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How long does a panic attack last?

268 Answers
Last Updated: 01/18/2021 at 11:40pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Tracy-Kate Teleke, PsyD, M.A., LMFT

Marriage & Family Therapist

I assist adults and couples in CA experiencing relationship challenges and interpersonal struggles including anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other life challenges.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
July 9th, 2015 12:32pm
depends on different people. For me it was almost 6-9 minutes, but for majority its like 2-5 minutes.
heartsNcupcakes
July 9th, 2015 1:37pm
It lasts an average of 5 to 10 minutes but if the anxiety is long lasting it can make it feel like its longer than that because of the sensations.
Bastiiion
July 9th, 2015 7:59pm
It can last any amount of time. Depending on what triggers it, it may be only a few seconds or it can take an hour. Sometimes my initial attack last about 5-10 minutes, but the aftermath leaves me feeling like it lasts for hours.
RIPGwenStacy11
July 10th, 2015 1:29am
It all varies on the situation and on who you are as a person. But if you do have a panic attack please refer to the self help guide we have here on 7 Cups.
EarlySun
July 10th, 2015 4:20am
Panic attacks can range from a minute or two up to 20 minutes. The adrenaline in your body will get burned up at a certain point so it just depends how big a response your body is mounting for a given attack. As the adrenaline effect fades there may be other symptoms of weakness, coldness, shaking, as your body begins to stabilize. Many people find these symptoms bothersome, but a welcome sign that the attack has passed the peak and is beginning to resolve.
cheerfulJoy79
July 10th, 2015 8:49am
A panic attack can last up to 20 minutes but you could multiple panic attacks one after another which makes it longer than 20 minutes.
Sunshine99x
July 10th, 2015 12:32pm
symptoms of a panic attack develop abruptly and usually reach their peak within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes, and they rarely last more than an hour.
yougottaletmego
July 10th, 2015 4:46pm
Panic attacks are different for every person. I've had a panic attack last ten minutes and I've also had ones that have lasted for almost an hour. There are many factors and if you are extremely upset and unable to calm yourself down, they will last longer. The important thing is to focus on your breathing technique and try to remind yourself that you will be okay and that no matter what you're feeling, it will not last forever.
msgoldie326
July 10th, 2015 11:53pm
for me a panic attack lasts about 10 minutes of a very powerful panic followed by 20 or so minutes of general anxiety
butterflykisses27
July 11th, 2015 5:09am
I find with my own it can be about 20 minutes but sometimes they can go much longer depending on what has set me off.
handofheart
July 11th, 2015 6:07am
It depends. Honestly, my worst ones have lasted for hours where I depersonalize and get dizzy, sometimes even black out. But I've had other panic attacks (the shock ones caused by my phobias, more specifically) which last around twenty minutes. There isn't really a specific time that a panic attack lasts and as much as I hate to say this because I don't think it's too helpful, but it truly relies on the person, place, and trigger.
Anonymous
July 11th, 2015 12:01pm
Panik attack can last from about a minute to 30 minutes or so. The main thing to remember is to breathe in and out and think about good things.
Michael77
July 11th, 2015 12:52pm
Personally, my severe ones can last for 1-5 hours. They come with chest pain, dry mouth, elevated pulse and blood pressure. In my case, it's severe enough that I go to the ER to make sure I'm not having a heart attack or some other cardiac event. Even when my mind is calm, one can be set off, sometimes by extreme work stress. For me it's more of a physical thing than cognitive as I usually clear my mind of whatever triggered it within a few minutes.
JolineKarateGirl
July 12th, 2015 1:04am
For me it depends where I am but they last anywhere from 10-20 minutes but I've had a fee that lasted 30 minutes
Anonymous
July 12th, 2015 9:14am
It varies for each person, I'd imagine. Mine used to come on suddenly and last for about 5 minutes or so-- not that I ever really timed them.
lovelyMacy
July 15th, 2015 2:01pm
A panic attack, for me, lasts about 5-10 minutes. However, sometimes it feels like it's a lot longer.
Listener2106
July 16th, 2015 7:45am
Panic attacks usually last up to 10 minutes but can vary depending on how severe the panic attack is.
AmyLxxxx
July 16th, 2015 7:39pm
A panic attack will usually reach it's worst within ten minutes. This can depend on person to person but most panic attacks rarely last more than 20-30 minutes. A panic attack lasting over an hour is very unlikely.
WednesdayS
July 17th, 2015 3:00am
Personally, mine have lasted between two and ten minutes. I have only had one that lasted longer than ten minutes.
everythingistemporary850
July 17th, 2015 1:39pm
Panic attacks typically don't last too long, although they can seem like they are lasting forever. For me, panic attacks usually last no longer than 10 to 20 minutes. When I am in the middle of one, sometimes it is helpful for me to remember that although it feels like it may never end, they don't exceed 20 minutes and that likely in just a couple minutes, I will feel better. It also helps me to think of a panic attack as a wave. It builds, it peaks, and then you come down. Once that initial peak has occurred, you begin to feel more at ease, and in control. Panic attacks are tricky - and everyone experiences them differently! There is no uniform answer to exactly how long a "normal" one can last, but it is comforting to know that they are a temporary condition. They always end.
TheHelpingCanadian
July 17th, 2015 3:16pm
For me, my panic attacks would last a few minutes, ranging from about 3-7 minutes. Though, it can differ for other people
Emily619
July 18th, 2015 1:29am
A panic attack lasts for only a matter of minutes, but feels like a matter of hours. It feels such extended because you are panicking at such a high rate, and you don't know what to do.
Anonymous
July 19th, 2015 4:06am
Panic attacks feel like they last much longer than they actually do. The most important thing is to recognize what is going on and acknowledge that what is happening is just your body trying to cope. If you can calm yourself down using coping skills they are over with pretty quickly.
phoebehelper2015
July 19th, 2015 4:59pm
I have had many panic attacks myself. Personally, they last between 10-30 minutes depending on the techniques you use to calm yourself down. I find breathing techniques work the best for shortening the time of the panic attack considerably.
Anonymous
July 22nd, 2015 2:04am
that depends on the person usually but from my experience it last till i solve that certain problem which caused my panic attack
FireflySummer
July 22nd, 2015 4:13am
Most panic attacks only last between 5-10 minutes, but it does depend on the person. They can feel like they last much longer though.
Anonymous
July 22nd, 2015 3:49pm
It is different for everyone, they can last from 30 seconds to ten minutes. The length is often affected by the environment the person is in when it hits, their experience with dealing with them, and who they are with
Xuan
July 23rd, 2015 8:57am
It depends on the person. It can be 5 minutes like it can be two hours. In most cases, it's only a few minutes though.
victorsledge
July 23rd, 2015 10:03pm
typically 5-15 minutes. Controlling your breath is the key to resolving a panic attack. Stay focused on the moment and control your breathing.
tranquilFreedom
July 24th, 2015 4:03am
it depends on the person. It can go anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. it all depends on the person