What is a panic attack?

A panic attack is a sudden onset of intense anxiety or terror without any obvious threat. It is a misfiring of the so called "fight flight or freeze" adrenalin reaction.

Typical symptoms of Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can include usually four or more of the following:

• Pounding heart
• Sweating
• Shaking
• Shortness of breath which can include:
  • Feeling of choking
  • Chest pain
  • Nausea/ tummy cramps
  • Feeling dizzy or unsteady
• An out of body or unreal feeling
• Shivers or hot flushes
• Pins and needles

Panics can be full blown or milder "near" panics and they usually build to a crescendo in 10 minutes. Often the person understandably makes a catastrophic interpretation of what's happening

• "I feel dizzy - I will faint"
• "I feel like I'm not really here - I'm going mad"
• "I can't breathe properly - I'm going to suffocate"

Panics burn out after several minutes but lingering effects may last hours.

What is panic disorder?

Panic Disorder may be diagnosed when there are recurrent panics that disrupt a person's life. Once someone has one they understandably fear another will happen which can often generate new episodes.