It's how you're feeling deep within yourself. My thoughts become 'panic thoughts" when I feel a certain 'negative' way about myself, people, the world etc. I don't know what is causing these allergic reactions but today I had the coughing fit but I played on it quietly. I can see how it can be distressing to another person. I also nearly.wanted to vomit but I just about kept it in. Its an immediate reaction, almost not tickling your throat but irritating it in a way for gasping for your life. So, to.clarify these people are not purposely coughing at us, its not something we can immediately control but we have more control than you think.