Psychology Facts

▼ Panic Attacks ▼

》A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.

》Common symptoms of panic include:

Sense of impending doom or danger

Fear of loss of control or death

Rapid, pounding heart rate

Sweating

Trembling or shaking

Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat

Chills

Hot flashes

Nausea

Abdominal cramping

Chest pain

Headache

Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness

Numbness or tingling sensation

Feeling of unreality or detachment

》A panic attack typically lasts several long
minutes and is one of the most distressing conditions a person can experience. In some cases, panic attacks have been known to last for longer periods of time or to recur very quickly over and over again.

》According to Kushnick, "panic attacks appear to be associated with people who are considered high achievers and high controllers. I see this a lot in my psychotherapy practice when I'm working with people who hold themselves to extremely high standards and who feel compelled to maintain a sense of control over people and circumstances,"

》As strange as it may sound, it is possible to have a panic attack while you are sound asleep. Nocturnal panic attacks occur when you experience panic attack symptoms that startle you out of your sleep.
The symptoms of these attacks can be similar to those of daytime attacks, such as shaking, excessive sweating, and chest pain. When a nocturnal attack occurs, the person may experience shortness of breath or gasping for air upon awakening.

》Panic attacks are the hallmark symptom of panic disorder, but panic attacks can also occur with other mental health disorders. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the reference guide mental health specialists use to make accurate diagnoses, panic attacks present in a variety of conditions.

》Panic attacks are often linked to other mood and anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia, specific phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and bipolar disorder.

》DSM-5 describes two types of panic attacks: expected, or cued, and unexpected.

Expected panic attacks occur when the person is provoked by certain cues or triggers. For instance, a person who has a fear of heights (acrophobia) is likely to have a panic attack when on a high floor in a building or on an airplane.

Unexpected panic attacks, on the other hand, occur suddenly without any obvious cues. Anxious and fearful thoughts or external triggers, such as specific phobias or a traumatic event, can bring them on. Unexpected panic attacks are the type most commonly associated with a diagnosis of panic disorder.

》If you have panic attack symptoms, seek medical help as soon as possible. Panic attacks, while intensely uncomfortable, are not dangerous. But panic attacks are hard to manage on your own, and they may get worse without treatment.
Panic attack symptoms can also resemble symptoms of other serious health problems, such as a heart attack, so it's important to get evaluated by your primary care provider if you aren't sure what's causing your symptoms.

》In the midst of a panic attack, there are a few steps you can take to try to ease your discomfort. If you or a loved one experience a panic attack, consider some of Kushnick's recommendations:

Distract Yourself: "Try to distract yourself so that your attention is pulled away from your physical symptoms of panic."
Breathe: Breathe fully and deeply as best as you can.

Get Mad: "Get in touch with your anger, which is incompatible with anxiety and therefore reduces the helplessness associated with panic."

Coach Yourself: "Learn to dispute the irrational thoughts that accompany panic. Develop coping statements so you can talk yourself through an episode."