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What are the main symptoms of panic attacks?

313 Answers
Last Updated: 07/19/2023 at 3:11pm
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Top Rated Answers
RayofSunshine25
May 3rd, 2018 4:40pm
Panic attacks can be different for people. However, common symptoms are increased heart rate, heavy breathing, and extreme anxiety. Some people may feel not connected to their physical location and shut down. They may be overwhelmed by something and feel the need to escape it.
Anonymous
May 4th, 2018 4:03pm
Panic attacks have many symptoms. Like irregular breathing, feeling of your wind pipe close, blind spots, sweating, shaking of hands, feeling of a lung collapse
belovedmoon
May 11th, 2018 7:22am
The experience differs from person to person, but you might sweat a lot, shiver, feel nausea, feel dizzy, start crying. Your heart might beat really fast, your chest can feel tight and you might find it hard to breathe. Some people say it feels like they are dying, others describe it as a feeling of losing control. It's definitely very intense and some people are unable to talk during a panic attack, which might make it hard to get help in the moment.
amazingFaith15
May 16th, 2018 6:57pm
Feeling like you can't get the air in so you take quick breaths which actually worsens it your heart beats really fast and you feel light headed.
SupportiveSockMonkey
May 19th, 2018 10:45am
The main symptoms of a panic attack usually begin with over thinking, difficulty breathing, shaking, not being able to focus, sometimes sweating.
EchoingHope
May 25th, 2018 11:39pm
Panic attack symptoms are different for each person, but common ones include rapid pulse, inability to speak, dry mouth, tensing muscles, and even dizziness.
Anonymous
May 26th, 2018 5:02pm
I usually suffer from lack to breath, but every person is unique and will most likely suffer from different symptoms.
Melissame
May 26th, 2018 8:10pm
Symptoms vary for each person. Some of the symptoms: change in breathing, sweaty palms, lightheaded/dizzy, loss of appetite, headache, tight/dry throat. There are so many more, take a look at the anxiety self help guide.
kindPanda75
June 9th, 2018 11:52pm
Breathing problems, heart palpitations and sweating. There are no others that bother me but you need 100 letters :(
CalmWhisper22
June 14th, 2018 1:05am
Panic attacks typically begin suddenly, without warning. They can strike at any time — when you're driving a car, at the mall, sound asleep or in the middle of a business meeting. You may have occasional panic attacks, or they may occur frequently. Panic attacks have many variations, but symptoms usually peak within minutes. You may feel fatigued and worn out after a panic attack subsides. Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms: 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
Anonymous
June 16th, 2018 9:08pm
Panic attacks could be characterized as small tornadoes. They feel like your heart is racing, you start shaking, and being out of breath. Taking deep breaths helps you getting back to “normal”.
Anonymous
July 4th, 2018 8:12am
The main symptoms of panic attacks can include hyperventilating, sweaty/clammy hands, racing heart, breathing difficulties, feeling faint and a loss of control. And chest pains
vertige80
July 11th, 2018 9:04am
Personally, I've felt major shortness of breath to the point of feeling like I'm suffocating. Not being able to move or having the opposite: continuing a pattern of movement for a long time. Rocking back and forth. Not being able to talk. Shaking. Sometimes crying.
Anonymous
July 18th, 2018 12:17am
Feeling like you can't breath. .racing heart sweat palms. Shaking. Overwhelming amount of thoughts.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2018 7:31pm
The main symptoms of panic attacks include having breathing difficulties, a racing heart, feeling like something terrible will happen and feeling weak or dizzy. You may also feel numbness in your hands.
Anonymous
July 28th, 2018 2:37pm
Palipitation, hyperventilating, shaking, finding it hard breath, feeling like you are choking on air
Vehutjuu
July 28th, 2018 10:38pm
Heart beats faster, you start to sweat, it feels like something is in you throat and blocking your swallowing and you feel nauseous
Gentlerabbit7539
August 1st, 2018 6:51am
From my experience, you may feel very short of breath. You can feel like no breath you take is deep enough and that your chest is closed up or has a weight upon it. You can also get lightheaded, tired, or shaky. Your heart beat might even sound off to you. Sitting down and taking deep breaths, or trying to calm down however I can has helped me.
niceBeach7908
August 2nd, 2018 7:09pm
I’ve been having lots I go really dizzy find it hard to breathe feel sick get the shivers and my heart starts racing also my jaw and muscles go really tight so horrible having these 😪😪
phosphenerelief
August 2nd, 2018 9:18pm
physical symptoms: short of breath in absence of heavy exercise, fast heart beat, hot flushes, shakiness, perhaps lightheadedness and sweating. Mental symptoms: obsessive thinking, negative rumination, heightened attention to physical sensations e.g. breathing pace etc.
Anonymous
August 8th, 2018 11:35am
Palpitations, shortness of breath, cold clammy hands, hot flushes, sweaty, hands tremble, muscle weakness, lightheadedness, nausea, abdominal pain
Anonymous
August 8th, 2018 1:56pm
You feel shortness of breath and you feel you are dieing when you are actually not You feel like you are running out of air and you feel like you are drowning when you are actually not
Anonymous
August 9th, 2018 6:29pm
Panic attack's main symptoms are: -Racing heartbeat or palpitations. -Nausea and dizziness. -Sweating. -Shaking. -Chest pain. -Depersonalization or derealization. -Fear that you might die or going crazy.
Anonymous
August 10th, 2018 5:34am
Sweating, fast heart beat, being shaky, feeling panicky, sometimes even feeling nauseous, fast breathing
courageousSun35
August 12th, 2018 2:19am
Main symptoms of Panic attacks are heart racing, tingle or numbness in hands and feet, dizziness, difficulty breathing and feeling as though you’ve lost control.
rialistening
August 12th, 2018 8:03pm
Physical symptoms of panic attacks include dizziness, rapid breathing, high heart rate, hot or cold flashes and discomfort in the stomach or chest area. Panic attacks can cause feelings of confusion, distress, feeling that you are going to die, impending danger and can be very scary.
PaintedLyrics
August 15th, 2018 3:09am
I'm not 100% sure what the most common symptoms are but from what I've seen and experienced many people experience sudden anxiety that makes them unable to move or they zone out. Shaky hands, shortness of breath, and headaches may also be a sign of anxiety.
MindfulBecca101
October 28th, 2018 1:10am
Panic attacks are tough and are different for person to person but based on my own experience here are some of the symptoms present in a panic attack: firstly increased heart rate of heart palpitations which is often followed by shortness of breath, sometimes it can be compared to an asthma attack. Other symptoms include shaking uncontrollably which can then lead on to dizziness and headaches. In some panic attacks, ya may experience some stomach or abdominal pain this is because you’re tending so much due to the panic attack. Some panic attacks may lead to dissociation and therefore you feel dazed and it’s an out of body experience.
Anonymous
November 4th, 2018 8:25pm
Confusion is usually the first symptom to show up. Your heart might start racing, you feel like you have to get out of whatever situation it is that is making you feel anxious. It's also very likely for you to start crying or to have tears in your eyes. Shaking, sweating, or even having trouble forming cohesive sentences are also symptoms that are quite common. When I have a panic attack, my heart beats really fast and I usually start crying. It's also possible for me to need to run away, often in the literal sense. I usually identify panic attacks afterwards.
delicatdreamer16
November 15th, 2018 6:56pm
The main symptoms are a tight feeling in your chest, shortness of breath, feeling of being trapped, not being able to focus, and hyperventilation. Some people may also have shaking in their hands and/or legs. Afterward, some people may not know where they are or they may not remember what happened before, during, or after the panic attack. During them, it's important that you sit down because of a feeling of lightheadedness and hyperventilation may make some people faint or feel like they are about to faint. If you are prone to panic attacks, talk to the people around you about what they should do in those moments to best support you.