, when a dive doesn't feel right, don't do it. Don't let peer pressure force you beyond your confort level, because you 'll be starting the dive already stressed and already more susceptible to panic !!!!
If it's hard to "just say NO", claimng yur ears won't equalize is aface-saving out.