mental health disorders
Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
Symptoms of Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder
A panic attack involves the sudden appearance of intense fear or discomfort plus at least 4 of the following physical and emotional symptoms: Chest pain or discomfort A sensation of choking Dizziness, unsteadiness, or faintness Fear of dying Fear of going crazy or of losing control Feelings of unreality, strangeness, or detachment from the environment Flushes or chills Nausea, stomachache, or diarrhea Numbness or tingling sensations Palpitations or an accelerated heart rate Shortness of breath or a sense of being smothered Sweating Trembling or shaking Although panic attacks cause symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain, they are not dangerous. Symptoms of panic attacks include many types of physical symptoms, and people often worry they have a dangerous medical problem involving the heart, lungs, or brain. For example, chest pain may occur during a panic attack, and people may worry they are having a heart attack. Symptoms that are severe or persistent should be evaluated by a doctor. However, a person may see a doctor or visit a hospital emergency department many times until the correct diagnosis of panic attack is made. Although panic attacks are uncomfortable—at times extremely so—they are not dangerous. Symptoms usually peak within 10 minutes and disappear within minutes, so a doctor may not be able to directly observe the symptoms. Because the reason for a panic attack is often not clear, people who have them frequently anticipate and worry about another attack—a condition called anticipatory anxiety—and try to avoid situations that they associate with previous panic attacks. The frequency of attacks can vary greatly. Some people have weekly or even daily attacks that occur for months, whereas others have several daily attacks followed by weeks or months without attacks. Panic disorder is often accompanied by at least one other condition. Other Overview of Anxiety Disorders , 