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What are panic attacks and panic disorder?
A panic attack is a sudden bout of intense fear or anxiety that causes frightening but not life-threatening symptoms such as a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and the feeling of losing control or dying. Usually from 5 to 20 minutes long, a panic attack may be triggered by stressful circumstances or it may occur unexpectedly.
The body has an automatic fear response that prepares you to either cope with or run away from danger. A panic attack results when this "fight or flight" response either overreacts or becomes activated when it is not needed at all. During a panic attack, your nervous system reacts as if you are facing a life-threatening situation, even though you may not be in danger. This response causes alarming physical symptoms and feelings.
Panic disorder is diagnosed when you have repeated panic attacks, you worry about having another attack, and you avoid places that you think may cause one. It is possible to have panic attacks without developing panic disorder, and panic attacks may occur with other anxiety disorders.
Symptoms
The main symptom of a panic attack is an overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety, along with physical reactions. The symptoms come on suddenly, often unexpectedly, and the intensity usually peaks within 10 minutes. While most symptoms fade within 30 minutes, it may take up to an hour for all the symptoms to go away completely. It is possible to have one panic attack after another in waves for an extended period of time, and it can seem like one continuous attack. However, if you have continuous symptoms that do not go away within an hour, you probably are not having a panic attack and you should seek immediate medical care.
Panic attacks can begin with a stressful event or appear without cause. They also can be associated with medications, such as heart medications, and medical conditions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Symptoms of a panic attack may include:2
A panic attack is a sudden bout of intense fear or anxiety that causes frightening but not life-threatening symptoms such as a pounding heart, shortness of breath, and the feeling of losing control or dying. Usually from 5 to 20 minutes long, a panic attack may be triggered by stressful circumstances or it may occur unexpectedly.
The body has an automatic fear response that prepares you to either cope with or run away from danger. A panic attack results when this "fight or flight" response either overreacts or becomes activated when it is not needed at all. During a panic attack, your nervous system reacts as if you are facing a life-threatening situation, even though you may not be in danger. This response causes alarming physical symptoms and feelings.
Panic disorder is diagnosed when you have repeated panic attacks, you worry about having another attack, and you avoid places that you think may cause one. It is possible to have panic attacks without developing panic disorder, and panic attacks may occur with other anxiety disorders.
Symptoms
The main symptom of a panic attack is an overwhelming feeling of fear or anxiety, along with physical reactions. The symptoms come on suddenly, often unexpectedly, and the intensity usually peaks within 10 minutes. While most symptoms fade within 30 minutes, it may take up to an hour for all the symptoms to go away completely. It is possible to have one panic attack after another in waves for an extended period of time, and it can seem like one continuous attack. However, if you have continuous symptoms that do not go away within an hour, you probably are not having a panic attack and you should seek immediate medical care.
Panic attacks can begin with a stressful event or appear without cause. They also can be associated with medications, such as heart medications, and medical conditions, such as an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
Symptoms of a panic attack may include:2
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation), shortness of breath, or feeling "smothered."
- A pounding or racing heart or an irregular heartbeat.
- Chest pain.
- Lightheadedness.
- Sweating.
- A choking feeling.
- Nausea or an upset stomach.
- Dizziness, shaking, or trembling.
- Numbness or tingling.
- Chills or hot flashes.
- Fear that you are going to die, lose control, or "go crazy."
- Feelings of being detached from yourself or from reality.
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