Symptoms of Panic Attacks

26 August, 2009 No Comment

Panic attacks can be very frightening and can leave an individual extremely scared and shaken to the core. These attacks usually come out of the blue and can hit you anywhere and at any point of time. These attacks have no warning or precipitating signs and occur all of a sudden. The symptoms of panic attacks develop all of a sudden and peak in intensity within a span of 10 minutes and usually subside within 20-30 minutes.

Symptoms of Panic attacks:
Individuals who have experienced a panic attack are usually quite worried about having another such attack. Since these attacks tend to take them off-guard, they end up feeling insecure and tensed most of the time. Individuals affected by panic attacks often feel as if they are losing control and worry relentlessly.

The symptoms of a full blown panic attack include shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, heart palpitations, depersonalization or feeling of being detached from the body and derealization.

Some individuals who have experienced a panic attack complained that they felt as if they were going to die while others said that they thought they were going crazy.

Most panic attacks are accompanied by the feeling of losing control, thereby leaving the patient shell shocked and helpless. Panic attacks strike without any warning and are not provoked by any aspect of the present situation.

Most individuals having a panic attack feel that they are experiencing a heart attack. Some panic attacks can be predisposed and may occur only in specific situations such as while driving a car or while walking down a crowded street.

Almost 90% of individuals who have experienced a panic attack are unable to identify it and repeatedly visit doctors convinced that they are suffering from a cardiac, neurological or respiratory problem.

Unfortunately, despite various tests and procedures of assessment, a correct diagnosis is very difficult to make. Panic attacks can disrupt the normal functioning of the person at social, professional and personal levels. As per research, 30-60% individuals who experience a chest pain syndrome but have healthy arteries have an undiagnosed panic attack.