Panic attacks are sudden feelings of fear without prior warning. They can happen any time even while you are asleep. If you are going through a panic attack, you may feel like you are having a heart attack, or that you may be dying soon.
The fear may seem so real, but it is actually not in proportion to the true situation. Sometimes, it could even be totally unrelated to what is happening. This is why at times, people who are experiencing panic attacks are described as having mental problems.
It could become difficult to understand why they are so frightened about something which is not even happening or even impossible to occur.
Most people who are going through panic attacks experience the following symptoms:
- Hyperventilation (breathing difficulty; panting)
- Pounding heartbeat
- Stomach upset
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Sweating
- Chest pains
- Tingling sensation or numbness in the hands
- Perceptual distortions (dream-like sensations)
- Sense of terror—of an impending doom or death
Generally, these attacks last for several minutes which feel more like forever. Going through one could be a terribly distressing experience. This is why having an attack of anxiety or panic may, on its own, trigger another anxiety attack.
People are just afraid that the immense fright they experienced once would happen again, and this makes them more agitated. Come to think of it, what an irony that a new attack is caused by the fright from the prior attack!
It is typical that a person who had one case of an anxiety attack could have another, although some may only go through it just once. When a person has repeated panic attacks with no apparent reason be it physical and emotional, he or she may already have a panic disorder.
This condition is usually manageable. However, you should make sure that you (or whoever is affected) sees a doctor for consultation. Firstly, only a healthcare professional is genuinely able to diagnose the condition. Secondly, he or she is also the person who could prescribe the solution for it. Panic attacks can be worrisome, but if you are equipped with the understanding of the situation, these attacks can be handled just fine.
